Bathing etiquette in Japan
You want to enjoy a shared bath without worrying about doing it wrong.
Glossary
Japan travel glossary
Plain meanings for the Japanese travel words you will meet.
Terms B to E
Business hotel, the compact station hotel
You keep seeing small, cheap hotels near stations and wonder if they suit a family.
Capsule hotel, the sleeping pod stay
You are curious about a pod bed, and wonder if it suits you.
Coin locker, the station bag locker
You are dragging a suitcase between hotel checkout and your afternoon plans.
Ekiben, the station boxed meal
You will spend hours on trains, and you want to eat well without hunting for a restaurant.
eSIM for Japan, explained
You want data the moment you land, without hunting for a SIM counter.
Terms E to I
Exchange order, the rail pass voucher
You bought a rail pass before leaving home and now you wonder what you hold.
Futon
Japanese floor bedding, and a question for anyone with a bad back or a knee.
Goshuin temple stamps
You want a meaningful keepsake from a temple visit that lasts longer than a photo.
Green Car on JR trains
You are looking at a seat upgrade and wondering whether it is worth it.
Hanami, cherry blossom viewing
You dream of sakura, but nobody can tell you the exact week it will bloom.
IC card in Japan
You want to tap through Japan's stations without decoding a ticket machine each time.
Terms I to K
Izakaya
A casual pub-style restaurant where you order many small dishes to share.
JR Pass, explained simply
You keep hearing about the rail pass and cannot tell if it saves money.
Kaiseki, the multi-course Japanese meal
You have seen a tray of tiny dishes and want to know what you are agreeing to.
KLIA and KLIA2
Your flight to Japan leaves from Kuala Lumpur, and you want the right terminal on the day.
Konbini in Japan
You are tired, hungry and a little unsure where to find something simple to eat.
Koyo
You want to see autumn leaves but cannot tell which week is the right one.
Terms L to O
Last train
The final train of the night in Japan, and the reason a late dinner needs a plan.
Limited express, the faster surcharge train
You see a train name on the board and wonder whether you need a second ticket.
Minshuku, the family-run guesthouse
You want a stay that feels like Japan, without ryokan prices or formality.
MOTAC
The ministry behind the licence on a Malaysian travel agency.
Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama
Three train names, one line, and you only want to board the right one.
Omakase
You hope to try a chef's choice meal in Japan, and worry about what you cannot eat.
Terms O to R
Onsen
A Japanese hot-spring bath, and the first thing many Malaysian visitors wonder about.
Open-jaw flights
You would rather not walk the same route back to the airport you flew into.
Pocket Wi-Fi, the rented data router
You want phones online from the moment you land, without hunting for a signal.
Regional rail pass, one area only
You hear passes can save money, and you cannot tell which one fits your route.
Reserved vs non-reserved seat
You are standing at the ticket machine with luggage, unsure which seat type to pick.
Ropeway, Japan's cable car
You see a cable car in the plan and wonder how much to rely on it.
Terms R to T
Ryokan
A traditional inn, and a first night on tatami that can feel unfamiliar.
Ryokan dinner time
Your train is running late and dinner at the ryokan is waiting.
Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train
You keep hearing the word and want to know what it means for your seats and your plan.
Shojin ryori, temple vegetarian meals
You want the temple meal experience, and you want to know what is actually on the tray.
Shukubo, the temple lodging
You like the idea of a quiet night in a temple but wonder what it is really like.
Takkyubin, Japan's luggage forwarding
You dread dragging suitcases through stations, and wonder if someone can carry them ahead.
Terms T to V
Tatami
You have seen the straw-mat rooms in photos and want to know how to behave in one.
Tax-free shopping
A way to avoid consumption tax on shopping, if you meet the shop's conditions.
Torii
The gate at a shrine entrance, and a small moment of manners worth knowing.
Visit Japan Web, the online arrival forms
You are told to fill in forms before landing, and you want to know which ones.
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