Tips for the Indonesian traveler

For most Indonesians gearing up for a first trip to Japan, expectations are high and somehow familiar.

The country’s tourism department knows that a good amount of Indonesia’s traveling-age group grew up with Japanese pop culture goodness ingrained in them.

It’s nudged the Japanese to develop a promotional strategy full of plenty of otaku-centric destinations, with Akihabara being a St. Peter’s Basilica of sorts.

Heck, the Japanese television program Sekai Banzuke even claimed in 2013 that Indonesia had the largest number of manga readers in the world, after Finland and above Japan itself.

Now that’s dedication.

Add to this a growing local post-2000 lust for Japanese culinary experiences (as evinced by the presence of Japanese restaurants all over the place) and, well, it is clear why snow resorts, cherry blossoms and traditional festivals featuring near-naked men are just icing on the cake.

There has been a spike in the number of local tourists traveling to Japan, with over 175,000 Indonesian travelers visiting the nation between January and November of 2015.

Not convinced? Come to the annual Ennichisai festival in Blok M in South Jakarta to see over 170,000 visitors trudging through the many Japan-oriented stalls and entertainment.

However, first-time travelers to Japan are in for a surprise.

Realizing that no amount of research can prepare you for the very particular (read: different) ways of the nation and its people, J+ has compiled a list of what you should absolutely, positively definitely not to do when visiting Japan.

Or ignore our advice–and risk ruining the trip of a lifetime.

(Don’t) take your time to explore

Unless you’re physically unable, touring is the worst way to travel. There’s argument for it, sure, but ultimately it’s akin to browsing high-definition photos on your computer–only you’re doing it at an expensive internet cafe, where time is a whole lot of money and you’re pleasure is timed by someone else.

Worse, you’ll only “experience” photo ops at the least surprising of places: The Shibuya crossing, the Hachiko statue, a faraway Mount Fuji and maybe a store or two in Akihabara or Harajuku.

There will probably be an hour at a temple thrown in for giggles by your agent. With most tours doing the big three destinations (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) in a week or less, you’ll get blink’s worth of the country.

There’s always next time. Pick a single city and dive deep into it.

And on’t forget: Japan offers plenty of tranquility beyond its metropolis area–you want to soak it all in. Get out and explore.

(Don’t) stray off the beaten path

What Japan has best in store is hidden behind and between its large buildings.

There’s the stores beyond Takeshita-dori; the smaller parks near smaller neighborhoods like Komazawa Olympic Park, with its three differently-themed playgrounds or the JBS bar in Shibuya owned by a 70 year old and showcasing more than a 1,000 of his vintage vinyl records.

There’s also the Commune 246 food court in Aoyama and the Samurai Museum in Shinjuku.

Or stop by the Golden Gai area in Shinjuku, made up of six alleys chock-filled with tiny, awesome bars and eateries; the otaku shrine of the Mandarake comic/toy/hobby shop in Shibuya; or the Tokyu Hands department store, which fills itself with particularly-Japanese hobby and crafts products.

And that’s just in Tokyo.

Although you wouldn’t want to feel like you’re checking off a list, you’re bound to feel like you are.

You need to do it at a still-enjoyable pace, which is why anything than less than a week will break you.

The best places should be visited more than once. Packing more than two destinations into a day is inadvisable.

You’ll be spending many of those hours commuting between places just to feel like you’ve done something on your bucket list.

Fill each day with one main destination and another bonus destination that is to be visited only if time truly permits–and go deeper into the city.

(Don’t) respect personal space

Japan is a crowded country, so it’s best to make things as easy as possible for your fellow humans. This is the biggest difference between the Indonesian and Japanese cultures, in terms of tourism.

Where Indonesians are accustomed to having to fight (often each other) for comfort, the Japanese norm is about being as invisible to each other as possible.

This is why the constant ocean of people in places such as Shibuya rarely feels like a clutter to get through. Everyone operates at the same pace and with the same understanding: Alone, but together.

This will feel odd at first–almost cold, as you find that even the most crowded of places will be quiet, with everyone keeping their voice (or cell phone) as low as possible.

Probing is a definite no-no, which is why in even the smallest of spaces–such as the sardine-like subways–there will be very little eye contact between strangers, even those centimeters apart.

If you’ve got a cold, wear a mask. If you’ve got headphones on, make sure they’re low enough that no sound can escape through the buds. Never put your smartphone on anything other than vibrate.

Finally, always clean up your own mess–in restaurants, in stores, everywhere.

(Don’t) get used to walking

Get your cardio ready as you inch closer to your holiday. This is no joke. You’ll be walking from one place to another a lot.

Avoid taxis as they are inconceivably expensive. The subway and buses will be your best option for commuting.

While you’re at it, bring a bottle of water everywhere (tap water is safe but best avoided for first-time travelers). The subway will be a place where most of this walking takes place, so you’ll want to brush up on your map-reading quick.

Learning the lines are relatively easy, but never be afraid to approach subway or JR officers for help.

Here’s another tip relating to that: Unless you speak Japanese, be smart about communicating. Easy English words and easy-to-grasp gestures work best. So does pointing at menus at restaurant.

(Don’t) go with the flow

Most Indonesian tourists need a crash course in sidewalk etiquette before visiting Japan (blame it on the lack of sidewalks in Jakarta).

Here’s where to start: Copy the person in front of you and walk at a purposeful pace and in your designated lane. Make sure you’re not in anyone’s way–ever.

Don’t take pictures in spots that will affect others’ mobility. Don’t take pictures when it bothers others. Never bother others. Be quick and efficient. And finally–a weighty challenge for most of us Indonesians–always, always know where the line is and follow it–even if it means waiting 30 minutes to wiz at Disneyland.

(Don’t) plan ahead

Most everyone goes to Japan in April, during the cherry blossom season–but prepare yourself for crowds–tourist and otherwise. Avoid the Golden Week, when everyone in Japan is on holiday. In any case, do your research and prepare for either very chilly or very hot weather.

(Don’t) get out on your own

Your concept of Japan (floral arrangements, sumo wrestling, geisha) might be quite different from my own (obsessive vinyl collectors, otaku).

Therefore, avoid traveling with large groups of friends, unless you’re close and have similar tastes. Everyone will want to try different things–and compromising everything on your first trip won’t be fun.