Japanese Life & Culture

An earthquake at 2 a.m., a hospital visit where no one speaks English, a typhoon warning you can’t read. Emergencies don’t wait until you’ve learned the language. Here’s the practical playbook every foreigner in Japan needs to have ready before anything goes wrong. The Numbers You Need Situation Number Notes Police 110 Free, 24/7 Fire / Ambulance 119 Free, 24/7 Coast Guard 118 Ocean emergencies Medical advice (non-emergency) #7119 Free, 24/7 in major cities; English in Tokyo Children’s medical advice #8000 Nights & weekends, all prefectures These are free calls from any phone in Japan. ...

Japan’s train network is the best in the world — and also one of the most confusing to figure out the first time. Wrong ticket, wrong line, wrong exit: it happens to everyone. Read this once and you’ll navigate it like a local. First Thing: Get an IC Card Before you do anything else, get an IC card. This is the rechargeable card you tap on the gates to pay for trains automatically. You don’t need to buy a ticket every single time. ...

Japanese workplace culture has clear rules — but most of them are never written down. Hierarchy, after-work drinks, overtime expectations — these operate differently than in Western countries. This guide explains what to expect before your first day. Punctuality Means Something Different Here In most countries, showing up on time is fine. In Japan, showing up on time means you’re almost late. The unwritten rule: arrive 5–10 minutes early. Exactly on time feels slightly disrespectful to many Japanese colleagues. Late without notice is a serious problem. ...