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Halal Travel Guides / Japan

🇯🇵Halal Travel Guide to Japan

Japan has around 230,000 Muslims and a halal restaurant scene that barely existed fifteen years ago. It now includes halal ramen shops in Tokyo and Kyoto, certified wagyu, halal branches of national chains, and prayer rooms in airports, stations and department stores. It still requires more planning than anywhere else in this guide - you book restaurants rather than wander into them - but the reward is a country where everything else works flawlessly. Tokyo Camii, an Ottoman-style mosque in Shibuya, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

Last updated: 20 September 2026
Cherry blossom and a pagoda with Mount Fuji in the distance

Why Japan works for Muslim travellers

Around 230,000 Muslims in a population of 123 million, mostly Indonesian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Turkish, plus a growing Japanese Muslim community. Halal certification is fragmented across several bodies, so the practical approach is restaurant-by-restaurant.

Muslim population
~230,000
Around 0.2% of the population, predominantly Indonesian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Turkish and Malaysian, with roughly 50,000 Japanese converts.
Certification bodies
Several
Japan Halal Association, Nippon Asia Halal Association, Japan Muslim Association and others. No single national scheme, so certification varies by restaurant.
Language
Japanese
English is limited outside major hotels and stations, though signage in transport is excellent and translation apps work well.
Visa
Visa-free for 70+
Visa-free for 90 days for the GCC (except some), UK, EU, US and Malaysia. Indonesians and several others now use an online pre-registration.
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
A weak yen has made Japan far cheaper for foreign visitors than it was a decade ago. Cash is still needed at small restaurants and shrines.
Best months
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Cherry blossom in late March and April; autumn colour in November. June is the rainy season and August is hot and humid.

Tokyo Camii

An Ottoman mosque in Yoyogi-Uehara, built with Turkish craftsmen and Turkish materials, with free daily tours in English and Japanese, a Turkish cultural centre and a halal market in the basement.

Halal ramen and wagyu

Chicken-broth halal ramen shops in Asakusa, Shinjuku and Kyoto; certified halal wagyu yakiniku in Shibuya; and halal branches of CoCo Ichibanya curry. None of this existed in 2010.

Everything works

Trains to the second, luggage forwarding between hotels, immaculate public toilets and no tipping. Japan removes every logistical friction except the food one.

The scenery earns its reputation

Cherry blossom, autumn maples in Kyoto, Fuji from Hakone, the Nakasendo post towns, Nara's deer. The visual payoff is as high as anywhere on earth.

Extremely safe

One of the lowest crime rates in the world, and a culture in which lost property is routinely returned. Comfortable for solo travellers and families alike.

Cheaper than it was

The weak yen means Japan now costs roughly what Western Europe does rather than substantially more - a good hotel is JPY 15,000-25,000 and a meal JPY 1,500-3,000.

Know before you go

Planning a longer stay than a holiday? Our Japan living cost guide has salaries by profession, tax and month-by-month expenses.

Nine days: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka

The Golden Route, planned around the halal restaurant clusters - Asakusa and Shinjuku in Tokyo, the Kyoto station area, and Namba in Osaka. Shinkansen between cities.

1Day

Tokyo: Asakusa

Senso-ji - Nakamise - Sumida

morning
Arrive and head to Asakusa, which is both the oldest part of Tokyo and the densest cluster of halal restaurants in the city.
afternoon
Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645, approached through the Kaminarimon gate and the Nakamise shopping street.
evening
Naritaya in Asakusa does halal chicken ramen and gyoza, with a small mosque and prayer room attached. Sekai Cafe nearby is halal and vegan-friendly.
Asakusa is the single most convenient Tokyo base for Muslim travellers - three or four halal restaurants within a few streets and a prayer room.
2Day

Tokyo: Tokyo Camii and Shibuya

Tokyo Camii - Meiji Jingu - Shibuya

morning
Tokyo Camii in Yoyogi-Uehara - an Ottoman mosque built with Turkish craftsmen and Turkish marble, with free guided tours daily in English and Japanese and a halal market in the basement.
afternoon
Meiji Jingu shrine in its forest, then Harajuku and Takeshita Street, and the Shibuya crossing.
evening
Gyumon in Shibuya does halal-certified wagyu yakiniku - you grill it yourself at the table. Book ahead; it is small and popular.
Tokyo Camii's tours run several times daily and the guides answer questions freely. The basement shop sells halal meat and Turkish groceries.
3Day

Tokyo: Shinjuku and the east

Shinjuku - Tokyo Skytree - Akihabara

morning
Shinjuku Gyoen garden, then the free observation decks at the Metropolitan Government Building for a view that includes Fuji on a clear winter morning.
afternoon
Tokyo Skytree or Akihabara for electronics and games. The CoCo Ichibanya branch in Akihabara is halal-certified - Japanese curry rice, and a useful fallback.
evening
Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka serves halal ramen and is a short walk from the station. Otsuka Mosque in nearby Toshima is the other central Tokyo mosque.
Tokyo has around a dozen mosques; Tokyo Camii, Otsuka and Asakusa are the most convenient for visitors.
4Day

Hakone and Fuji

Hakone loop - Lake Ashi - Owakudani

morning
Train to Hakone (90 min). The loop runs by mountain railway, cable car, ropeway and boat, and on a clear day Fuji is visible from Lake Ashi.
afternoon
Owakudani, a sulphurous volcanic valley where eggs are boiled black in the springs, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum with its Picasso pavilion.
evening
Return to Tokyo, or stay in a Muslim-friendly ryokan - several in Hakone and Kyoto now offer halal kaiseki meals and private onsen baths, booked in advance.
Private family onsen baths (kashikiri-buro) solve the communal bathing question entirely and most ryokan have them.
5Day

Shinkansen to Kyoto

Kyoto Station - Fushimi Inari - Gion

morning
The Shinkansen to Kyoto, 2h15. If the weather is clear, sit on the right-hand side for Fuji about forty minutes out.
afternoon
Fushimi Inari and its ten thousand vermilion torii gates climbing the mountain. Go late afternoon when the day groups have gone; the full loop takes two hours.
evening
Gion at dusk, then halal dinner - Naritaya Kyoto near Kiyomizu or one of the halal restaurants around Kyoto Station.
Kyoto's halal options cluster around the station and Kiyomizu. Book ahead; there are far fewer than in Tokyo.
6Day

Kyoto: temples

Kinkaku-ji - Arashiyama - Kiyomizu-dera

morning
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, at opening, then Ryoan-ji's dry rock garden a short bus ride away.
afternoon
Arashiyama for the bamboo grove, the Togetsukyo bridge and Tenryu-ji's garden. Go early or after 4pm; the middle of the day is crowded.
evening
Kiyomizu-dera and the lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it, at their best in the last hour of light.
Kyoto's bus system is comprehensive but slow. The two subway lines and a bicycle are often faster.
7Day

Nara day trip

Todai-ji - Nara Park - Kasuga Taisha

morning
Nara, 45 minutes from Kyoto. Todai-ji holds a 15-metre bronze Buddha in the largest wooden building in the world.
afternoon
Nara Park's thousand free-roaming deer, which bow for biscuits, and Kasuga Taisha with its three thousand stone and bronze lanterns.
evening
Back to Kyoto. Ayam-Ya Kyoto does halal chicken ramen near Kyoto Station.
Nara was Japan's capital before Kyoto and its temples are older and less crowded.
8Day

Osaka and Kobe

Osaka Castle - Dotonbori - Kobe Mosque

morning
Train to Osaka (30 min). Osaka Castle and its park, then Umeda for the Floating Garden Observatory.
afternoon
Kobe, 30 minutes further, for the Kobe Mosque - built in 1935, the oldest in Japan, which survived both the 1945 firebombing and the 1995 earthquake and sheltered people in each.
evening
Dotonbori in Osaka for the neon and the Glico sign. Halal takoyaki and kushikatsu exist - Matsuri and the Namba halal restaurants are the ones to find.
Kobe is also where certified halal wagyu is produced, and several Kobe restaurants serve it.
9Day

Osaka, then home

Kuromon market - Shinsekai - Kansai

morning
Kuromon Ichiba market for the food stalls, or Shinsekai for the older, scruffier Osaka around Tsutenkaku tower.
afternoon
Last shopping in Namba or Shinsaibashi, both of which have halal restaurants within a few streets.
evening
Fly out of Kansai International, which has prayer rooms in both terminals and several halal-certified outlets.
Kansai Airport is on an artificial island 50 minutes from Osaka by train - allow time.

Shorter and longer versions

Mosques and Islamic sites in Japan

Japan has over a hundred mosques, most of them small prayer rooms in converted buildings. The three purpose-built ones worth visiting are Tokyo Camii, Kobe Mosque and Osaka Masjid.

Tokyo Camii Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo Free tours

The largest mosque in Japan, rebuilt in 2000 with Turkish craftsmen, Turkish marble and Iznik tile. Free guided tours daily in English and Japanese, a Turkish cultural centre, and a halal market in the basement.

Kobe Muslim Mosque Kobe 1935, oldest

The first mosque built in Japan, funded by Indian, Turkish and Tatar traders. It survived the 1945 firebombing of Kobe and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, sheltering people through both.

Osaka Masjid Osaka Central

The main mosque of the Kansai region, in Nishinari ward, serving a large South Asian and Indonesian community with a halal shop attached.

Otsuka Mosque Toshima, Tokyo Central

Run by the Islamic Circle of Japan, in a converted building near Otsuka station. Small, central and welcoming, with an active Japanese Muslim congregation.

Asakusa Mosque Asakusa, Tokyo Convenient

A small prayer room attached to the Naritaya halal restaurant complex near Senso-ji - the most convenient prayer space for anyone sightseeing in old Tokyo.

Nagoya Mosque Nagoya Central Japan

One of the larger mosques outside Tokyo and Osaka, with a Turkish-influenced design and an attached halal shop.

Kyoto Masjid Kyoto Kyoto

A modest mosque run by the Kyoto Muslim Association, near Kyoto University, serving students and visitors. Kyoto has very few prayer facilities, so this and the station-area hotel rooms are the options.

Fukuoka Masjid Fukuoka Kyushu

The main mosque in Kyushu, with a halal shop, serving the growing Muslim student population in the region.

Hiroshima Mosque (Baitul Zikr) Hiroshima Western Japan

A small mosque near Hiroshima station, convenient for anyone visiting the Peace Park.

Sapporo Mosque Sapporo Hokkaido

The main mosque of Hokkaido, useful for winter visitors to the ski resorts and the snow festival.

Gifu Mosque Gifu Regional

One of the older Japanese mosques outside the major cities, serving the industrial belt of central Honshu.

Yokohama Masjid Yokohama Near Tokyo

A short train ride from Tokyo, serving Yokohama's international community.

Islamic heritage and museums

Senso-ji Asakusa, Tokyo 645 CE

Tokyo's oldest temple, approached through the Kaminarimon gate and the Nakamise shopping street. Not Islamic, but the historic heart of the city and next to its best halal cluster.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Kyoto Torii

Ten thousand vermilion torii gates climbing Mount Inari, donated by businesses over centuries. Free, open around the clock, and best at dawn or dusk.

Todai-ji Nara UNESCO

Houses a 15-metre bronze Buddha cast in 752, in what remains the largest wooden building in the world even after being rebuilt at two-thirds its original size.

Kinkaku-ji Kyoto Golden Pavilion

A gold-leaf-covered pavilion reflected in its pond, rebuilt in 1955 after an arson attack. The most photographed building in Japan.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Hiroshima UNESCO

The Genbaku Dome, left as it stood after 6 August 1945, and the museum beside it. Difficult and important.

Kobe Muslim Mosque Kobe Living history

Japan's first mosque, from 1935, and a monument to the Indian, Turkish and Tatar trading communities that built it - plus a survivor of two of the worst disasters in modern Japanese history.

What to eat in Japan - and where

The hardest food environment in this guide, and rapidly improving. Halal ramen, certified wagyu, halal Japanese curry and Muslim-friendly kaiseki all now exist. The rule is to plan and book rather than wander.

Dishes worth planning a day around

Halal ramen

Chicken or beef broth rather than the standard pork tonkotsu, with alcohol-free seasoning. Naritaya, Ayam-Ya and Ramen Ouka are the names to know in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Halal wagyu

Certified halal wagyu is produced in Japan and served at a handful of yakiniku restaurants. Gyumon in Shibuya is the best-known - you grill it yourself at the table.

Sushi and sashimi

Fish is not the issue; the issues are mirin in the rice seasoning and sake in some preparations. Several halal-certified and Muslim-friendly sushi restaurants exist in Tokyo and Osaka.

Japanese curry

Thick, mild and sweet, served over rice with a breaded cutlet. The CoCo Ichibanya branch in Akihabara is halal-certified and is a dependable fallback.

Tempura

Battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables. The problem is usually shared fryer oil - halal restaurants use dedicated fryers.

Yakitori and kushikatsu

Grilled chicken skewers and deep-fried skewers. Halal versions exist in Osaka's Namba district and at some Tokyo restaurants.

Takoyaki and okonomiyaki

Osaka's octopus balls and savoury pancake. The sauces normally contain alcohol and the batter sometimes uses dashi with additives - halal versions are available in Namba.

Matcha and wagashi

Powdered green tea and the sweets served with it - mochi, dorayaki, yokan. Almost all are plant-based and fine; check any with gelatine.

Onigiri and convenience stores

Rice balls with salmon, tuna or kelp. Convenience store labelling in Japan is detailed, and a growing number of products carry English allergen and ingredient lists.

Fruit

Japanese fruit is extraordinary and extraordinarily expensive - a single muskmelon can cost JPY 5,000. Worth trying once at a department store food hall.

Halal kaiseki

Several ryokan now offer a full halal or Muslim-friendly kaiseki multi-course dinner, booked in advance. The best way to experience Japanese fine dining.

Turkish and South Asian food

Japan's Muslim communities run excellent Turkish, Pakistani and Indonesian restaurants in every major city - often the easiest option and reliably halal.

Restaurants

Naritaya Asakusa, Tokyo Halal certified

Halal chicken ramen and gyoza a few minutes from Senso-ji, with a prayer room attached. The single most useful address for a Muslim traveller in Tokyo.

Ayam-Ya Okachimachi, Tokyo and Kyoto Halal certified

Halal chicken ramen with a rich paitan broth, plus karaage. Branches in Tokyo and near Kyoto Station, which is where Kyoto's halal options are thinnest.

Gyumon Shibuya, Tokyo Halal certified

Halal-certified wagyu yakiniku - you grill it yourself over charcoal. Small, expensive and worth booking well ahead.

Shinjuku Gyoen Ramen Ouka Shinjuku, Tokyo Halal certified

Halal ramen with a chicken and seafood broth in a tiny shop near Shinjuku Gyoenmae station. Queue at peak times.

Sekai Cafe Asakusa and Oshiage, Tokyo Halal + vegan

Halal, vegan and allergen-free menus in one place, near Senso-ji and the Skytree. Useful if the group has mixed requirements.

CoCo Ichibanya Akihabara Tokyo Halal certified

A halal-certified branch of Japan's largest curry chain, with a separate kitchen. Familiar, cheap and open late.

Honolu Ramen Tokyo and Osaka Halal certified

Halal chicken ramen with branches in Shibuya and Osaka, and one of the more consistent of the halal ramen operations.

Matsuri Halal Restaurant Namba, Osaka Halal

Japanese dishes including sushi and yakiniku in halal form, in central Osaka. Useful in a city with fewer options than Tokyo.

Naritaya Kyoto Kiyomizu, Kyoto Halal certified

The Kyoto branch, near the Kiyomizu-dera approach, which is exactly where you need it after a morning of temples.

Tokyo Camii basement market Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo Halal shop

Halal meat, Turkish groceries and bread in the mosque basement. The place to stock up for self-catering or long train days.

Halal ryokan kaiseki Hakone, Kyoto, Kanazawa Muslim-friendly

A growing number of ryokan offer halal or Muslim-friendly kaiseki dinners and private onsen baths, always booked in advance. Kyoto and Hakone have the most.

Turkish restaurants Every major city Halal

Japan's Turkish community runs reliable halal restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya - an easy default when Japanese options are booked out.

Indonesian and Malaysian restaurants Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya Halal

Serving Japan's large Indonesian student and worker population, and generally the cheapest reliable halal food in the country.

Halal Japanese Kitchen restaurants, Kyoto Station Kyoto Muslim-friendly

Kyoto Station's food floors now include several Muslim-friendly options, which is the practical answer on a tight Kyoto day.

Watch out for:
  • Ramen broth is usually pork (tonkotsu), and even shoyu and miso ramen often use a pork base. Halal ramen shops use chicken or beef.
  • Mirin and cooking sake are in most Japanese sauces, marinades and simmered dishes. Certified restaurants substitute alcohol-free versions.
  • Soy sauce contains a small amount of alcohol from fermentation. Most scholars permit it since it is not intoxicating; stricter travellers use certified alcohol-free soy sauce.
  • Dashi is usually bonito and kelp, which is fine, but instant dashi powders sometimes include pork extract - check.
  • Shared fryers are common, so tempura and karaage in ordinary restaurants may share oil with pork items.
  • Gelatine in desserts and some sweets is often pork-derived. Wagashi made from rice, bean paste and agar are safe.

Prayer, dress and practicalities

Prayer rooms have multiplied in the last decade - airports, major stations, department stores and tourist offices increasingly have them, and the Halal Gourmet Japan and Muslim Pro apps map them.

WherePrayer facilities
Narita, Haneda and Kansai airportsPrayer rooms airside and landside at all three, with ablution facilities. Narita and Kansai also have halal restaurants.
Major stationsKyoto Station, Tokyo Station, Shinjuku and Osaka's Namba have prayer rooms or multi-faith spaces; some are inside tourist information centres.
Department storesTakashimaya, Isetan and several other chains have added prayer rooms in their flagship stores, usually on the upper floors near the customer service desk.
MosquesTokyo Camii, Otsuka, Asakusa, Osaka Masjid, Kobe and Kyoto are the ones most useful to visitors. Over a hundred nationwide, mostly small.
UniversitiesMost large universities have a prayer room for their international students, and they are generally accessible if you ask.
HotelsMuslim-friendly hotels provide qibla markers, mats and sometimes a prayer room. Elsewhere, hotel rooms are clean and private, which is what most travellers use.
Theme parks and attractionsTokyo Disney, Universal Studios Japan and several large attractions now have prayer rooms - check the park map.

Practical notes

Where to stay in Japan

Stay where the halal food is. In Tokyo that means Asakusa or Shinjuku; in Kyoto, near the station; in Osaka, Namba. The alternative is long train rides for dinner.

Asakusa Tokyo Best for halal food

Senso-ji, Naritaya's halal ramen and prayer room, Sekai Cafe and several other halal options within a few streets. The most practical Tokyo base for Muslim travellers.

Shinjuku Tokyo Transport hub

The world's busiest station, with lines to everywhere, several halal restaurants and Shinjuku Gyoen next door. Note the Kabukicho nightlife district on one side.

Shibuya and Yoyogi Tokyo Near Tokyo Camii

Walking distance to Tokyo Camii and Meiji Jingu, with Gyumon's halal wagyu in Shibuya. Younger and busier.

Kyoto Station area Kyoto Practical

Kyoto's halal restaurants cluster here, along with the bus and train connections. Less atmospheric than Gion but far more convenient.

Gion and Higashiyama Kyoto Atmosphere

Machiya townhouses and temple lanes, the most beautiful part of the city. Very few food options after dark - plan dinner elsewhere.

Namba and Shinsaibashi Osaka Halal cluster

Osaka's halal restaurants are concentrated here, along with Dotonbori and the shopping arcades.

Muslim-friendly ryokan Hakone, Kyoto, Kanazawa Halal meals

A growing number offer halal or Muslim-friendly kaiseki dinners and private family onsen baths. Always booked well in advance.

Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes Near Tokyo Mountains

Ryokan with Fuji views and private hot spring baths, 90 minutes from Tokyo. Several now cater to Muslim guests with advance notice.

Beaches, pools and leisure

What a halal-friendly trip to Japan costs

The weak yen has made Japan considerably cheaper for foreign visitors than it was a decade ago. All figures are per person per day unless stated, excluding international flights.

ItemBudgetMid-rangePremium
AccommodationJPY 7,000-12,000JPY 18,000-30,000JPY 60,000+
Food (3 meals)JPY 3,000-5,000JPY 7,000-12,000JPY 30,000+
Local transportJPY 800-1,500 (IC card)JPY 2,500-4,000JPY 25,000 (car and driver)
AttractionsJPY 0-1,500 (shrines)JPY 2,500-5,000JPY 15,000+
Shinkansen Tokyo-KyotoJPY 13,500 (reserved)JPY 13,500JPY 18,000 (Green Car)
Daily total per personJPY 12,000-19,000JPY 30,000-50,000JPY 120,000+

Best time to visit Japan

Four sharply defined seasons, and two of them are the reason people come.

PeriodWeatherVerdict for a halal trip
March-May10-22CCherry blossom - late March in Tokyo, early April in Kyoto. The best and busiest time. Book six months ahead.
June-August25-35C, humidJune is the rainy season; July and August are hot and humid with a strong risk of typhoons in the south. Hokkaido is the escape.
September-November15-25CThe other great window. Autumn colour peaks in Kyoto in mid to late November and is, if anything, better than the blossom.
December-February0-12CCold, clear, and the cheapest time. Kyoto under snow is extraordinary, Fuji is most visible in winter, and Hokkaido's ski season is superb.
Travelling during Ramadan: Japan's Muslim population is small and the country continues entirely as normal during Ramadan - nothing closes and no restrictions apply. Tokyo Camii, Otsuka and Osaka Masjid hold nightly iftar, usually free and open to anyone, and these are genuinely welcoming gatherings of Japan's international Muslim community. The practical difficulty is that suhoor and iftar timings in summer can be extreme - Tokyo's fast in June runs over sixteen hours - and halal restaurants keep ordinary Japanese hours. Plan around convenience store food and the mosque iftars.

Japan halal travel FAQ

The questions Muslim travellers ask most often before booking.

How hard is it really to eat halal in Japan?
It requires planning, not luck. Ordinary Japanese restaurants use pork, lard, mirin and cooking sake routinely, so you cannot walk in and order. But Tokyo now has dozens of halal restaurants including several good ramen shops, Kyoto and Osaka have a handful each, and apps map them. Book ahead, base yourself near a cluster, and it is entirely manageable.
What about soy sauce and mirin?
Soy sauce contains a small amount of alcohol produced by fermentation, and the majority scholarly view is that it is permissible because it is not intoxicating and is not an added alcoholic drink. Mirin is a sweet cooking wine and is more contested. Halal-certified restaurants in Japan use alcohol-free substitutes for both.
Is 'Muslim-friendly' good enough?
That depends on your standard. In Japan it usually means the kitchen avoids pork and alcohol but the meat is not from a certified halal supplier, or the certificate covers only part of the menu. Certified restaurants state the certifying body. Decide which you follow before you travel, because the distinction comes up constantly.
Can I visit Tokyo Camii?
Yes - free guided tours run daily in English and Japanese, usually in the afternoon, and no booking is needed for individuals. Modest dress is required and scarves are lent. The basement has a halal market selling meat and Turkish groceries, which is useful for stocking up.
How do I handle onsen?
Book a private bath (kashikiri-buro), which most ryokan and many hotels offer for a small fee or included with the room. Public onsen are communal, gender-separated and require full nudity, which is not workable for most Muslim travellers. Private baths are entirely normal and are also used by Japanese families.
Is Japan expensive?
Less than it was. The weak yen means Japan now costs roughly what Western Europe does. A mid-range nine days for two is around USD 4,500-7,000 excluding flights. Halal food carries a premium of perhaps 40-60% over the equivalent ordinary restaurant.
Where should I stay in Tokyo?
Asakusa. It has Senso-ji, several halal restaurants including Naritaya with its attached prayer room, and good transport. Shinjuku is the alternative for transport connections, and Shibuya or Yoyogi if you want to be near Tokyo Camii.
Is it a good first trip to a non-Muslim-majority country?
Not the first - Singapore or Taiwan are gentler introductions. Japan rewards travellers who are comfortable planning food in advance. Once that habit is in place, everything else about Japan is easier than almost anywhere on earth.