The Japan Travel Writer's Podcast
Sep 11, 2026 · 33 min · 10 segments
This episode we look at some basic Japan travel manners, from when to be mindful of noise to bathtime rules, plus tips on luggage, connectivity and more.
stench but that's one that you would you would sometimes get in a food guide someone might say if you're going to go to sushi don't wear cologne or perfume because that's frowned upon because the food is very subtle and heavy aromas can interfere with the enjoyment of the sushi
And that's about the only time that the aroma, stench, or smell comes into those guidebooks.
And I think that that's one thing that quite a few Japanese find a bit off-putting, is if you're on the Shinkansen and someone is sitting next to you with heavy cologne on, or if you're on the the subway and you have to deal with someone else's perfume or their deodorant
that's definitely true i mean often it's not it's not particularly bad smell i mean sometimes it's And so I have a few aftershaves and scents and colognes and things from back home.
Obviously, you go into department stores, there are perfume and cologne sections, aren't there?
Yeah, and it's one of those things that you probably wouldn't even notice yourself as a tourist, would you? Because no one's really going to pull you up on it.
And the reason that came up is because it's something I tend to only notice on public transport.
you know, everyone generally keeps themselves to themselves or even, you know, if they're with a friend or family or something, they tend to keep their voices down.
I mean, you know, maybe on a Friday night, you know, after everyone's been out drinking in izakayas and things, voices, you know, do get a bit louder and things like that.
But, yeah, generally on public transport, it's the done thing to be, you know, as quiet as possible and not disturb other people.
stench but that's one that you would you would sometimes get in a food guide someone might say if you're going to go to sushi don't wear cologne or perfume because that's frowned upon because the food is very subtle and heavy aromas can interfere with the enjoyment of the sushi
And that's about the only time that the aroma, stench, or smell comes into those guidebooks.
And I think that that's one thing that quite a few Japanese find a bit off-putting, is if you're on the Shinkansen and someone is sitting next to you with heavy cologne on, or if you're on the the subway and you have to deal with someone else's perfume or their deodorant
that's definitely true i mean often it's not it's not particularly bad smell i mean sometimes it's And so I have a few aftershaves and scents and colognes and things from back home.
Obviously, you go into department stores, there are perfume and cologne sections, aren't there?
Yeah, and it's one of those things that you probably wouldn't even notice yourself as a tourist, would you? Because no one's really going to pull you up on it.
And the reason that came up is because it's something I tend to only notice on public transport.
you know, everyone generally keeps themselves to themselves or even, you know, if they're with a friend or family or something, they tend to keep their voices down.
I mean, you know, maybe on a Friday night, you know, after everyone's been out drinking in izakayas and things, voices, you know, do get a bit louder and things like that.
But, yeah, generally on public transport, it's the done thing to be, you know, as quiet as possible and not disturb other people.
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