Japan Bird-Watching Tour: Handbook for Participants
1. Accommodation Etiquette & the Comfort of Futons
Strict No-Shoes Rule
In traditional Japanese accommodations (Ryokan) and private homes, removing your shoes before stepping into the building is an absolute rule.
Tatami Mats
Walking on traditional straw mats (Tatami) with your outdoor shoes on is a major taboo. Inside Tatami rooms, you must also remove your indoor slippers and walk only in your socks or bare feet.
When in Doubt
If you are unsure where to remove your shoes (such as at transition boundaries or building entrances), please do not guess. Always check with your tour leader or local guide first.
The Appeal of Traditional Futons
You will sleep on thick mattresses (Futon) laid directly on the Tatami floor. This is a brilliant, centuries-old tradition that supports your spine properly and allows the room to feel incredibly spacious. We highly encourage you to embrace this unique cultural experience.
• Tips for Extra Comfort: If you lie down and find the floor a bit too firm, please check the wardrobe or cupboard in your room. If there are spare futon mattresses available, you are more than welcome to stack them double. A double layer provides extra cushioning and ensures an exceptionally comfortable night's sleep.
2. Hygiene, Drinking Water & Dietary Requirements
Safe Tap Water
Japan's tap water is managed using exceptionally advanced infrastructure and technology, making it completely safe to drink straight from the tap. There is no need to buy bottled mineral water every day. You can easily fill up your reusable bottles before heading out into the field.
Dietary Restrictions (Allergies & Gluten-Free)
In rural areas and local eateries, accommodating specific dietary requirements—particularly strict gluten-free diets—can be structurally very challenging. This is because core Japanese seasonings, such as standard soy sauce, naturally contain wheat. If you have strict dietary needs, please understand these limitations and consider bringing your own supplementary food items.
Chopstick Etiquette & Taboos
Please be mindful of two critical taboos when using chopsticks (Hashi), as they are associated with funeral rituals:
• Tate-bashi (Standing Chopsticks): Never stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice.
• Hashi-watashi (Chopstick Passing): Never pass food directly from your chopsticks to another person's chopsticks.
3. Transport & Fieldwork Safety Regulations
Strict Prohibition of Roadside Parking
Under Japanese law, our tour vehicle cannot park or stop on the side of the road under any circumstances, unless it is a pre-designated safe parking area. Even if you spot a rare bird and want to stop immediately, stopping on narrow public roads or blind bends poses a severe accident risk and is strictly illegal. We kindly ask for your cooperation in prioritising safety first.
Keep Left
In Japan, both vehicles and pedestrians keep to the left side of the road. When walking along roads, please walk in a single file and avoid spreading out horizontally to ensure you do not block oncoming traffic or local residents.
Photography Etiquette
If you wish to take photographs of local people, farmers, or children in the field, please always ask for permission first by saying a polite word (e.g., “May I take a photo?”) to avoid any misunderstandings or discomfort.
4. Waste Management & Recycling
Waste Separation on the Bus
While travelling on the tour bus, we will conduct structured waste recycling using dedicated collection bags. Please follow your guide's instructions carefully when throwing items away.
• Completely Empty Drinks: Crucially, ensure you completely finish or empty your drinks before putting cans, plastic bottles, or cartons into the recycling bags or bins. Any leftover liquid can spill and soil the vehicle or the collection point.
Separation in Accommodation Rooms
When inside your hotel or Ryokan room, if multiple bins are provided for different categories (e.g., burnable waste, plastics, cans/bottles), please separate your rubbish accordingly. If there is only one bin, please neatly place empty cans and bottles next to the bin as a sign of respect for Japan's dedicated recycling culture.
5. Special Rules for Blakiston's Fish Owl Observation
The Blakiston's Fish Owl is an exceptionally rare and cautious species. To prevent them from sensing human presence and fleeing, you must strictly adhere to the following rules while inside the observation hides:
Keep Conversations to a Minimum
If you must speak, please do so only in a soft whisper. Loud talking is strictly forbidden.
No Mobile Phone Lights or Screens
Sudden light from smartphones will startle the birds. Please dim your screen brightness to the absolute minimum and never point it towards the viewing windows.
Stay Inside the Hide
Do not step outside the observation hide unless it is absolutely necessary (such as for using the toilet). These owls are incredibly sensitive to human silhouettes and movement.
6. Purchasing Lunch at Convenience Stores (Conbini)
To ensure our group buys lunch efficiently without causing congestion at the cash registers, we use the following streamlined system:
Group Basket
Please place your chosen lunch items (such as bento boxes, sandwiches, or rice balls) into the large shared basket carried by the tour leader or local guide.
Cutlery
Your guide will collect the correct number of chopsticks, spoons, and forks for the entire group at the counter, so you do not need to worry about obtaining them individually.
Personal Items & Indulgences
Alcohol, tobacco, personal snacks, or extra drinks for your room must not be placed in the shared basket. Please take these personal indulgences to a separate register and pay for them individually.
Sorting and Distribution
Once purchased, the group items will be sorted and distributed back on the bus. We highly appreciate your help in organising and handing out the food to keep our departure on schedule.
7. Onsen & Public Bathing Culture
Gender-Segregated Baths & Rotation
Public baths (including Onsen) are strictly segregated by gender. Some Ryokans swap the men's and women's baths at different times of the day to let guests experience both layouts. Always check the colour of the entrance curtain (Noren)—typically blue/navy for men and red/pink for women—and look at the timetable signboards before entering.
Wash Full Body Before Entering
The communal bathtub is purely for relaxing and soaking your body, not for washing. You must thoroughly scrub and rinse your entire body at the individual shower stations before stepping into the water. Please note that public baths require complete nudity; swimwear is strictly prohibited for hygiene reasons.
Towel Regulations
Public bathing areas rarely provide extra towels on-site. You must bring the set of towels provided in your guest room with you. Do not let your towel touch the bathwater; either place it on top of your head or set it neatly by the side of the tub.
8. Japan's Advanced Toilet System (Washlet)
Multifunctional Warm-Water Bidets
Most toilets in Japanese hotels, public venues, and convenience stores feature advanced Washlet systems. They include features like heated seats and warm-water sprays, controlled via a wall or side panel. While it may seem unfamiliar at first, it is highly hygienic and comfortable.
Flushing Paper
Used toilet paper must always be thrown directly into the toilet bowl and flushed away with water. Do not throw toilet paper into the small bins, as those are exclusively for sanitary products.
9. Electricity, Voltage & Wi-Fi Connectivity
Voltage and Plugs
Japan operates on a voltage of 100V. The plug type is Type A (two flat parallel pins, identical to North America). Devices from North America (120V) usually work without issues, but equipment from Europe (230V) will require a voltage transformer. However, most modern smartphone and camera chargers are dual-voltage (100V–240V), so you may only need a simple plug adapter.
Wi-Fi Availability
Free public Wi-Fi is readily available at airports and hotels, but it is surprisingly scarce when out in the streets or exploring natural bird-watching habitats. If you require a constant internet connection while on the move, we strongly recommend activating an eSIM or renting a pocket Wi-Fi device prior to your arrival in Japan.
10. Tipping & Financial Transactions
Tipping is Generally Not Practised
There is no tipping culture in Japanese hotels, restaurants, or taxis. Exceptional service is considered the standard. Saying a polite “thank you” (Arigato) is the most elegant way to show your appreciation.
Exceptions for Gratuities
If you wish to express special thanks to your tour bus driver for long, safe journeys, or to a staff member who went completely out of their way for a bespoke request, a small gratuity is acceptable. In alignment with Japanese etiquette, please place the cash inside a small envelope rather than handing it over bare.
Carry Cash
Many rural bird-watching hotspots and small local shops do not accept credit cards or electronic payments. Please ensure you carry a reasonable amount of physical Japanese Yen cash with you at all times.
11. Emergency Contacts & Procedures
Primary Instruction
If you feel unwell or encounter any emergency during the tour, please do not attempt to handle it alone. Immediately inform your tour leader or local guide and follow their directions.
Emergency Numbers (For Reference)
• Police: 110 (For accidents or incidents)
• Ambulance / Fire: 119 (For medical emergencies or fires)
Note: These calls are free from any phone, but please always route your communication through your guiding staff first whenever possible.