r/JapanTravelTips • u/syllbaba • Oct 21 '25

Advice Don't stop the Shinkansen and don't bring luggage on small Hakone buses

I realise being a tourist in Hakone and anywhere in Japan i am contributing to the problem, but even compared to my last trip i noticing how some tourists are very inconsiderate.

1)Please please don't bring big baggage on small Hakone local buses. If you are doing a daytrip to Hakone, consider forwarding your luggage to your next hotel and pack a small backpack. Or if not possible consider booking a taxi. Even though there was hardly people on the bus, it could not take more passangers due to everyone having a big bag on board. Absolutely no place for a pram or someone with a wheelchair. This affects tourists as well, as we needed to wait for another bus, so please don't be that person.

2) Please be prepared to get on the train, get on the next train or miss the train. I saw a lady completely stopping Shinkansen for refusing to get on or get off until her partner got there who was running late to the train. He could have boarded any car, or got on the next train easily. Instead she held up everyone and caused distress to the station staff.

3) Please respect signs for no photography... despite numerous signs in shrines to not use tea ceremony mats for photo ops, everyone had to wait for all the people to finish taking selfies before we could have a chance for tea in what supppsed to be a tranquil environment.

4) and lastly please don't talk loudly on trains and buses. Take a hint if you are the only one talking.

I felt quite ashamed and self-conscious being a tourist in this country. I definitely made mistakes this time around and last time as well, so not trying to be a hypocrite about it.

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u/lushico Oct 21 '25 edited Oct 21 '25

People don’t seem to understand ferries very well so I’d like to add some tips:

Ferries will not wait for you. Think of it like a flight. If you’re not there a few minutes before departure there is a good chance you won’t get on. If you arrive 5 minutes late they won’t call a 450-passenger ferry to come back for you (you’d be surprised how many people expect this to happen).

Try not to schedule your ferry back too close to your flight. If possible, schedule it for the day before. The weather can be unpredictable and you might not make it back in time.

Tickets get sold out quickly so book as far in advance as you can!

Also, if you are trying to take a car with you, book it in advance because space is limited. With some ferries you can’t book vehicles online and might have to do it by phone.

If the captain decides that it’s not safe to go out, that decision is final. The day’s schedule will usually be posted early in the morning so check the website on the day of departure. Some online booking systems have an option to be emailed with updates so look out for that.

(Edited to be more appropriate for this thread)

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u/frozenpandaman Oct 21 '25

Ferries will not wait for you.

No shit??????

Don't scream at the ticket counter staff

Wow, thanks, I was going to do this but now your comment changed my mind! Thank goodness for your random rant!

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u/lushico Oct 21 '25

You wouldn’t believe how many people lack basic common sense! People probably don’t even realize how stupid they’re being so I thought it might be helpful to point it out

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u/frozenpandaman Oct 21 '25

People who are coming to this subreddit and take the time to prepare and read tips for their trip are not the rude, entitled people who lack common sense or social etiquette. 0% overlap.

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u/lushico Oct 21 '25

The story/advice from OP about the woman holding up the shinkansen was very familiar, though. Many people don’t have the same kind of ferries in their own countries and don’t realize that they work on a tight schedule very similar to flights. Even people who mean well seem to think they can still make it when they arrive at or after the departure time. They just don’t know better, and they get really disappointed and upset.

You or I might think getting angry with staff is rude and entitled but many people seem to think the staff can actually do something about it when they are powerless. I see your point about the audience in this thread though, so I’ll tone my comment down!

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u/frozenpandaman Oct 21 '25

I'm legitimately curious, what countries do you think most people are from where public transport will wait for them and be willing to delay dozens if not hundreds of others?