Hi! My name is Cece, I live in Tokyo and I have autism. I’m a US citizen and have been studying here for 3 years. I love to travel and have been all over Japan, but sometimes it can be overwhelming for me. Here are some of my personal tips I used to navigate Japan. These are things that make exploring more tolerable and enjoyable.
1. Bring noise canceling headphones
Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the city is too much for me, but I find using noise cancelling headphones and listening to music helps mitigate some of the stress. Put on whatever helps calm you down the most. They are especially helpful on the subway or in more populated areas.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
It can be intimidating sometimes, but people here are very nice and genuinely want to help. For instance, if you’re having a hard time navigating the station, I find typing my questions into Google Translate and showing the station attendant to be a great solution. A lot of the station attendants are helpful and can usually be found at all ticket gates.
3. If you’re especially sensitive to crowds and people, go on trains outside of rush hour, preferably mid-day.
The trains are so busy during rush hour in the morning and night and seating can be hard to find and that can feel especially overwhelming. Some train lines have local and express trains and if you are not in a hurry, I recommend going on the local trains because they are not usually as busy. If you do travel during rush hour, the least crowded areas I’ve found are the front and end carriages of the train. The busiest carriages with the most people are the carriages that are nearest to the subway station exits.
4. Don’t be afraid to get out of the busy areas and explore the quieter side streets.
Many of the more popular streets in Tokyo are very crowded, but there are always side streets just minutes away if the crowds are too much. Going to a side area is also a good way to collect yourself and your thoughts if everything just feels overwhelming. A lot of the side areas are very pretty with their own nooks and crannies. Residential areas are quieter and have less people. The local shrines and temples of the beaten path are usually not very crowded and are also very peaceful areas and a good place to relax.
5. Don’t feel bad for heading out early.
You only have so much stamina and tolerance and its totally okay if you can’t see everything you want to see! Sometimes, things are just too much for me to handle and I just need to leave to get away from the crowds. What I like to do is to make a plan on what I want to see and set my own limits. A day exploring can be really tiring, especially with walking around a high-density area with a lot of people, like Shibuya or Akihabara. Know your limits and plan around it.
6. Plan downtime into your schedule
If you’re going into a high density area, plan some time to go back to wherever you are staying and rest up. If you are on a day trip and can’t go back, go to a quiet place like a park or a small café. Build some time into your schedule for these things. It’s important to make plans to keep your stress level down.
7. Online maps are super useful.
I find Google maps to be very helpful in general and especially helpful with train transfers and bus routes. It usually lists train arrivals and departures, what platform it is and if you’re making a connection from another train what car to sit in to make the transfer the easiest. It also shows directions to the most convenient exits.
8. Buses are a good alternative to trains
Buses are typically not that busy and there is usually a place to sit. It may take a little more time but it might be worth considering if you are feeling overwhelmed. I personally love to sit on buses and look out the window, I find it very relaxing. Even during rush hours, the buses are generally not as busy as the trains. They can get kind of packed, during busier times, but more often than not, buses are a good alternative to trains during rush hours.
9. When going to Tokyo station, use the subway to get there.
As the shinkansen lines all run out of Tokyo station, it gets very busy. Rather than going on a JR line train to catch a shinkansen, go to a nearby subway station and then walk into Tokyo station. They have underground walkways into the station. Its usually not as busy and you can go into the shinkansen gates without going through the very busy JR line areas.
10. Do what you want to do and ultimately have fun!
What’s most important is to enjoy your time in Japan! Its an amazing country and your autism doesn’t have to hold you back. Do what you want to do, pace yourself, build downtime into your plans and remember, it’s a marathon and not a sprint!
Responses