[Columbine]

What do you suggest Masaegu? It would be useful to hear from the other end of the spectrum too; what common mistakes or misinterpretations do you think people should be aware of if they travel to Japan?

Heres some of my tips/experiences for living in Japan:

In some suburbs and back-streets, storm drains and -large- flood gutters aren't always covered, so be careful walking at the edge of the road on poorly lit streets, or after very heavy rain. It's not a fun place to fall into, as some can be about 4' deep.

You may be used to talking casually with your friends on the way home from where-ever late at night; walking amongst housing and doing so WILL disturb people, so be considerate and lower your volume in this case. Houses tend to have thinner walls and glazing so in some places you will be easily overheard. You'd be surprised at how much even a normal voice will carry. Also consider that there are plenty of people who attend school or work overtime early on saturdays, or only get to sleep in on sundays so weekend nights are no excuse to be noisier.