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In the U.S., we drive everywhere, and we don't have many opportunities to walk somewhere. I try to walk a mile a day, which is about 2,300 to 2,400 steps, and in Japan, it’s not unusual to walk that far in the morning. On a normal day, I walk about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day.

Therefore, you should wear comfortable shoes for walking when you go to Japan. Some people might think it’s better just to buy shoes in Japan, but please note that the maximum shoe size in Japan is 28.5cm, which is a size 10.5 in U.S. standard sizes. So, it’ll be difficult to find shoes bigger than that.

As far as clothes sizing goes from small (S) to XXL in the U.S., but it’s different in Japan. The first three sizes of small (S), medium (M), and large (L) are the same, the sizes after that are LL and LLL. Also, keep in mind that Japanese sizes are actually one size smaller than standard U.S. sizes, even though we call them the same.

So, when shopping in Japan, please remember to check your size accordingly.

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Today, we’re introducing five islands recommended for cat lovers. These islands are famous for having more cats than population.

Tashirojima, the original cat island with a shrine to a cat god

Tashirojima (Tashiro Island) is one of the islands known as Japan's "original cat islands" where people built a shrine for the cat god. Tashirojima is a remote island in the Miyagi Prefecture and has become a tourist attraction as a "cat island" because of the large number of cats that live there. They also say Tashirojima is the model for "Hyokkori Hyotanjima.

Enoshima, a cat island near Tokyo

Enoshima is a Japanese tourist destination located relatively close to Tokyo, also known as one of Japan's cat islands. Enoshima is in Fujisawa City in the Kanagawa Prefecture. So, it’s easily accessible from central Tokyo by train or car, making it a popular destination for many tourists and residents.

Enoshima is a small island characterized by natural scenery, a historical heritage, delicious food, and cats. Cats can be seen in various parts of the island, providing a healing moment for tourists.

Okishima, a cat island in a freshwater lake

Okishima is the largest island in Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. Okishima is the only inhabited island in Lake Biwa, and there aren’t any cars on the island. There are about ten ferry services to the island, and it takes about 10 minutes to cross over. The island has long been famous for its large number of cats.

Aoshima, an island with more cats than people.

Aoshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea in the city of Ozu, Aichi Prefecture, is now a popular destination for cat-loving tourists. Especially since the number of cats now outnumbers the human population since 2010, when the population dropped below 50.

Aoshima is 1.6 kilometers long and is located in the Ehime Prefecture in southern Japan. Originally, fishermen brought cats to the island to deal with the rats, but the cats remain and continue to breed on the island today. And the cat population numbers have increased almost exponentially.

Manabe Island, the movie location

Many people know Manabe Island best as the filming location for the movie Setouchi Shonen Yakyu-dan (Setouchi Boys' Baseball Team, in English), that came out in 1984. The island is located in the Seto Inland Sea in the Okayama Prefecture, where you can see the townscape that evokes postwar Japan and the Showa period. Recently, Manabe Island has been known as "Cat Island," but here you won’t only encounter wild cats, but also find undiscovered attractions like rich nature and nostalgic scenery.

We hope all of our cat lovers enjoy some of the most famous cat spots in Japan.

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Here are some manners unique to Japanese life and business.

1.  Always stand when greeting or exchanging business cards with someone.

It is extremely rude to greet or exchange business cards with someone while sitting while the other person stands.

2. Smoking, eating, or drinking while walking.

Japanese culture considers smoking, eating, or drinking while walking bad manners. In Japan, especially, there are no garbage cans. This means that you are not supposed to throw out the garbage.

3. Don’t talk loudly.

When conversing in populated places like trains, restaurants, coffee shops, and more, don’t speak loudly. Furthermore, using cell phones may also be prohibited.

4.  Don’t start eating meals with others until after everyone arrives.

When eating at a meeting, be sure to wait until everyone is present before you start to eat. If you are allowed to eat first, the organizer should ask you to eat first.

5. Don’t touch the last leftover.

When you are eating, be careful when eating the last of the food that’s left over. Manners dictate that you should not touch the last piece of food.

6. Don’t order something more expensive than the host.

If someone invites you to a meal, you should avoid ordering something more expensive than your host.

7. Make it easy for your guests to order as the host.

If you’re the host and you invite a guest to a meal, you should either order the most expensive item possible, or you should tell your guest in advance that he or she can order whatever he or she wants.

8.  Keep some cash on hand.

Japan is a cash society, so make sure to have some cash on hand. As a rule of thumb, you should try to have between 30,000 and 50,000 Yen in cash.

These are the things I try to keep in mind when I go to Japan. I hope they will be helpful to you. Have a good time in Japan.

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