Japan is heaven on earth for South Africans

·1 Jan 2026

Many South Africans are singing the praises of Japan, and its biggest city, Tokyo, as a great holiday destination. BusinessTech went to see for itself.

What we found was a friendly and advanced society with complete safety, honest people, great restaurants, and excellent service without the need for tipping.

What makes Tokyo even more attractive is that it is a relatively affordable holiday when compared to other world cities like New York, London, or Paris.

What sparked BusinessTech’s interest in Japan as a holiday destination was the numerous South Africans who visited the country and provided positive feedback.

One of the reasons for the increasing number of people visiting Japan is that South African passport holders can now apply for a Japan eVISA online.

This eliminates the need to visit the embassy in Pretoria or the consulate in Cape Town in person for short-term tourism.

Although there are no direct flights between South Africa and Japan, many airlines offer local travellers the option to fly to Tokyo with a stopover.

We opted for Emirates, which offers economy class flights via Dubai for under R20,000 per person. The stopover is a breeze, especially if you have lounge access.

Accommodation prices vary significantly based on the area and the type of room or apartment you select.

You can get basic accommodation for as little as a few hundred rand a night, while a comfortable hotel room will set you back well above R1,000 per night.

These prices are not outside what you would expect to pay for a hotel of similar quality and location in South Africa.

A big drawcard for visiting Tokyo is its train system, which is widely seen as the world’s most efficient. You can get from anywhere to anywhere using trains.

Although it can be confusing at first, it is not too challenging to figure out, and it makes it easy and affordable to travel across the city.

What is striking is how quiet it is. Most people using the train don’t talk to each other in a normal speaking voice. It’s a whisper-only zone.

Tokyo also has excellent taxi services which integrate with Uber. It is quick to get a taxi, and prices are similar to those in South Africa.

Tokyo is extremely safe, and people are honest

One of the prominent reasons South Africans love Tokyo so much is that it is entirely safe, and nobody is looking to steal your stuff or rip you off.

You can walk through the city at 3:00 in the morning with total confidence, and losing a wallet often results in it being returned to its owner with everything inside.

Nobody is pestering you for money, and people are not trying to sell you products at inflated prices because you are a tourist.

Experiencing such a safe and honest society is refreshing and provides a stark contrast to South Africa, where one must be constantly vigilant to avoid becoming a victim.

Many South Africans reported that the sense of freedom that comes with Tokyo’s low crime rate is one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

A good example is people reserving a table in a busy Starbucks by leaving their iPhone 16 or MacBook unattended while they go to the counter to order.

A strong cultural emphasis on hospitality and social obligation supports the safety. Bringing shame to one’s family by committing a crime is a powerful deterrent.

Although they have many small, neighbourhood police boxes usually manned by one or two officers, this is not the reason for the low crime rate.

It is not that the people in Japan are deterred from engaging in crime. Instead, there is a sense that harming another person makes no sense.

Excellent service levels without the need to tip

Another striking aspect of visiting Tokyo is that they offer exceptional service levels without requiring a tip to show appreciation.

We were uncertain about what to expect, as we had heard that very few Japanese people can speak English. We had Google Translate ready to navigate this hurdle.

However, we quickly learned that it was much easier than expected to visit a restaurant or buy items in a shop, even though we couldn’t speak Japanese.

English words are scattered throughout the city and on many items, and Google Translate was a great companion when no English description was available.

What stood out was how easy it was to communicate with people at restaurants and shops despite the language barrier.

Although the waiters could not speak English, we were able to get a table and order food and drinks without any problems.

In most cases, it was easier and friendlier to communicate with a Japanese person which could not speak English than it was in South Africa with a fellow citizen.

The hotel staff in Tokyo was equally friendly and accommodating, and their English skills were typically better than those of their counterparts in restaurants.

The ‘no tipping’ policy in Japan is another surprisingly refreshing way to travel. It removes a tremendous amount of friction.

Instead of scrounging around for the right amount to tip, a quick Thank You (Arigato gozaimasu) is good enough. This is the way it should be.

Excellent and affordable restaurants

A standout feature of visiting Tokyo is the thousands of excellent and affordable restaurants on nearly every street and building.

The dining landscape ranges from specialised noodle shops and burger joints to some of the world’s most exclusive fine-dining destinations.

We focused on restaurants which the locals frequented, which offered meals with prices ranging from R100 to R150 for a set meal.

These restaurants were typically much smaller than what you would see in South Africa, and it is common for people to sit on small chairs outside to wait for a table.

We loved the food, which typically consisted of a protein, a bowl of sticky rice, a broth, and a small salad or vegetable dish.

Most of these restaurants only offered chopsticks, but it is surprising how quickly you become skilled in using them when there is no other option.

The waiters are friendly and efficient, and don’t ever bother you. They give you a table and water, wait for you to order, bring you your food, and that is it.

There are no uncomfortable moments, such as asking you how your food is, or the like. They keep communication to a minimum and bring you your food quickly.

Visiting a restaurant in Tokyo is an enjoyable experience, and if we stayed there permanently, we would seldom eat at home.