To protect the environment where cats can live safely and to respect the lives of the islanders, it is extremely important for us visitors to know and observe the correct manners and etiquette. This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the 7 essential etiquette rules you must know before visiting and the must-have items to bring, to ensure your trip to a cat island is fun, safe, and memorable for both cats and humans. Please read on to help make your wonderful encounters with cats a reality!

Why are Manners Important When Visiting a Cat Island? [For Both Cats and the Island]

Cat islands are precious places where cats live freely in a near-natural state. Furthermore, on many islands, aging residents carefully watch over the cats as part of their daily lives. Disorderly behavior by tourists can harm the cats’ health, degrade the island’s environment, and even threaten the livelihoods of the islanders. Observing proper manners is essential for the cats to continue living happily and for the islands to remain attractive tourist destinations in the future.

7 Etiquette Rules to Observe When Visiting a Cat Island [Beware of Absolute NO-GOs!]

To have the best time with the cats on a cat island, be sure to follow these 7 etiquette rules:

1. Feeding cats is generally prohibited!

On most cat islands, feeding cats is prohibited in principle. Disorderly feeding by tourists can harm the cats’ health, lead to cats gathering excessively and fighting, and cause droppings to pollute the island’s environment. Even if feeding is permitted on an island, always follow the designated locations and methods. Absolutely do not give any food you brought without permission.

2. Do not force contact with cats! Do not chase or pick them up.

Cats are very delicate creatures. Forcing contact, chasing, or picking them up can cause them stress and may lead to scratches or bites. If a cat approaches you, gently pet it and respect the cat’s pace.

3. Take all your trash home! There are almost no trash cans on the islands.

Most cat islands do not have proper trash disposal facilities. Take everything you bring with you (leftover food, drink containers, snack wrappers, etc.) back home. Absolutely do not discard anything on the island, especially items that cats might accidentally ingest.

4. Do not speak loudly or make noise! Spend time quietly.

Cats are sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements. Also, cat islands are places where island residents live. Do not shout or run around; enjoy the cats and the island’s atmosphere quietly. If you remain quiet, cats may naturally approach you.

5. Do not enter private property or residential areas.

Cats may be relaxing on private property or in gardens, but these are the private spaces of the island residents. Absolutely refrain from entering without permission or peeking into windows. Be especially careful in areas where warning signs are posted.

6. Bringing pets other than cats (especially dogs) is strictly prohibited!

On cat islands, bringing pets other than cats (such as dogs) is strictly prohibited to protect the cat ecosystem and the island’s environment. This is to avoid stress for the cats and to prevent the risk of infectious diseases.

7. Always check boat operation information in advance.

Access to cat islands is solely by ferry. It is not uncommon for services to be canceled due to weather or sea conditions. Always check the latest operation information on the official website of the ferry company for the cat island you plan to visit before departing. This is especially important during winter and typhoon seasons.

Essential Packing List for Visiting a Cat Island [For a Comfortable Trip]

Cat islands, unlike typical tourist destinations, often have very limited restaurants and shops. To enjoy your cat island visit comfortably, we strongly recommend preparing the following items:

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Happy Cats, Happy People! Have a Memorable Cat Island Trip!

Japan’s cat islands are very special places, protected by the cats that live there and the island residents. By each visitor observing etiquette and preparing thoroughly, their stay on a cat island will become even more enjoyable and heartwarming.

We hope this article serves as a reference for your cat island visit and helps you have wonderful encounters with cats and create unforgettable memories. For the sake of the cats, the island, and your own trip, let’s enjoy responsible cat island tourism!

There are some matching sites for babysitters and parents.

However, most of sites are usually for Japanese.

So, this time, I selected 3 babysitter matching sites that are available for foreigners and tourists.

Let me introduce some babysitting service, that are useful when you visit Japan with babies.

What is Babysitter Matching Service

Babysitter matching service helps us to find babysitters that can take care of your babies or kids, when you are not free.

In short, it is a service where you can find a helper near your house or hotels.

What is in common among babysitter matching service is that all 3 companies have no registration fees or annual fees.

It is also attractive for users who need it only once and want to try it for now.

How to Use babysitter Maching Service

Here is the flow of how to use babysitter maching service.

Bacically, you need following steps to use.

3 Popular Babysitter Matching Service Sites

KXN(K by N)

The feature of KXN is aslo that you can request a babysitter from 1 hour.

There are many of different babysitters that have different nationalities with various qualifications and special skills.

And each sitter offers high quality services that make use of their individuality.

As a precautionary measure, KXN has joined the Chubb General Insurance Group Security System and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa’s liability insurance.

So, no need to be worried when you leave your children.

Price table

PickSister

The feature of PickSister is aslo that you can request a babysitter from 1 hour.

The picksitter is runned by Avenir Co., Ltd.

Avenir Co., Ltd. has licensed nursery schools and also provides support for the opening and operation of childcare businesses.

Because they have developed a sitter service utilizing their achievements, you can request with confidence.

Also, target age of is Picksitters wide, which is from 0 to 15.

In the usual babysitter service, the target is mostly elementary school students.

Price table

The website is Japanese, so please change language to English.

You can change the language upper left of the page.

CareFinder

CareFinder offers a service where you can be matched with bilingual babysitters.

CareFinder has babysitters with various childcare experiences and skills from all over the world.

You can meet sitters who can meet the various needs of users, such as English, French and other native languages, bilinguals, educators and music teachers.

Interviews conducted by the operating company, foreigners have passed rigorous examinations such as confirmation of work permits and notifications to each prefecture, and only those who have been carefully selected are registered as sitters.

We also take out Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance’s liability insurance, and respond to unexpected human or objective accidents that occur during sitting through Care Finder.

As for the cost, it is a bit higher than the 2 of matching sites.

Here is the example of official site.

Notes on Babysitter Matching Services

Matching services have the following points at all times when we use it.

This is not always limited to babysitters, and it is always a problem when working with freelancers or any other job involving individuals

Because the matching site gives us interaction with individuals, it is possible to leave children to professionals at low cost.

It’s a good idea to decide whether to sign up after thinking about the merits and demerits.

However, as I said at the beginning, the usage rate was quite high, so I felt that there was enough room to consider.

Other sites where you can find babysitters

Although blow is not a matching sites, you can find babysitters.

But, the cost is high.

Chez Vous

Alpha Kid’s Club

Yes, it’s sure, but there are many spots that are difficult to visit too…

Or when you arrive at the airports, it’s sometimes annoying to catch buses and trans to go to the hotel.

So, private taxi drivers are necessary.

Here is how to hire private taxi drivers in Japan.

Taxi dispatch at the push of a button! JapanTaxi collaborates with foreign tourist app

Call Private Taxi Driver via Klook From Airports

If you want to go to the hotel from airports, Klook is recommended.

KLOOK has head office in Hong Kong.

It offers more than 50,000 activities and services from travel agencies in 200 regions and in 41 countries.

You can get discount for attractions such as theme parks.

You can make pick-up from the airport on Ariport Transferes.

You just need to fill in “airport name”, “destination”, “pick up timing” and “number of passengers”

Ask Hotel for a Private Taxi Driver

For spots that are difficult to visit, just asking hotel staff is an answer.

You just tell the driver “where you want to go”.

If the taxi drivers couldn’t speak your language, please ask hotel staff to interpret.

Actually, when I was working at hotel in Kyoto(Maifukan), many of tourists were doing so.

If hotel staff couldn’t interpret… use POCKETALK

However, sometimes hotel staff can’t interpret where you want to go, especially countryside hotels…

To comunicate in Japan, POCKETALK is recommended.

POCKETALK is a small translation device that supports more than 74 languages.

Even if you can’t speak each other’s languages, you can talk as if you have an interpreter just by speaking.

You can get POCKETALK at the airports after you make a reservation on the website.

Because not so many Japanese speak even English, POCKETALK is a good tool when you tell your destination to a taxi drivers in Japan.

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It’s because maintenance of free Wifi is delayed in Japan.

For such travelers, NTT, the biggest telephone line company in Japan offers app to search free wifi easily for us.

How to Download App

image by appinstitute.com

You can download Google Play app and App Store app below for each.

The app helps you find with free wifi areas nearby you.

Take a look at more after you download app.

Google Play
App Store

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How to Create account

Email address or SNS account allow you to create account.

Email

Open the app after you download first.

Then, agree to the terms of use.

Tap the button for register with your email address.

After filling in the required items, tap register.

You will get a massage to the email address registered, so just accessing the URL on the massage to done with creating your account.

SNS Account

Open the app after you download first.

Then, agree to the terms of use.

Choose the SNS to register and tap it.

Just logging in your SNS account allows you to create an account.

How to Search Wifi Spot by “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi”

To search free wifi spot, tap Wi-Fi Spot after you open app.

The nearby Wi-Fi spots are displayed from your current location.

By tapping the “AREA” button, you can also search Wi-Fi spots in major cities and around the station.

After you enter wifi area, tap the “Connect” button to start the Internet connection.

Since “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi” has GPS, you can look for wifi areas while walking around.

It can be useful to save data communication use on your smartphone.

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That should be because of hay fever.

Despite not having hay fever in your country, you might suffer from pollen in Japan.

There are many voices saying “I didn’t do this in my home country!”

Please be careful on hay fever when you visit Japan.

Seasons and Symptoms of Hay Fever

If you ignore the type, it is the season of hay fever all year round in Japan.

But it is said that season of cedar pollen and cypress pollen is middle of February to July.

3 major symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose.

But these symptoms are hard to judge if it is rhinitis caused by dust or cold.

If you misunderstand and endure using cold medicine, it might make your symptoms worse.

Then, how can we judge?

The easy way to judge is the number of sneezing and eye symptoms.

If you sneezing more than 7 times at a time, it should be hay fever.

The other feature is feeling itchy on your eyes.

Eyes would become red and tears come out.

If you rub your eyes at this time, it often hurts your eyes.

So please be careful.

What Causes Hay Fever

Simptons that caused by pollen is called hay fever.

So why does pollen cause sneezing etc?

Here is the mechanism.

So any symptoms of hay fever are caused to protect and fight off pollen.

The more pollen enter your body, the worse you suffer from hay fever.

Measures for Fay Fever

Basically, preventing or reducing symptoms of hay fever is how to reduce pollen entering your body.

When You Go Outside

As a measures for hay fever, wearing a mask when you go out is effective.

It prevents pollen to enter your body, especially during the season when pollen flies a lot.

Washing your face and mouth after you return can be also good way for hay fever.

Pollen may sometimes cause rough skin.

So it is important to wash your face.

Take Medicines Early

In many people with hay fever, even if only a small amount of pollen enter your body, the body responds sensitively.

By starting to drink before the season, you can prevent the mucous membrane from becoming hypersensitive, so you can delay the onset or make symptom mild.

If you have severe hay fever, I recommend that you take medicine early.

Or if you don’t have hay fever in your country, you should take medicine early.

History of Cedar Pollinosis in Japan

I’m not sure if you are interested in the history of cedar pollinosis in Japan.

But! Let me introduce.

May of Japanese suffer from cedar pollen.

Cedar pollinosis was discovered in 1964 at the first Tokyo Olympics.

So it is not so long ago.

Japan Has Many Cedars

After the war, a lot of wood was needed to rebuild the burnt city.

Therefore, as a national policy, cedar trees were planted in various places.

About 40% of Japan’s forests are artificial forests, and 43% of which are cedar forests.

Namely, about 20% of forest of Japan consist of cedar.

However, hay fever was not present at that time even though a large amount of cedar was planted.

Why Hay Fever Was Not Present

In fact, cedar pollen starts scattering from about 30 years of age.

Japan was in a period of high economic growth when the cedar trees planted after the war were cut off.

However, because cheap overseas timber began to come into Japan, the price of domestic cedar fell.

As the demand for cedar decreased, the number of cedar forests that had been abandoned increased.

As a result, cedar trees older than 30 years of age began to disperse pollen.

Summary

Although there were no hay fever at last Tokyo Olympics, hay fever exactly present next coming Tokyo olympics.

However, we can prevent or lighten the symptoms of hay fever.

Hope foreigners would not suffer on hay fever next Tokyo Olympics.

Internet access is necessary for trip.

Let me introduce Mobile hotspot(Wi-Fi).

Why Mobile Hotspot(WiFi) in Japan

Japan has fewer free-wifi spot compared to overseas.

Although you can use wifi when you are at hotel or airport, you have only 2 ways to connect to internet anytime.

They are prepaid SIM and mobile hotspot.

Convenient for Any Devices

If you have mobile hotspot, you can use for laptops, smartphones and anydevices.

When you go trip to Japan with work, you can use laptop.

Although many of smartphones can do tethering, some smartphones can’t.

So it is quite convinient.

Can be Shared by One Mobile Hotspot

Many of people go trip with their families or firends.

In such situation, you can share mobile hotspot.

Sharing mobile hotspot might be cheaper than using mobile hotspot in each of you.

Prepaid SIM Might Be Unavailable

But if you smartphone is not compatible with Japanese communication standards, prepaid SIM is not available.

So it is better to considering using mobile hotspot.

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How to Use Mobile Hotspot

Flow of how to use mobile hotspot is like this.

You can pick mobile hotspot up at airpots, hotels or stores.

Most of travelers might pick up at the airport.

When you return the device you just need to put in return box at the airport or stores.

Recommended Mobile Hotspot Companies

Here are mobile hotspot companies.

Ninja Wifi

Ninja Wifi is famous mobile hotspot for travelers to Japan.

You can sign up on the web site.

After singning up, you can pick up at following airports.

You can pick up at convenience stores and hotels too.

It takes about 3days to arrive.

Tokyo Speed Wifi

Tokyo Speed Wifi is also famous.

You can sign up on the web site too and pick up at following airports.

When you return mobile hotspot, it is OK to drop into a Post box.

Of course, you can return at the airport.

Then, when you visit Japan, prepaid SIM is necessary.

It is convenient to use smartphone, but it has to be connected to the Internet.

In Japan, the installation of the public Wi-Fi has been greatly improved, but there are still many inadequate aspects.

Maintenance of Free Wi-Fi is Delayed

Although there are other reasons as well, why maintenance of free Wi-Fi is delayed is follows.

Usually We Have Contract with Mobile Phone Carrier

The carrier contract allows us to use packet unlimitedly freely and comfortably, so it is thought that there are fewer opportunities for using public free Wi-Fi.

On the other hand, overseas, due to frequent use of prepaid mobile phones, packet traffic is low or expensive, so the free Wi-Fi is uesd higher than Japan.

Japanese Security Awareness Tends to Be High

According to a survey of “Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report” conducted by Symantec Corporation in 1,000 countries in 15 countries in 2017, about 60% of free Wi-Fi is recognized as safe.

For example, 74% in India, 69% in the United States and 69% in France say that it is “safe.”

Japan, on the other hand, reported 39% of the respondents as “safe”, the smallest in 15 countries.

Rather, Japanese tend to avoid to use free Wi-Fi in my personal feelings.

Can We Use Japanese SIM?

To replace the SIM in Japan and use your cellphone such as an overseas smartphone, the cellphone needs to be SIM-free.

However, if it is a SIM-free cellphone it doesn’t always work with Japanese SIM.

In order to use overseas cellphones in Japan, they must be compatible with Japanese communication standards.

There are three main models that are distributed worldwide and are also sold in Japan.

If possible, it is safe to confirm if it is possible to use SIM in Japnan in advance.

But if your cellphone couldn’t work with Japanese SIM, you don’t have to care about it.

In that case, there is a way to rent Mobile hotspot(Wi-Fi).

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Point to Choose Prepaid SIM

Available Period

Prepaid SIM is basically targeted at travelers, so its effective period is short.

You can buy from a minimum of 7 days.

Usually higher the price, the longer the validity period and the larger the amount of data.

Choose a type that can be used all the time while staying in Japan.

Whether You Can Recharge

When the data capacity has run out, there are types that can be recharged and types that can not be recharged.

In addition, there is a type that is not considered to extend the period of use by recharging.

If you use a lot of data even if the travel period is short, it is safe to choose one that can be recharged.

Recharges must be made before using up the data capacity, as it is an online payment.

If you run out of SIM data capacity, connect to Wi-Fi and recharge the data capacity.

Data Only or Data & Call

Most prepaid SIMs are plans for data communication only, but some voice calls are also possible.

It is expensive compared to the plan of only data, but if you can make calls in Japan using your own smartphone, it is convenient to travel.

For examplem, if your credit card was stolen in Japan, you must call credit card company to stop your card.

It is still expensive compared to the data-only plan, but it is worth considering if you also want to talk in Japan.

Where to Buy Prepaid SIM

We can buy airpots or convenience store.

It should be better to buy at the airport.

The following SIM can be purchased at the airport in Japan.

If couldn’t scroll sheet below, please open here.

As thier service, you can also call with Wi-Ho! Prepaid SIM and JAPANTRAVEL SIM

Summary

Although Japan is developed country, maintenance of free Wi-Fi is still on the way.

Now, we can’t reach a place we don’t know without Google map.

Not to get lost on the way in Japan please be ready to visit Japan.

I hope free Wi-Fi access has to be more developed until Tokyo Olympics.

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