[john70t]

Wherever you go: Be clean and stay clean even though you will walk fast everywhere, wear dark muted clothing, don't talk loudly, or wave your hands, or stare, don't spit or litter obviously. Sticking chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice is bad. They are very sensitive to being polite in public and these will go a long way.

Know a little Japanese...
thank you "domo ari gato" // pardon me "su mi ma sen" // I apologize "gomen kudasai" // I am stupid foreigner" watashi wa baka gaijin" // I don't speak Japanese, sorry "nihongo o hanasimasen, gomen kudasai" // rice or meal in general "gohan" // where is "doko desu ka?" // carousel sushi "kuru kuru zushi" (frowned on by them as low class food but a unique experience).

Once obligated they will also go out of their way to do what they promised, so they don't pretend to be friendly easily. Some may not like foreigners. Most are just very shy and have to wear a poker face 24/7. Don't take anything personally. Usually someone younger will smile and know a little bit of English to want to practice with you.

They are always busy and you are a buffalo in their fish pond.

Don't go to strip clubs anywhere. These are always mafia/Yakusa owned and you will get charged for a $1,000 beer.

I spent half a year in Kyoto in late 1970s and traveled all over town alone. It is as safe as the very best US city. Only a few times in the wrong side-street neighborhood in Osaka and with a group of very old men walking by in Kyoto did I ever feel nervous there.