You Can Drink Tap Water in Japan

Hi everyone who want to go or is going to Japan,

As you travel, I guess that many of you never try to drink the tap water in the country. Because, you don't drink the tap water in your own country. Yet, you had better to know if the tap water in Japan is potable or not, and the answer is YES!! It is exactly ordinary for Japanese to drink water from the tap at home or on the road. Even kids playing outside drink it. So you are never going to worry about drinking water as you travel in Japan. You can see the water at many places inside and outside such as in hotel rooms or in parks. Have you thought you never get the tap water? Usually, you purchase a bottle of mineral water at nearby convenience store or supermarket when you come to Japan. However, what if you don't have any money with you or you forget to buy a bottle of water when you feel thirsty? Don't worry about it in Japan and you can remember the information. In addition, many of local restaurant in Japan offers a glass of water (with/without ice) to customers for free of charge. If you want it, you don't be shy and ask a staff to take it with the following Japanese words  :"mizu(=water) kudasai(can I have)".

Do you want to know more detail of the tap water in Japan? more detail of the reason why you can drink the tap water with security? If it is so, you can google it! I'm not really familiar with chemical components, unfortunately. The most important thing is what you know the tap water in Japan is potable!!

Then there is one thing which I want you keep in mind. When you see the following note or sticker on the wall in a hotel room or a toilet (restroom/bathroom), you should think if you can drink the tap water. Such tap is at not many places in Japan, though. When you see first and second ones to the left, you should NOT to drink water from the tap. Whereas you can drink the tap water with the third one to the left. 

<Horizontal Writing>
For potable tap water

<Vertical Writing>
For not potable tap water

＜Horizontal Writing>
For not potable tap water

As fun facts, Can you look at each word in the red circles? You may get if that Japanese sentence is negative or positive by remembering the each last 2 letters. The each last 2 letters of both first and second ones are the same and pronunciation is "sen". It is used for negative sentence in many cases. The last 2 letters of third one is for positive sentence in many cases and pronunciation is "masu". If you ask a staff about something like stock and the staff say "~~ sen" to you, it is out of stock unfortunately.

So I believe you understand the tap water situation in Japan and get some useful Japanese words. They must help making you relaxed to visit to Japan!!

Enjoy your trip in Japan! And see you in the next article of the blog!! 
"The ordinary for Japanese" must work to spice up your trip!