Top Tips for Kiwi Rugby Fans Heading to Japan
What to Know Before You Go
From specialist travel insurance and emergency assistance provider Allianz Partners New Zealand.
Rugby used to be an elite game played mainly in Japan’s private universities, but the sport’s popularity across the
country has soared over the past ten years, with public interest now at an all-time high. If you’re one of the lucky
Kiwi rugby fans heading to Japan this September, Allianz Partners New Zealand has put together some useful tips to
ensure a fun and worry-free trip.
GETTING TO THE VENUE
Queue to the left or the right…
In Tokyo, it is social etiquette to stand to the left when queueing or taking an escalator, leaving room for others to
pass you on the right side. However, if you are attending a match on the other side of the country, in Oita or Fukuoka
you’ll find that it is the other way round, and locals gravitate to the right. Not adhering to these unwritten rules may
result in a few stern looks, but if you can’t remember which side to stick to, just follow the person in front of you.
Don’t be late
To fit into Japanese society, you must be punctual. A 30-second train delay can become a national scandal so it’s a wise
idea to arrive ahead of time when catching public transport. Trains and buses run like clockwork, so ensure you have a
timetable on hand when you are travelling to and from matches.
AT THE STADIUM
Sporting events in Japan are quite different to those you would experience in New Zealand. Local fans are known for
being highly active, singing rally songs, and waving merchandise.
Be a tidy Kiwi
Japan is an immaculately clean country and locals take great pride in their tidy ways. In fact, last year Japanese
football fans cleaned their section of the stadium, following their team’s first victory. With a sporting spectacle as
big as this one, Japanese rugby fans are likely to follow suit, so make sure you take your rubbish with you too.
Food for thought
One of the main distinguishing features of a Japanese sporting experience is also the stadium food and drinks. It is not
uncommon to see vendors walking up and down the seat aisles with kegs strapped to their backs, ready to serve up freshly
poured beer. There’s also a selection of unique foods on offer, such as:
• Yakitori - Grilled chicken on a stick is one of the most convenient game day snacks in Japan. Often seasoned with shio
(salt) or dipped in tare sauce, it’s the equivalent to an American hotdog at a US baseball game.
• Bento Boxes - A convenient way to eat, bento boxes contain a balanced ratio of rice, protein, vegetables and salad.
The container is partitioned into sections to ensure each component stays separate, making it the perfect mess-free
Japanese stadium food.
• Takoyaki - A street food hailing from the Japanese region of Kansai, Takoyaki is widely available in sporting stadiums
around the country due to their popularity. The fried octopus balls come with toothpicks for ease of consumption, so you
don’t need to worry about dropping your chopsticks under your seat.
• Edamame - Boiled and salted, these easy to eat soybean pods are an addictive and healthy game day snack. These are
widely popular around stadiums all over Japan and are often served as a complimentary entrée in restaurants.
• Kakigori - A Japanese treat of shaved ice and syrup will hit the spot for a game on a warm Autumn’s day. At the
stadium, it will likely be served in a bowl with a spoon, much bigger than the shaved ice you’ll get in New Zealand.
Learn the lingo
When visiting a new country, it’s always useful to know learn few words in the local language. Don’t worry if you don’t
get your pronunciation perfect as Japanese people will be delighted that you’ve made the effort.
• Rugby - ragubii
• Where is the game? - Shiai wa doko de ari masuka?
• Pass the ball! - Bōru o pasu shite!
• Can’t believe you missed that! - Nantoiu misu da!
• Come on! - Ike!
• Go for it! - Ganbatte!
Protection for unexpected incidents
It’s important to buy insurance at the time of booking – this covers you in the event that something happens before you
set off and you’re not able to travel for reasons outside of your control.
You can still buy travel insurance while sitting on the plane before you fly, however you could be missing out on
cancellation benefits, especially if a covered event happens before flying.
Half of those surveyed in the 2016 Travel Insurance Market Monitor survey* thought that travel insurance cover could
only come into effect once travel commenced. However, this is not the case. Most travel insurance policies include
valuable cancellation benefits which are valid from the moment that the policy is purchased.
Remember that medical costs aren’t the only risk when we are travelling and let our guard down. Large crowds at big
events spell opportunity for thieves and pickpockets.
We recommend downloading important details such as your policy number and emergency contact telephone numbers to have
ready in case you need them.
* The Travel Insurance Market Monitor survey is carried out by Colmar Brunton. This online survey includes New
Zealanders aged 15+. Sample size 3,011. Data weighted to online population by gender and age.
ENDS