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== How to hitch ==
Except for the occasional impoverished student in the wide expanses of Hokkaido, there is very little tradition of hitchhiking in Japan, and you will more likely than not be the first hitchhiker that your driver has ever even seen, much less picked up. The key to hitchhiking is thus to assuage these fears and look as '''harmless and friendly''' as possible.
* Update 2018: I think times may have changed. It is true that hitch-hiking is still something most Japanese would not do, but I'm not sure if hitch-hiking is something people have never seen before. Some of the rides I took told me they've seen hitch-hikers before. The ones I have personally seen with my own eyes, coincidentally, were all Japanese, male, and seemed to be below 35 years old. Some alone, some in pairs. I live near a huge ''kokudo'' road, maybe that's why I spot some. But I have also talked to hitch hikers on normal occasions unrelated to travel. I've yet to chance upon a "foreign-looking" hitch hiker though. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]
The top worries of a Japanese driver when they see a hitchhiking gaijin are: Can he '''communicate'''? Does he know how to behave? The quick way to answer those questions is with a [[signs|sign]]: 日本語できる！ (''Nihongo dekiru!''), literally "Japanese can!", is just six characters and works like a charm. And you don't really need to know Japanese all that well to use such a sign, as long as you can communicate... somehow... Most people have smartphones now that are connected to the internet all the time and love to use translation apps on them. So it is pretty common to have entire conversations over a smart phone. [[User:Rdoc101|Rdoc101]] had a deep conversation about getting married to my travel partner entirely through a smartphone.
* Comment: Not true, at least if you obviously look like a foreigner. That qualifies you as "special person", that should be forgiven if a) doesn't speak Japanese at looks at you like an amoeba b) look weird, but you know, it's the new fashion from the West! haven't heard of it yet?! c) doesn't know how to behave (concept encompassing various implications; strangely enough though, everybody will be astonished at the sight of you eating a) Japanese food and seem to like it, b) you're skilfully eating it with chopsticks!). That doesn't mean that communication is irrelevant though, although you might be able to get rides just as easily; but it does mean that everything coming from the West is "cool", so people are more likely to accept weird appearance/outfit of a Westerner rather than a local. [[User:Gutuater|gutuater]]
* Agreed, I sported a hefty beard and unkempt hair, wearing shorts and whatever t-shirt with a massive 40lb wilderness camping backpack. I often would lay my pack beside me and sit on it while I waited for traffic. I never once used a sign. [[User:Traceoftoxin|traceoftoxin]]
* Japanese don't think that foreigners will ''misbehave''. Maybe this is the case 30 years ago but not anymore. They are worried that their English isn't good enough and they might do you more harm than help e.g. get you lost or take you to the wrong place. As long as you can communicate with them somehow about important stuff like destination etc. it'll be okay. Wear whatever you are comfortable with. For practical reasons, really, '''dress for comfort'''. I've talked to Japanese hitch-hikers, they wear normal clothes, may or may not have oddly sized baggage with them, they get their rides. I'm an Asian woman, black hair black eyes same skin tone as the Japanese. I wear a pair of bright shocking pink pants and always have my big backpack close enough for all to know it belongs to me. I get my rides. I think the most important is a genuine '''smile''', being '''polite''' and having a '''positive attitude'''. I feel like a person who'd pick up a hitch-hiker would do so because they're interested in helping a person in need. Nationality is secondary, but seeming foreign helps because of Japanese 'omotenashi' where they feel like they want to provide some form of hospitality to a foreigner, in hopes that visitors will have a good time and good impression of Japan. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]
With these down pat, it's time to '''assume the pose''' and hitch. Hitchhiking being an unusual phenomenon, the best-recognized pose will be the classic Western style: left hand extended straight, thumb up, and a winning smile on your face. Try to look drivers in the eye as they approach and perhaps even make a small bow of appreciation, especially if they slow down to take a better look at you or, better yet, loop back for a second look. And persevere: you may get picked up by the first car, or you may have to wait a while, but you ''will'' be picked up sooner or later.
Once the car does stop, a window will roll down and you will almost always be asked a simple question: ''Doko made?'' ("To where?") Do not make the mistake of giving your final destination, as the driver may assume that you will insist on going all the way. (This is also why it's usually not wise to use a destination sign.) Instead, pick the nearest major waypoint and state ''X no hō'' ("In the direction of X").
Having a map in Japanese to point to is very helpful. Especially if you can't pronounce names of towns correctly.
*Comment: Just assuming the pose was rarely enough in my experience. You have to be slightly aggressive and bluntly ask people where they are going - while making sure they've seen your pose. People that seem reluctant to take you with them can turn out to be very welcoming when they're simply asked, preferably in Japanese. [[User:Matsumoto Joe|Matsumoto Joe]]
* Comment 2018: Not sure how well the ''pose'' works, because when I'm not travelling, I've spoken to some Japanese that think that the pose is used to call a cab. That kind of explains why an actual taxi pulled over once while I did the pose without a sign. I almost always use a sign, and the locals seem to always use signs. One guy said that in a busy city, sticking your thumb out is the best way, but I think I'll stick to either signs only or pose+sign.
For Japanese hitch-hikers, their signs are really specific. They get a ring notebook and write down every city they need to pass through on their route page by page. I've yet to try this and I'm not sure if I ever will. The North-South-East-West mentioned above worked really well for me. In addition I would also like to recommend two more things you can write on your sign: '''上り''' (''nobori'',towards Tokyo) and '''下り''' (''kudari'', away from Tokyo). Before going on the road, I ask someone at the hostel or any random person, "(destination) ''houmen wa, nobori desu ka? kudari desu ka?''" (If I'm going towards (destination), is it the Nobori or Kudari route?). Their answer will be what I write on my sign. I also use these two words even when I'm on a toll-free road, because it helps give people a good idea of which route you want to get on. It's less vague than "east" or "west" without them worrying that they can't take you to your final destination.
Another good question to ask is: "(destination) ''houmen wa, kaisoku doro desuka?''" (Do most people take the expressway to get to (destination)?) - this gives you an idea of what kind of route you have better luck on.
To add, I've yet to go up to people and ask for a ride. It feels unnecessary for me. I've made it clear I'm looking for a ride, in a specific direction without a specific destination. I stand in spots with the most optimal exposure to being seen by traffic. And I wear bright pink pants and have a huge backpack with me. Sometimes, random kind people who can't take me on their vehicles actually go around asking everyone and their dog at the PA/''Michi-no-eki'' to take me on...and it's futile. A ride will come, I stand and wait with my sign patiently. Personally, I dislike asking around. If someone wants to take me, they will, if they can't, they can't. In fact, I've had people turn back after passing by because they were worried or curious or had second thoughts and decided to let me hitch. I never had to approach anyone. In Japanese culture they often say 'no' in vague ways, plus, constant rejection might be a blow to your mood or attitude for the day. Hitch-hiking works a little differently for everyone. What I read on this guide is useful before I started, but I think it's alright to change your ways and means as you like. [[user:Snowballsakura|snowballsakura]]
== When to hitch ==
