Safety

Michael I don't think there are any criminals in Japan. (However, I have heard that there is a kind of Japanese mafia called the "Yakuza," who roll their "r"s and have full-body tattoos, which means they are not allowed in public baths). You can carry hundreds of thousands of yen in cash without worry (you have to, because hardly anyone accepts credit cards, not even some hotels) and walk around with it at any time of day or night. It's also noticeable how clean the cities are. No graffiti, no trash. You only see homeless people hidden away in parks, and you really have to look closely to find them. No one hits you up for money. No one loiters or hangs around provocatively. No one honks wildly, yells, or makes offensive gestures. There's a lot more going on in San Francisco, I tell you!