Before I can talk about this list, there are few things about Japan that need to be said. Etiquette is of utmost priority. There are so many things that are taken into consideration to make you feel special, as a person of society, as you go through daily life. Between efficiency and just simple respect, many of the little things in Japan just make life a little easier. Also, these are occurrences that are found in Tokyo. Although there may be similar rules in other parts of Japan, many of them have regional differences. Just like New York City and Dallas have completely different ideas of respect and manners, Japan's common courtesies can change depending on where you are. With all of that being said, here are some daily examples of the unspoken courtesies that everyone follows and encounters during a normal day in Japan.
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1. To board an elevator, people form two single file lines with an open file in the middle to let people out of the elevator. After the elevator is clear, the lines simply move forward straight into the elevator.
2. On an escalator, standing people stay to the left. Those who would like to walk up the escalator use the space on the right.
3. Every time you walk into a restaurant, store, or any type of establishment, you will hear someone acknowledge your presence and thank you as an honored guest.
4. When you leave an establishment, someone will walk you out, bow, and stay there until you are no longer visible. Every person is valued equally!
5. On a train (long distance only), when staff walk through the cars, each person will individually bow to the passengers before entering the next car.
6. On a taxi, drivers always make sure that you have all belongings before driving away.
7. After making a purchase, the vendor will always gift wrap your purchase. To them, that's just the normal way of preparing your items for a commute across the city. For example, you could buy a cute little bag of nuts. And the nuts will be wrapped in three little separate bags and then be put in a decorated gift bag. Every wrapped item is like one of those Russian dolls, bag inside a bag, inside a bag.
8. Everywhere is on the honor system. "Take it and bring it back" is used everywhere. And for umbrellas, it is quite convenient. (There are also places to dry your umbrella and bags to put them in before you enter any nicer establishment.)

Honestly--- people just care here. They value everyone. Foreigners aren't prey. They don't try to exploit you or anyone for that matter. For the amount of care and thought that goes into the service industry, it is not surprising how safe it is here.

I really don't think you need much commentary here. I ate pretty well today!:) And yes, this what just today.

I began my food journey last night at what's considered fast food in Tokyo. It's a type of establishment that uses a conveyer belt to distribute its food. The menu was organized based on prices. You can either pull straight from the conveyor belt or put in a "special order" on the touch screen menu. When your order is ready, the chef sends it on a special cart on the conveyor belt. Most people who order through the touch screen system. However, if you're in a hurry, the conveyor belt is most convenient. For between 110-450 yen per plate, you can indulge yourself on amazing nigiri. What was most appetizing to me happened to be between the 110-180 yen range. The prices are totaled by the number of plates you have stacked up at the end. Each plate has a different colored design to inform the price. For 10 pieces of sushi, one green tea (free), one water (free), and one miso soup, my total came out at $12. I did not take pictures of the entire meal. I ate quite a bit of the Maguro. For only $1 a piece, I might as well. In the states, the going rate for Maguro is about $2.25-2.40 per piece. Yes Japanese sushi really is that good.

So you are about to leave on your trip that you've been stressing about for a while. What do you need to get done the day of?

1) Make sure your homebase has all of the necessary paperwork he/she needs. Also double check your own paperwork. Make sure you have all of your set flights, accommodations, and adventures printed. It's a lot easier to find a hostel when you have the address!
2) Double check your packing list. And maybe take out a couple more things. Chances are you
over-packed.
3) Check in for your flights. Make sure you have your flight info for your return leg printed and saved.
4) Withdraw cash (if you haven't done so already).
5) Dress comfortably. No tight clothes. You'll be miserable!
6) Wear shoes you can easily take off. You will be going through many rounds of customs. And you will probably want to be barefoot on at least part of your 10+ hour flight.
7) Delete all of your unnecessary applications and photos/videos on your phone. You need all of the memory you can get!
8) Pack a snack. Just do it.
9) Mentally prepare. It is going to be sometimes awesome and other times terrifying! But that's exactly why you are going!
10) Shower right before you leave. You will be wishing you had if you don't.
11) Pack your chargers. It's always the last thing that people pack and usually what they forget.

Before you leave on your adventure, there are three major precautions you should take.

Develop a Homebase. First, you should choose someone as your "homebase". In the case of an emergency or any type of victimization, it is important that you have a family member or friend that will be available for contact and is aware of your travel plans. Your homebase should know the countries and major cities you plan on visiting before you leave. In the case you don't have plans and are just living day by day, have a designated day that you plan on checking in with your homebase to communicate your whereabouts. 

Protect Your Passport. Your passport is your bond to the world. Without it, you are lost. Passports get lost and stolen all of the time while traveling. To prevent any hiccups, it is best to make copies of your passport. I would "hide" a passport copy in each bag you are bringing and also on your person (in your security belt). In the case you lose or leave a bag, you still have a copy. One more precaution to take with your passport is to leave a copy with your homebase. In the case that you lose your passport and all of your copies, your friend/family member can easily fax/email a copy to you. 
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Double Check Your Credit/Debit Cards. Most people travel with at least one credit/debit card. Make sure that you visit your bank at least two weeks before you leave to place a travel advisory on your card(s). Without putting a flag on your account, your card is most likely going to get declined during your first transaction abroad. Regarding your cards also, it's important to check your card limit before you leave to avoid be declined after making a big purchase. Double check your pin number. If you have an international card/plan, you will not be charged international transaction fees. However, if you don't, most providers will charge 3% for cash withdrawal and 10% on credit card transactions. I also advise you make a copy of your main card and leave it with your designated homebase family member or friend.