one. Addressing Someone, Respect

Bowing is nothing less than an fine art form in Japan, respect pounded into children'southward heads from the moment they enter school. For tourists, a simple inclination of the head or an attempt at a bow at the waist will usually suffice. This includes coincidental situations like arriving at a Tokyo Airbnb as well as formal encounters.

The duration and inclination of the bow is proportionate to the elevation of the person you're addressing. For instance, a friend might get a lightning-fast 30-degree bow; an part superior might go a boring, extended, 70-degree bow. It's all about position and circumstance.

In addition to bowing, addressing someone properly is fundamental. Just as a "Dr. Smith" might feel a fiddling insulted if you were to refer to him as "Smith", then would a Japanese if y'all do non adhere the suffix "san" to their last name, or "sama" if you are trying to be particularly respectful.

Unremarkably children are content with merely their get-go names, but you can add the suffix "chan" for girls and "kun" for boys if yous like.

two. Table Manners

Some simple bullet points here:

  • If you're with a dinner party and receive drinks, wait before raising the glass to your lips. Everyone volition exist served, and someone will take the lead, make a spoken language, enhance his drink, and yell "kampai!" (thank you).
  • You will receive a pocket-size moisture fabric at nigh Japanese restaurants. Use this to wash your hands before eating, then advisedly fold information technology and set it bated on the tabular array. Do not use it equally a napkin, or to touch any role of your face.
  • Slurping noodles or making loud noises while eating is OK! In fact, slurping hot food like ramen is polite, to show you are enjoying information technology.
  • You may enhance bowls to your mouth to make information technology easier to consume with chopsticks, particularly bowls of rice.
  • Only before excavation in, whether it be a 7-course dinner or a sample at a supermarket, it'south polite to say "itadakimasu" (I volition receive).

3. No Tipping

There is no tipping in whatsoever state of affairs in Nippon — cabs, restaurants, personal intendance. To tip someone is actually a little insulting; the services yous've asked for are covered by the price given, and then why pay more?

If y'all are in a big area like Tokyo and tin't speak any Japanese, a waiter or waitress might have the extra money yous happen to exit rather than forcefulness themselves to deal with the bad-mannered situation of explaining the concept of no tipping in broken English.

Only remind yourself: a toll is a price.

iv. Chopsticks

Depending on the eating place you make up one's mind upon for that evening, y'all may be required to employ chopsticks. If for some reason you aren't too adept with chopsticks, endeavor to acquire before passing through clearing. It's really not that hard.

One false assumption among many Japanese that's slowly being dispelled by fourth dimension is the "uniqueness" of Japan. Nihon is an isle nation; Japan is the only country that has iv seasons; foreigners can't sympathise Japan; simply Japanese can use chopsticks properly.

I cannot count the number of times I've been told I employ Japanese chopsticks with skill and grace, despite the fact I've seen 3-year-olds managing just as well. If you're dining with a Japanese, don't be surprised if you lot receive a look of amazement at your power to swallow like a Japanese.

5. Thresholds

Have off your shoes at the entrance to all homes, and most businesses and hotels. Commonly, a rack volition be provided to store your shoes, and pair of guest slippers volition be sitting nearby; many Japanese bring a pair of indoor slippers just in case, though.

Never wear slippers when you need to step onto a tatami mat (used in most Japanese homes and hotels; the standard unit of measurement for expanse fifty-fifty today), and be careful to remove the toilet slippers waiting for yous in the bathroom.

It is extremely bad grade, for example, to reenter the chief room of a firm wearing slippers that have been running across muddy linoleum.

half-dozen. Masks

SARS is long gone, though I did happen to see a "SARS Grooming Kit" during my brief stay in a Japanese hospital. Nonetheless, sterilized masks, similar the ones you'd see in the emergency room, are unremarkably used by salarymen, part ladies, and municipal workers to protect other people from their germs.

Rather sensible when you think nigh it, as masks practice not protect the wearer then much as the ones effectually him. The reason could be anything from a slight common cold to just being worried about exposing other people; don't let information technology business concern you on your Japanese vacation.

vii. Conformity

When groups of high school students in Japan were asked to identify the dangers facing children today, the majority agreed on the number one threat: individualism.

Japanese gild is focused on the group. Western cultures are focused on the individual. Does this mean that the Japanese are cipher more that worker bees in a vast hive of steel and physical? Certainly not, but their presentation of such individual qualities are carefully calculated and given in doses.

Drawing attention to yourself as an individual is a huge no-no: don't blow your olfactory organ in public, try to avoid eating while on the go, and don't speak on your cell telephone in crowded public areas like trains or buses. The master problem with this is that foreigners merely tin can't avert standing out; nosotros stick out like sore thumbs no matter how long nosotros've been here, or how much we know about Japanese civilisation and social club.

Equally a result, existence in Japan gives foreigners the status of D-level celebrities: you'll get glances, shouts for attention, calls to take pictures taken with people, requests for autographs (happened once to me on a southern island), and overall just more than awareness of being a "pale that sticks out".

8. Bathing

Public bathhouses are live and well in Japan.

Sento, or neighborhood bathhouses, can be institute from the largest area in Shinjuku to a pocket-sized town on the island of Shikoku.

Onsen, or hot springs, are very popular as weekend excursion resorts.

Unlike in western cultures, the Japanese bathroom is used after you accept done and rinsed, and feel similar soaking in extra-hot water for 10, xx, 30 minutes. It'due south an acquired taste to be sure, merely tin can be very relaxing.

If you happen to be invited into a Japanese household, you will exist given the honor of using the bath get-go, commonly before dinner. Be extra careful and so as to not muddied the water in whatever style; the sanctity of the ofuro (bathroom) is of utmost importance.

Take the time to visit a sento if you lot have the opportunity. These are places without barriers, without regard to skin color, age, or language… well, they are separated past gender with the exception of some mixed-bathing areas. Lying in the hot water and slowly listening to my heart trounce slow down is a time when I feel about attuned to Japanese culture.

nine. Speaking English

Japanese will generally assume you lot are a native English speaker until you lot prove otherwise. Even during a short visit, yous'll see:

  • A group of schoolchildren in neatly pressed Prussian uniforms walking across the intersection, shouting "Hello! Hello! How-do-you-do!" equally they assess your foreign features
  • A random person just walking up to you and asking "Where are y'all from?"

Friendly? Certainly. But I can see how constant celebrity status might become confusing or frustrating for travelers who don't speak English.

Although you may speak some or fluent Japanese, the default language of choice is English. Many Japanese volition insist on using their own English language ability, yet limited, to converse with foreigners, in spite of the fact that the person on the opposing end may accept more than noesis of the local tongue.

ten. Safety

Every Japanese person I have met warns me to be safe in my travels, to take care of my belongings. Every foreigner tells me not to worry, naught can go wrong, nothing will be stolen. This may be based on private feel, but there are other issues:

  • The fear of crime in Nippon is high, particularly amid Japanese citizens.
  • Murders happen. I repeat, murders happen. People are attacked, robbed, assaulted, raped, beaten, and swindled.

However, Japan'southward low offense charge per unit is evident when you see businessmen who take missed the final train sleeping exterior on a park bench, or a group of 5-year-erstwhile boys walking past themselves for over a kilometer to make the starting bell at schoolhouse.

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