6 Interesting Tips For Traveling To Japan

When you visit a new place it takes you some time to adjust to the new culture. The best way to understand a country and getting adjusted in their society is by knowing the culture and understanding small things which are part of their basic principles. Japan is an amazing country to visit. I traveled to Japan last month through my Cathay Pacific air miles, here are the seven interesting tips which I followed to easily navigate through the Japanese culture.

Greetings

It’s normal to be shy with a person who you don’t know, but in Japan if you don’t greet the host or a shopkeeper it is taken as a sign of rudeness. So when you are visiting Japan greet your host or the shopkeeper witha smile or at least a nod.

Handshake And Bowing

In Japan, bowing is considered the best way of greeting, many outsiders are unfamiliar about bowing as they don’t know how low to bow and how long to stay in that position. But for those who do attempt to bow are given extra points by the Japanese for good manners.  In Japan, there is a very less trend for handshake so if you held out your hand to Japanese then don’t be surprised if they return it with a limp shake.

Shoes

In Japan, wearing shoes inside the house or at traditional hotels is not a custom. So I will suggest that you can wear good socks and slip on shoes when you are visiting someone’s house or staying in a traditional hotel. Outsides bathrooms you will find slippers so that means you don’t have to go barefoot in the washroom. Just be sure to take them off when you come outside from the bathroom.

Bathrooms And Toilets

The bathrooms in Japan are mostly communal, since the water isn’t changed after every use, you will require scrubbing before soaking, and there are mostly showers or other customary use buckets for the shower.  In Japan the toilers seats are heated with washing sprays and wind chimes to avoid the obscuring noises, there are internal gardens and murals all these things are entertainment for the western visitors. The only thing that lacks in Japanese toilets is the hand drying options so you might want to buy a hand towel.

Payments

In Japan it is considered rude to give cash to theshopkeeper instead if there is a little tray near the cash counter then put the money there.

Pay Attention

The best way to blend in Japan is by following the way locals behave, if you have no idea whether to pay attention to the walking signs or to ignore them then simply follow the crowd. See if the people wave to the waiter for taking orders or wait with their menus closed. Or check if the people make a neat queue outside the shop or stand in a crowd. In some countries hesitation means you can never end up being hungry on the entire trip, but in Japan if you have doubts then just follow the way locals behave. If the Japanese see you trying then you will receive lesser laughs and more genuine smiles.