| Learn the local customs of Japan. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Japan locals. Map |
 | Japan Local Customs | Tips 1 - 10 of 498 |  |
 Ask and you shall
recive....for free!!! by PolishChick
If I had to make a list of things you should do before going to Japan, writing JNTO would be the second thing, right after getting your Japan Rail Pass. This organization is awesome!!! No matter where in Japan you will go and how long you will stay, you should write them and tell them about your trip. Tell them where you`re going and what you are looking for, or if you have any questions-ask. They will send you TONS of FREE information- maps, guides, language guides, addresses....
First time I wrote JNTO, I basically told them that it was gonna be my first time in Japan and where I was planning to go, and I asked them to send me some info. I got a huge envelope with something that looked like a "first time in Japan" kit- language guides, maps of Japan, Tokyo and other places that I was going to, tourist guides of places like Nara and Nikko with tons of pictures and great tips, accomodation offers....It was all in English and all greately prepared for somebody just like me!!! Second time I wrote them I was more specific- I was on a budget and needed some more information on budget travel. Again, I got tons of information- maps of youth hostels and loads of budget tips included.
Japan National Tourist Organization is another blessing for a tourist. I loved their information and it was very useful while travelling!!! So don`t wait any longer, go to their website, find the address of an office the closest to you (go to "about JNTO") and write them!!! Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Japan?
Read reviews about Japan Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 Early Nanpa @ Roppongi by manuelEB
Roppongi Station, waiting for the first train in the morning.
(5:08 am). We were not alone. So many people there. The two gentlemen depicted here are engage in nanpa, one of the edge technologies created in Japan.
Stonefree translates for Christian.Lafont. The phrases can not be reproduced here, but if you are interested in details, Iwill do my best. Drop me two lines with your credit card number. Leave a Comment Phone: The girls did not tell.Website: hehehehehehehe!!!!! Other Contact: hahahahahahah!!!!
|
The Japanese use the western year-counting parallell to their own which is based on the year when the current emperor was inaugurated. The year 2004 is year 16 of the Heisei era in Japan. The era before Heisei was Showa.
As for months it is the same as in the western world, although in Japan the months have names purely based on their order, thus January is ”ichi-gatsu” (month one), february ”ni-gatsu” (month two) etc. Leave a Comment
|
 by Maline
Then there is the question of which type of vase or "plate" is used, and there is also different styles, like flowers upright, slanting or tilting for example.
In the style that I studied there is an emphasis on three components (flowers), that are put at a special height and angle in comparison to each other. The shin is the highest, followed by soe and tai is the shortest flower.
In ikebana placed in more flat containers ("plates"), you use a heavy metal spiked "mat" to spear the flowers on. This enables them to stand upright. This device is called "kenzan" and can definitely come in handy if you want to try your arranging skills even without any ikebana training. Leave a Comment
|
 Tatami by manuelEB
Tatami is the main reason for you taking your shoes off when entering a Japanese house. You don't want to destroy the soft mat with your hard shoes, or make it dirty with your dirty shoes. Don't worry... you will be able to seat on the tatami. Nobody is able to take his/her dirty a.s off!!! At least, clean it on regular basis!!! Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Japan?
Read reviews about Japan Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 Making the tea by Maline
I was a part of the Tea Club at my japanese high school for one year, but that is not nearly enough to learn chado, the way of tea. Rather this is seen as a lifelong learning process, and you will never be fully learned.
The tea ceremony is about preparing a strong powdered green tea in a very strict and predetermined fashion within the environment of a traditional Japanese style room. It is about creating a harmonious atmosphere and stillness, and also about enjoying tea and sweets of course. For unused people it may mostly be about aching legs from having to sit in seiza (knees bent, legs under you) for some 45 minutes.
The person making the tea will have a pot of boiling water, a scoop for the water, a jar of tea, a tea spoon made of bamboo, a whisk for mixing tea powder and water, tea bowls, a container for throwing away water, and more utensils. He or she will prepare the tea for the guest(s) from scratch, starting by cleaning and heating the serving bowl.
There will also be Japanese style sweets - "o-kashi", hard of soft ones that the gueasts eat before taking their tea. Each guest should come equipped with little folded papers on which to put their kashis when eating them.
The tea is different from the green tea you would usually brew at home. It is, as I said before, in powder form and very strong and bitter, hence the eating of a sweet before drinking it.
If you want to buy the tea ceremony style tea, ask for "matcha" at your tea-shop. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 Aghhhhh!!!!! Another
one!!!! by PolishChick
Unlike the crazy "warm & wash your butt" toilets the Japanese usually have at homes, most public places have the Japanese style toilets. They are a big challenge for the beginners!!!
Good news for those of you who will never get a hold of it- big & international places, like Narita Airport or Tokyo Station give you a choice of a Western or Japanese style toilet.
God knows why most of the Japanese go for the second choice!?!? Leave a Comment
|
 by MalineLeave a Comment
|
 Don't panic!!! by Maline
Not only is there the squat one (similar to those found in for example France or India - just squat, facing the faucet), but also the ones where some foreigners get stuck, the western style ones.
Why? you ask.
Well, see a toilet isn't just a toilet in Japan. it is a complete hygiene system where your rear end can get pampered in all sorts of ways. But, for those who just want to do their business and get going, there is often the problem - where to flush? You will find a whole panel of buttons, but not the one you are looking for probably. I know people who were stuck in there for very long looking for the righ switch.. : -)
Here is some advice:
The flush is usually NOT in that panel, but separate, often on the side of the toilet itself.
If it isn't then a good thing is to learn the signs (kanjis) for BIG and SMALL, because that is mostly how the flush button is marked. That way you won't have to worry about all the other functions, unless you are in for a true Japanese experience... sure, go right ahead :-)!
In the pic, a Japanese toilet and a little help from me witth the signs for big and small. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 The Japanese are awesome
friends!!! by PolishChick
And as a foreigner you will also be very attractive in Japan!!! People will stare at you and think you are very kakoi (handsome) and yes, it is very easy to get laid ;) (not that I would know from experiance....;).
But even though the Japanese are friendly, sometimes you might feel so different it feels a bit lonely. That`s why there is something really magical going between all the gaijin in Japan!!! I experianced it for the first time just after I arrived and was experiancing it from that day up till the last. When a foreigner sees another foreigner somewhere, he smiles. Just a friendly smile, kind of like a gaijin deal- "Hey, you`re different too" type of thing! It`s really awesome and I loved it. Sometimes that`s how you make friends on the way- saying "Hi, I`m X and I`m from Y...and who are you" is somethig common. So when you see another gaijin in Japan keep the tradition going- SMILE!!! :) Leave a Comment
|
| | |
|
More Japan Travel Deals China Hotel+Free Transfer
Book Discounted Hotels & Get Free Airport Transfers Throughout China. Hotels in Japan
Find Hotels Near To Japan. Up to 75% Off! Book Online & Save. Japan Hotels
Going to Japan? Use Travelzoo To Compare Hotel Rates. Search Now! Sponsored Links
|
