Top Japan hotels
Etiquettes and Behaviors Tokyo
52 Reviews Don't be daunted by the huge crowds using the trains in Tokyo. We have all seen how packed the trains are either in photos, in media, etc. No worries, they have a cool system! While there we have not...
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Visiting Temples and Shrines Kyoto
41 Reviews It's tradition but a lot of visitors of the temple miss this local custom! There is a covered fountain fronting the gate of the Ginkakuji Temple. The water fountain has a bamboo scooper where you...
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food & specialities Osaka
8 Reviews Our hotel room was included breakfast and when we checked in the receptionist ask if we want to have standard western breakfast or Japanese breakfast? Common, we have "normal" breakfast all over the...
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Tradition Tokyo
33 Reviews On a beautiful Saturday in March, we decided to visit General Nogi's house and its attached Shinto shrine. The General was a count who was involved in the battle for Port Arthur, losing many of his...
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Geisha and Maiko Kyoto
12 Reviews In Gion at a Geisha bar. Again, this was only possible via an introduction. The Geisha were more sophisticated than the Maiko. They focused on the male members of our party. I asked a friend who often...
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etiquettes / behaviors Osaka
10 Reviews In the streets you will at some places see trees that are lighted at night, that looks quite funny and romantic. It has nothing to do with christmas, because we had been there in March. We had 3...
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Speak / Learn Japanese (Nihongo) Tokyo
9 Reviews This is the bare minimum to get you by as a tourist. Not enough to live on by any means, but at least it's better than grunting and pointing! - ko-re o kudasai = this, please (good when looking at...
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Language Kyoto
7 Reviews The Kyoto dialect (Kyo-kotoba) is quite distinct from standard Japanese and other dialects. Because it developed in the ancient capital, the feeling it gives Japanese people when they hear it is one...
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culture & history Osaka
11 Reviews There are many interesting classes you can take in a wide range of traditional Japanese arts and crafts. Such things as ikebana (flower arranging), traditional dance, taiko drumming, tea ceremony,...
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People Tokyo
33 Reviews Vending machines seem to be in breeding overdrive in Japan. I heard one source say there were over six million and still going strong. I think they would only work in a society that is on the whole...
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Public Restrooms Kyoto
5 Reviews Most of the bathrooms in Japan (just the local ones not those in luxury hotels and upclass shopping malls), are not equipped with papertowels to wipe hands. By having a wash cloth in your pocket will...
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language Osaka
4 Reviews OSAKA DIALECT: Osakaben is a special dialect spoken by the people of Osaka. Some of the commonly used terms are as follows:mo-karimakka Hi! How are you doing? ohayo-okaeri Have a nice day! o-kini...
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Street Scene Tokyo
19 Reviews I was intrigued to see some workers reinstalling the stanchions around planting beds. I had to take a photograph of the stanchions, because they struck me as quintessentially Japanese -- an attention...
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Gardens Kyoto
7 Reviews Maruyama Park, at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, behind the Yasaka Shrine, becomes a busy and festive place in spring. The many cherry trees there are a riot of blossom and centre-stage stands a giant...
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castle Osaka
2 Reviews The old classic Japanese construction and architecture is obvious very local. However, OSaka is very large business modern city, there is not much about temples and history to see with the exception...
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Religion Tokyo
19 Reviews Before visiting a shrine in Japan, you should purify your body. Here, at the Meiji Shinto Shrine, you should take a ladel of water, swish it around in your mouth, and spit it out, preferably not into...
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Festivals Kyoto
4 Reviews Gion Matsuri is held annually in Kyoto and is probably one of the most famous festival in all of Japan. It is on during the entire month of July and the Yama-boko Junkō, which is the parade with...
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Have you ever seen this before? Tokyo
14 Reviews The Japanese obsession with automation, astronomical land prices and sense or order all come together when you look at car parking. There are a good number of these giant vending-type machines all...
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Infrastructures Tokyo
18 Reviews Most guides will advise buying Yen before you go to Japan to cover initial expenses but then buying more once there as there is a better exchange rate in the country itself. You also avoid the...
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Japanese Style Room / House Tokyo
1 Review If you get the chance, there is nothing that beats putting up a night at a traditional inn or RYOKAN. There are quite a few within Tokyo city, but those that offer better facilities and a more...
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A red doll without arms and legs, symbol of good luck.When you buy one the eyes aren't paint, paint the left eye after your wish, if your wish become true during the year you paint the other eye.At the end of the year bring your Daruma doll to the temple for a burning ceremony.
Chopsticks are commonly use in Japan but if it's difficult for you to use them, don't panic , ask for knives and forks, you obtain them easily.What you have to know : . Don't use only one chopstick . Don't point someone with chopsticks . Don't move a plate with them . Don't stab the chopsticks in the food All of these are very rude And the most important , never use chopsticks to give something to someone, it's only use in rituals for funeral's ceremony.
This includes private homes, some restaurants, usually spas and onsens, some buildings at religious sites, some hotel rooms and many other places. Pay attention to subtle and not so subtle hints like : piles of shoes on floor or on shelves, changes in pattern of floors (ex. tile to carpet), signs & pictures, watching what others do...
Bathing is a 2 step process. First you wash and rinse yourself. That's what the little stool, soap and shampoo are for. You don't get into the bath until you are clean!Bathing is to relax yourself, not to clean yourself.
Tatami is the very typical Japanese room.It's a sort of living room, but people also sleep there. You are not allowed to wear shoes there as the material of Tatami is not washable.There is usually a very short table and you are supposed to seat on some pillow on the floor, then, if you also sleep there, you sleep inside fouton, which I must say, is very very warm.
My first meet with a japanese toilette was years ago in Kuala Lumpur. I went to the toilette of a Japanese hotel and was surprised about the bottons you had near the wc.Ofcourse, when I tried to flush, I pushed the wrong button and water, instead of going down to the wc, was pushed against me.During this trip to Japan I learnt how to use and enjoy the automatic bidet in the wc and to use the correct buttons.Anyway the most amazing thing about Japanese toilette was definitly the heated seat, it's something I would have never thought of if I did not try there.
Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.source http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/about/overview/index.html
I have to say, this is among one of the many inventions that I wished the U.S. borrowed from Japan. The "super toilet", as I'd like to refer to the toilet/bidet combination is a wonderful invention. Used for cleaning the bottom area, one always comes out feeling refreshed after having used one of these babies. While in Japan, I encountered various types (see photos) of these machines. Some had the buttons connected to the toilet and also included a sink on top, while some toilet stalls had the buttons affixed to the wall. Some even had the feature to make fake flushing sounds - I presume to mask any embarrassing loud bowel movements one can potentially make. A friend also told me that some toilets even offered music instead of the fake flush. Man! The toilet/bidet is ingenious!
Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, usually eaten with soy sauce and karashi mustard. Even among Japanese natto can be an acquired taste due to its distinct and strong smell and flavor and sticky consistency. It is mainly eaten in the eastern Kanto region and less popular in the Kansai region.In recent years, however, natto has become more widespread due to its health benefits. It has always been eaten for breakfast as a good source of protein, but now is sought for the nattokinase enzyme in natto which is valued as a blood thinner to prevent blood clotting.Natto is traditionally eaten with rice but is now introduced in a variety of recipes such as pasta, omelets, or simply eaten with avocado.
Most bathrooms in Japan (except for those first class hotels and malls) don't provide paper towels and/or hand dryers.So, always make sure to have those small hand towels and put them in your pocket. You will notice that most Japanese, especially the women have these hand towels in their purses and pockets.You can buy these hand towels at many small stores or department stores as it is part of their culture to have these hand towels.It will be very uncomfortable to have wet hands after you went to the bathroom.
Park Hyatt Tokyo Tokyo
7 Reviews and 526 Opinions Most memorable
Hotel Granvia Kyoto Kyoto
6 Reviews and 743 Opinions We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,...
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 353 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Japan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Japan sightseeing.
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Q: Hi there, Will arrive in Tokyo, Narit Airport for a layover and wanted to take advantage of seeing something. I will arrive at...
A: youre lucky to be arriving so early, so you will likely pass through immigration fairly quickly. lets still count with an hour just in case. you can either take the...
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