Before I continue my travels through japan, I thought it might be good to share some personal insights into some travel etiquette that I see a lot of folks either might not be aware of, or might ignore when they travel to Japan or any country.
Japan in particular is a society based around a strict sense of cultural norms, expectations and philosophies. These things can be hard for the outsider to grasp on the first, second, third, even the hundredth journey. People spend lifetimes in Japan and they don't understand them, but some of the things I list below could help you not only to have a more comfortable trip but they will allow folks to open up to you as if you were a local in some respects.
1. Always obey the listed rules and signs.
This is something I myself struggle with. I'll explain it with a personal story. I was standing in Asakusa Temple in Tokyo looking out at a gathering procession that was going on. There's no photography allowed inside the temple of the main statue of kannon, and the signs clearly state this. I thought, foolishly, that I could take a picture of the procession outside since all the Japanese people were. I was wrong. I didn't take into account, they were standing on the temple steps, beyond the sanctuary. I was quickly and tersely corrected.
Signs are very important in Japan, and they don't always make sense, but be sure to look out for them and obey what they say. You'll get along better with people if you do.
2. If in doubt, ask about.
The Japanese are extremely friendly, especially young Japanese who are in high school, junior high and elementary school. They LOVE to practice their English, and you can usually get across a semblance of understanding with a little work, OR they will direct you to someone who can. That said, it is crucial to learn some words to get around.
One of the most essential phrases you can possibly ask is "I deska?" This is pronounced "e (as in old mcdonald had a farm, eyai eyai oh) -des-kah." I deska is the essential "may I?" you need to implore if you want to take someone's picture. The Japanese for all their love of cameras are like anyone and sometimes want their privacy. In the story above, I could have asked "i deska" before taking a picture or attempting it and they might have directed me to a place.
3. Always say your food is yummy (and it usually is.)
"Oishi" (pronounced oi like oivey, and she: oy-she) means delicious or wonderful. Take some time to try to identify certain foods or fishes. Tempura, sushi, curry, individual ingredients, knowledge is power and the Japanese love to see your making an effort to understand their language. Telling them something's delicious in Japanese is a great way to get smiles and sometimes nice little extra treats.
4. Say thank you as much as you can.
Arigato or arigato gozaimasu (ari-gato, ari-gato-goz-ai-mas-sh-tei) or ari-gato-goz-ai-mas) are catch all thank yous. The Japanese will thank you for entering, for exiting, for smiling, for doing business in general. They will compliment you, help you out, serve you, always use these phrases.
5. Don't be afraid to say sorry or excuse me, but say them properly.
Being a foreigner, you're bound to make a mistake or to bump into someone or even want to catch their attention.
In general if you want to pass someone, try to use the phrase sumimasen. (Sumi-mass-sen). It generally means "sorry" or "excuse me." A more formal way is to say "gomenasai" (go-men-nah-sai). Try to be polite but not too polite, after all you don't really know these people. This is incredibly useful when moving through crowded areas like subways if you are in a hurry.
6. The Japanese toilet is an unusual creature.
Japanese toilets are known for being high tech, and they have lots of buttons switches and odd little doodads. It can take a while to understand some of them, but when in doubt, don't mess with anything. The flush function is clearly marked with a handle or button on the side or top. If your using the infamous squat toilets, well, not much help for you there. That's an exercise, literally. Face the end with the handle, and try not to drop anything. Clean up after yourself, and carry handkerchiefs with you.
7. Most local inns are very rustic, expect to sleep on the ground.
Outside of western hotels, the Japanese tend to sleep on futons, a special kind of matress on the floor. These can be very uncomfortable for people not used to them, especially the pillows which are nothing more than light little packets of packing peanut type objects you lay your head on. It can take a bit to get used to. Sometimes when at an inn there are extra futons in a closet in the room and you can put these on top of the other ones for some extra comfort. Just be sure to put them back before the nice folks clean up when your at breakfast.
8. Trains wait for no one.
I've talked about this before, but trains leave on time, every time. If its 10:01 and the train leaves at 10:01:56, it leaves at that time precisely. Having a special app like Hyperdia can help, since many stations don't list train times, and special trains are hard to discern one from another. When in doubt, the train personnel can help you find which platform and train you want to catch at a specific time.
9. Lost? Ask the police.
The Koban or police box/station is commonly found all over Japan. You'll find them in small and large neighborhoods, usually with someone attending them. You can recognize them by the symbol or the little mascots below. The Koban are helpful people, and sometimes they know English, and they have maps, so if you are looking for a place, they can point on a map and give you a sense where you want to go.
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| Koban Mascot |
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| Koban Symbol, usually found on the front face of the building |
10. Always, always always carry a card with your hotel's information, address, etc on it.
Most hotels and businesses have business cards that clearly state the address and phone number of the place. You can find these at the front desks, or you can ask for a card or write it down on a small sheet, Keep this with you, because if you get lost, you can present it to a taxi driver, a koban, or a local and they can help you find it or get you back "home".
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So these are the ten essentials I have found to help you survive traveling in Japan. I hope you found them useful. My next post will be Himeji Castle and Town, so see you then.
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