Ten tips for traveling in Japan

Traveling to new countries needs you, dear traveler, to get to know them well in advance, so that it is easy for you to integrate and fully harmonize with its culture and local people, and since Japan is one of the countries that adheres to its customs and traditions in the world, it was necessary for its visitors before traveling to it to have a good understanding of the nature of This society, which has long been emulated by many peoples and cultures.

1. Respect

Bowing is an important way of greeting and apologizing in Japanese society. Children learn it since they enter primary school, which indicates the importance of this tradition for them. The Japanese people have learned to respect the elderly, and bowing is part of that, and the degree of bowing varies depending on the person you greet, If you welcome your friends, just lean quickly at an angle of 30 degrees, and your boss and the elderly will tilt deeper at an angle of 70 degrees, so you must learn this language, which is a sign of your personal respect and respect for the customs of the country you are visiting, and of course when you are called or called For an older person, the word “san” should be added after his name.

2. Follow public decency

If you are invited to a night party (“nomikai”), do not pour juice and eat it alone, good manners require you to wait for everyone to prepare for it, and as for eating etiquette, it is a sacred thing among Japanese people, start by sticking to your seat, and using a small wet towel.” oshibori” that the waiter will give you to clean your hands before serving food, and don’t be afraid of making an audible sound when you sip soup and eat pasta, this sound will be heard a lot by those around you and it is evidence of your enjoyment of this meal.

3. Tipping is not necessary

Tipting in Japan, whether for waiters, taxi drivers, or hotel service providers, is totally inappropriate and unacceptable, especially since the required bill is usually inclusive of all required expenses, so it is advised that you use tipping in this society completely.

4. Use chopsticks

You will need to use chopsticks when eating your food outside in Japanese restaurants, and you must know the best way to do this. Hold the chopsticks with one hand using your thumb, forefinger and middle finger, as if you were holding two pens, then let the middle finger differentiate between the two chopsticks, one of the chopsticks will rest between the index and middle finger , while the other stick rests between the middle and ring finger, and the chopsticks should not be left vertically planted in the rice bowl, because this is like incense sticks that are usually planted in the sand during funeral rites, and it is offensive to literature to bite the chopsticks.

5. Take off the shoes

The custom in Japan is to take off your shoes when entering the house or to some companies and hotels. You will often see a shelf at the entrance, to put shoes on, and know that the Japanese person has more than one shoe to use, so what he uses in the corners of the house is different from what he uses in a room Sleeping or in the toilet, and you must adhere to this if you are invited to a friend’s house.

6. Face Masks

In most countries, you will not see people wearing sterilization masks outside the operating room, but in Japan, you will normally see thousands of people wearing them on public streets, especially in the fall and winter. As it helps them protect against colds or allergies.

7. Order and harmony

It has been said that Western culture promotes individualism, but this does not apply to the Japanese culture and person who appreciates harmony and teamwork, but at the same time respects and adheres to public order within the framework of the group, and the most important points of commitment are not to talk on the mobile phone inside the train Or the bus, or eat on the public streets.

8. Gifts

The exchange of gifts is common in Japanese society. When someone presents you with a gift, you must take it from him with both hands and express full gratitude to him, and only open it after he leaves if he asks you to do so.

9. Speak English

Japanese people think that many foreigners cannot speak Japanese, so often you will find them trying to speak English with them, and do not worry when you find a Japanese person saying “hello” to you in a strong Japanese tone, he is trying to be polite and humble with you.

10. Safety

Compared to other countries, Japan is a relatively safe place, and it is not hidden from anyone. Murder, robbery, assault and rape inevitably happen in Japan, but when you see how Japanese people sleep on trains, you will really feel safe and secure.