If you are stepping on a tatami mat (traditional Japanese straw mat flooring) then you will need to remove the slippers and wear socks or go bare foot. There will be slippers there for you to wear. Remove your shoes before entering a Japan establishment. Do not wear them back into the establishment of whence you came. These are toilet slippers and to be worn while in the toilet. When you then enter the toilet there will most likely be more slippers. You may be given house slippers to wear, otherwise socks. When entering a Japanese establishment you will be asked to remove your shoes. Take your rubbish with you and dispose of it at your accommodation. Japanese streets are not lined with rubbish bins found in other western cities. If you have to smoke then find a designated outdoor smoking area as smoking and walking randomly in the street is frowned upon and is illegal in some areas. Most vending machines will have an area in which to eat and also a bin specifically for vending machine rubbish (not other rubbish). It is considered the height of rudeness to eat or drink while walking in the street, even from a vending machine. No eating or drinking (or smoking) while walking “ Irrashaimasse” means “welcome” or “you have arrived” – you may have heard this called out when you enter a sushi train. Start each meal with the word ‘ itadakimasu’ which is akin to bon appetit. Ok, it’s not grace really but think of it as a blessing or a food greeting. If you need to serve yourself from shared plates then do so with the fatter end of the chopsticks (the ends not put in your mouth) so as not to ‘double dip’. This way the server doesn’t have to touch dirty sticks (because, cleanliness is next to Japan godliness). You can raise your bowl toward your mouth when using chopsticks. Always dip the fish side of your sushi nigiri into the soy sauce, not the rice side, and take the nigiri in one bite.ĭon’t rub the wooden chopsticks together if they splinter (again, rude) and place your chopsticks part back in their wrapper when finishing meal. If you’re using chopsticks then don’t stand them up in a bowl of rice (this is how they are presented in funerals) or leave them pointing at someone (threatening) or use them to pass food from your set of chopsticks to another person’s set of chopsticks (don’t ask). Tipping is not required and is frowned upon. Trust is a big part of Japanese culture, to count is to imply the business owner is untrustworthy. When you receive your change in the tray at the restaurant, do not count it. Do not hold all your money in your hand and wave it around hoping they will take it with their hands. You will deal more in cash than in plastic. If a business sets down a small tray in front of you then put your cash on this tray. Read our Onsen Etiquette guide and if you have tattoos then cover them with bandaids or ask for a private onsen. Wearing your swimmers is not ok in an onsen, you must go in naked and entering the onsen without cleaning yourself with the hand held shower and soap on a small stool in the onsen is also highly offensive. There is a ritual and culture to the onsen experience, so please, follow it. Onsens (Japanese hot mineral public and private baths) are a big part of Japanese ski town life. Always make your hosts feel good, not bad, so if they say sorry you say it’s ok. This is the Japanese version of ‘it’s ok’. When someone says sorry to you, say Daijobu Desu. If you feel you have offended, say sorry, if you have arrived late (not good) say sorry, if you have dropped something in a restaurant, say sorry. Gomen Nasai are the words for sorry in Japan. This may be hard for some but it’s time to swallow your ego and embrace humility. They say sorry, almost as much as they say thank you. The Japanese are like the Canadians of Asia. So say it, a lot, more than you do at home. It’s about acknowledging another person’s kindness and service. You cannot say thank you ( arigatou) enough in Japan. Of course we know the majority of travelers don’t behave in this trashy manner, it’s the loud ones that everyone sees. Loud, boisterous, over the top bogan behavior is unattractive at home, let alone in a country big on centuries old etiquette. So, don’t be like the gaijin (outsiders) in ski towns who have caused havoc for many locals from trashing property on drunken Australia Days to pissing in the street on any day. But what we think is funny back home does not always translate well. Trust us, we learned the hard way, no doubt offending our hosts with what we thought was hilarious behavior. It’s hard to know when you’re breaking etiquette if you don’t understand the culture. So we’ve listed some basic ‘rules’ to adhere to when skiing in Japan to keep locals happy and looking forward to your return.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |