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Thursday 28 November 2013

Important Things That You Are Expected to Follow While Visiting Japan

If you like travelling around the world and exploring various aspects of human life, Japan can be the place that you cannot afford to miss at any cost. The land of rising sun is said to be the epitome of traditions and culture, history and heritage and science and technology. The Japanese lifestyle is an awesome blend of westernisation and indigenous traditions. Japan has lots of unique things to bestow to the visitors.

So, are you planning a vacation in Japan? If yes, you must know about certain exclusive aspects of Japanese culture and day to day lifestyle. By learning about the customs of Japan your trip is guaranteed to be great and memorable. So, do not spend all of the time just looking at the beautiful landscapes and taking snaps, but also spare a few hours of your busy schedule for learning about the customs and lifestyle of the place.

Greetings and Etiquette

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Japanese people are quite humble and greet each other and their guests by bowing. They express respect and appreciation to the next person by bending at the level of their waist. This gesture is particularly used to greet “good morning” and “hello, goof afternoon” to the next persons. Bowing also refers to the gesture for apology and gratitude. While bidding adieu, they most frequently use “sayonara” but the world “bye-bye” is also used by many people.

Mobile phones have become quite common in Japan, reaching almost to 90 percent population. However, in spite of increasing use of mobile phones, people are expected to follow the etiquettes in public places.

Meals

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Eating habits vary across the boundaries. So, for the tastiest experience of eating foods from other culture, you should know the food habits and customs of the place. Japan has its own meal etiquette and visitors are also expected to follow their customs. The traditional meal format in Japan is the ozen, which is a mealtime table for single person and attached with legs. These tables are placed on the tatami mats on which people sit in seiza position, legs tucked under thighs. However, chairs and tables have become common for dining purposes in Japanese households. There are many other customs that one requires to follow while eating in Japanese-style dining set-up.

Most Japanese foods are eaten with the help of chopsticks, which are made from wood and have a tapered tip. In every household, each family member will have their own bowls and chopsticks. Children use shorter ones, which fit their hands’ size.

Lodging Accommodations

There are several customs followed at lodging facilities in Japan. You must know of such customs in advance to avoid the feel of embarrassment and surprise. From getting into the bath to the bedding, Japanese people follow different ways for everything.

If you are lodging at the hotels or availing services of taxis, restaurants and beauty salons, you are not required to tip the service providers, as everything is included in the bill itself. Another important thing to know is that many traditional homes want you to remove your shoes at the inner entrance of the building and wear room slippers inside the house or room. This is also applicable at traditional ryokan and other Japanese-style lodging accommodations.

There are many other customs and traditions that you are expected to follow while holidaying in Japan. Take some time off to know more and more about unique Japanese lifestyle.

Saturday 23 November 2013

Reading Up on Japan Before Discovering It

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Japan is a country that is full of surprises. If you think that it is only about all things traditional, cultural and only about customs and the old world, then you are definitely in for a surprise. Japan is highly modernised and is the technological capital of the world, it is just that it is rooted in its past. Therefore, the people of Japan are modern yet rooted. So, if you are planning to visit this wonderful country, it is best that you read up a little about it and people, so that it will be easy for you to adjust to their ways.

There are various things to know and learn about Japan that you won’t find in any old travel guide. You must know about Japanese culture, places to visit in Japan, Japanese food, places to shop in Japan, Japanese fashion, Japanese interiors, beauty & cosmetics, and many more aspects. Now, if you are wondering where you might find authentic details about the country, then the internet is a good place to start.

You can refer to various blogs about Japan that will fill you in with all the details you require. These blogs are a 100 percent genuine as they are written by travellers who have visited the country or frequent the country of Japan or by citizens of Japan. So, all the information you find on these blogs is reliable and can be trusted.

About Japanese Culture

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If you want in-depth details about the culture of Japan, then these blogs will be of great help. They will tell you how the Japanese celebrate various festivals like New Year, for example. They will inform you about every single detail related to the festival, like rituals and customs.

About Places to visit in Japan

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When you go to Japan, it is obvious that you will want to travel the length and breadth of the country. Therefore, you must know where all to go and the places to visit. The blogs about Japan will fill you in with details about beautiful places you can visit. This information can help tourists plan out an itinerary.

About Places to Shop in Japan

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Japan is also a shopper’s paradise. If you love shopping, then you won’t be disappointed in Japan. Blogs on Japan can tell you a lot about where to shop and to shop for. This way, you can plan out your shopping sprees properly.

About Japanese Fashion

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Fashion in Japan is an integral part of lifestyle. The Japanese are extremely fashion conscious and sure do know how to dress up. So, if you are a fashion enthusiast yourself, knowing a little more about Japanese fashion will help you shop for fashion accessories and clothes in Japan.

About Japanese Food

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If you like to eat and are considered a foodie by one and all, you must try out Japanese cuisine while in Japan. The blogs about Japan will give you information about the various kinds of Japanese dishes you must try out and will also let you know about restaurants you must visit.

A blog for Japan is written and constructed in such a manner so as to help travellers get information about the country with ease.