The Magic of Removing Your Shoes If there’s one rule that surprises North Americans more than almost anything else in Japan, it’s that your shoes come off before you go any further. Walk into someone’s home, a traditional ryokan, a temple’s tatami room, or even some restaurants and clinics, and you’ll hit a genkan—a slightly sunken …
Why Japan is Different From Everywhere (Yes, Everywhere) Every traveler has the moment, usually somewhere between the airport and the hotel, when they realize Japan isn’t just “another country.” It’s an entirely different operating system. The streets are spotless, yet without a trash can in sight. Trains glide into stations at the exact second the …
Gifting Culture The Japanese are a formal bunch. Even when being casual, they’re dressed up, groomed, and polished. This is not the land of PJ-wearing Walmart shoppers. Part of that formality is the giving and receiving of gifts, or omiyage. It’s not the cost or size of the gift, it’s the act of thinking of …
The Necessity of Being On Time All cultures have their own, idiosyncratic societal norms. The unwritten rules enabling a civil and collaborative society. Above all else, the Japanese are polite and considerate to others. As a people, they collectively place the convenience of others above their own. No where is that more noticeable than Japan’s …
Public Restrooms and Wet Hands Most public restrooms in Japan are modern, fastidiously clean, and sport washlets on every toilet. But you’ll rarely find a paper towel in a public facility. Outside of higher end hotels, disposable, single-use paper towels are rarely seen in public restrooms. While many public restrooms have high-tech air dryers, this …