Search Results for: tokyo

Japan is a place of contradictions, land bound by ancient customs and traditions whilst simultaneously being a country of thriving and vibrant metropolises. For the open minded traveller, it has a lot to offer, from peaceful, serene villages, untouched by time right through to modern, bustling cities showing off the best of Japanese counter culture. As fascinating as it is though, those customs and traditions we mentioned are embedded within the Japanese mind-set and the wise tourist would do well to learn some of them before choosing to travel there… 1-The Bow Is The New ‘Hello’ Perhaps bowing, more than any other tradition, is the most well-known of Japanese traditions to Western travellers and bowing to others is drilled into young Japanese children from a young age. Whilst you wouldn’t be expected to conform as a visitor, a small bend of the head will go a long way… 2-Slip Off Your Shoes For Slippers Anyone entering a house in Japan will be expected to remove their shoes and put on the slippers provided. And it’s not just in houses either… Temples, traditional restaurants and even some museums will expect this behaviour too, so if you ever come across a row of slippers in Japan, embrace the tradition and swap them for your shoes! 3-Embrace Japanese Normality Don’t panic, this isn’t essential for all Japanese hotels but they are pretty common for...