Traveling to Japan
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So ill be taking a trip to Japan in Aug and staying with a family for a month. I have never been to Japan before and was wondering if anyone has gone and could lend me some helpful dos and donts that I should know.
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1. Always carry toilet paper or tissues when you go into town. Japanese public toilets do not have them. \
2. Carry a map since there are no street names.
3. The bakery outside of Hiiroshima station has some of the best fried Chicken ever
4. If in Tokyo go to Asakusa, the shrine and shopping arcade contain some cool stuff.
5. Calorie Mate is your friend, keep a box on you incase you get tired running around Japan. Eating two of those cookies will give you all the energy you need to kick ass for more than a few hours.
2. Carry a map since there are no street names.
3. The bakery outside of Hiiroshima station has some of the best fried Chicken ever
4. If in Tokyo go to Asakusa, the shrine and shopping arcade contain some cool stuff.
5. Calorie Mate is your friend, keep a box on you incase you get tired running around Japan. Eating two of those cookies will give you all the energy you need to kick ass for more than a few hours.
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Thanks for the reply. ill be in the Tokyo region for about a month then god knows where after that. before I leave back for the states ima try to stay in Tokyo for 2 nights and wonder around and hit up some Izakayas
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DO...
- Carry a sufficient amount of cash. Not many smaller stores accept credit cards anymore due to advances in cellphone technology. (ex: convenience stores)
- Bring a small gift for your host family. It is customary for guests to give something to their hosts. (ex: a box of pastries/cookies, something from your hometown, etc.)
- Be conscious of the eldest figure in your host family. (ex: let them be the first to begin eating, offer to refill their glass, etc.)
- Bring a small hand towel. Bathrooms don't have paper towels for your hands either. :S
DON'T...
- Eat or dink while walking. This annoys people and is considered rude. (why you won't find many bins out on streets)
- Point things out with your index finger, even if it's just to point something out on paper. They find this to be offensive. Instead, use your entire hand (palm facing upwards with your thumb folded in) to direct attention somewhere.
- Try to close the taxi doors -- they will close on their own. Some drivers are touchy about this.
The summer festivals last through the end of August, so I hope you get the opportunity to go to one. I'm sure your host family will know of a local one. Best wishes! :)
- Carry a sufficient amount of cash. Not many smaller stores accept credit cards anymore due to advances in cellphone technology. (ex: convenience stores)
- Bring a small gift for your host family. It is customary for guests to give something to their hosts. (ex: a box of pastries/cookies, something from your hometown, etc.)
- Be conscious of the eldest figure in your host family. (ex: let them be the first to begin eating, offer to refill their glass, etc.)
- Bring a small hand towel. Bathrooms don't have paper towels for your hands either. :S
DON'T...
- Eat or dink while walking. This annoys people and is considered rude. (why you won't find many bins out on streets)
- Point things out with your index finger, even if it's just to point something out on paper. They find this to be offensive. Instead, use your entire hand (palm facing upwards with your thumb folded in) to direct attention somewhere.
- Try to close the taxi doors -- they will close on their own. Some drivers are touchy about this.
The summer festivals last through the end of August, so I hope you get the opportunity to go to one. I'm sure your host family will know of a local one. Best wishes! :)
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chiwa wrote...
DO...- Carry a sufficient amount of cash. Not many smaller stores accept credit cards anymore due to advances in cellphone technology. (ex: convenience stores)
- Bring a small gift for your host family. It is customary for guests to give something to their hosts. (ex: a box of pastries/cookies, something from your hometown, etc.)
- Be conscious of the eldest figure in your host family. (ex: let them be the first to begin eating, offer to refill their glass, etc.)
- Bring a small hand towel. Bathrooms don't have paper towels for your hands either. :S
DON'T...
- Eat or dink while walking. This annoys people and is considered rude. (why you won't find many bins out on streets)
- Point things out with your index finger, even if it's just to point something out on paper. They find this to be offensive. Instead, use your entire hand (palm facing upwards with your thumb folded in) to direct attention somewhere.
- Try to close the taxi doors -- they will close on their own. Some drivers are touchy about this.
The summer festivals last through the end of August, so I hope you get the opportunity to go to one. I'm sure your host family will know of a local one. Best wishes! :)
wow thanks a lot, some good things to know. I already had something in mind to bring as a gift. What about gum? I love to chew gum but if its offensive to them I wont bring any.
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I don't know if this applies to all Japanese, but it may be a good gift idea for some. When I went in 2006 I brought one family a tye dye shirt [I live in Eugene, OR they are sort of symbolic of the area] and the family I gave it to was absolutely enamored with it. They couldn't get over the weird colors and patterns.