Comments on: Japan Cultural Guide: 20 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Japan

By: Reese Lee

Reese Lee — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:09:41 +0000

Great tip on the shopping bag, Lee Ann. Thanks for sharing!

By: Lee Ann Matsumoto

Lee Ann Matsumoto — Sun, 21 May 2023 21:22:28 +0000

Excellent tips for newbies to Japan! One most recent tip is to bring a shopping bag when going to the konbini since they don’t give bags anymore. Love your blog and posts!

By: Reese Lee

Reese Lee — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:35:58 +0000

In reply to Richard E.

Excellent idea, Richard. Thanks for chiming in! We’ll add that to the list.

By: Wolak

Wolak — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 14:59:18 +0000

In reply to Richard E.

That’s actually a good idea- the local police are pretty knowledgeable and helpful with directions too.

By: Reese Lee

Reese Lee — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:49:06 +0000

In reply to Abby.

Thanks for sharing your story, Abby!

By: Richard E

Richard E — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 19:29:53 +0000

Is it worth adding a tip to your section on addresses: since the address system is so complicated and therefore of no use to travellers, the best way to find a location is to ask at a police box/kouban (show them the written address), which are conspicous and often found on main corners and at large railway stations.

By: Abby

Abby — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 22:33:35 +0000

When visiting a museum, a friend from our ceramics tour and I stopped to eat in a crowded café. There were no empty tables, but it looked as though people were sharing tables. We saw two chairs available at one end where a family of five was already seated. We sat there with our cake and coffee and proceeded to eat and talk quietly. Across the table a boy of about 12 was seated next to his little brother. When their food came, he sat unmoving, without touching the food, looking very unhappy. I noticed him, of course, he was sitting across from me and one chair down, and my friend, an elderly woman, was seated next to him. But I thought he was just in a bad mood. Everyone else in his family was eating and the parents occasionally spoke quietly to him, urging him (I assumed) to eat. He sat there with a most disapproving look on his face as though he was on strike. His grandmother, who was next to him on the other side finally stood and exchanged seats with him. At that, he started to eat. My friend and I soon got up and left, and it was only afterwards that I realized he was indignant about our sitting without asking permission. He was protecting his family from the intrusive foreigners. Perhaps even if we had asked permission and been given it by his parents, he still would have done what he did. But of course we felt very badly. Even if we didn’t speak Japanese, we should have asked permission through gestures. It was a painful learning experience. So I would add to your good rules for behavior that always to ask permission before thinking you can share a table even in a very crowded café.

By: Reese Lee

Reese Lee — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 19:39:11 +0000

In reply to Cindi Rose.

Thanks for sharing, Cindi!