Everyone knows my love of travel. I’ve been to over 125 countries, many more than once. Some places have a deep connection—a sense of being like home, whether you’re visiting for the first or the 50th time. 

Japan is the place for me. During my Pan Am years, when I was a young girl traveling the world, Japan was a regular route for me. I love the culture, food, people, and fast pace of the large cities. I have made many trips to Tokyo.  

This year, I had the chance to visit Japan after a long, long time of being away. It was actually an emotional reunion. Japan was a city and country that was so much a part of my life and one with which I definitely felt a connection.

This time, I explore the central region of Japan on a tour with Oku Japan Tours – a company focusing on taking you off the beaten path and out into the areas of Japan that you may. I sometimes think of visiting, but I can tell you you should. It is the old Japan. The part of the country that genuinely tells its story – the history, culture, food, and way of life. It’s the story of strong and resilient people who have, through the years, created a culture and country that is admired and inviting to everyone worldwide.  My curiosity is never-ending to know more about the country, the culture, and the people.  

Traditions and culture are all about a group of people’s interactions, morals, and values. There are a few things to know about Japanese culture. During my years of flying to Japan while with Pan Am, my recent trip to central Japan gave me a more in-depth view of the traditions and culture, how they are part of everyday life, and the experiences you will have when visiting.  

In part 2 of Japan—Shogun and Samurai, I share some of the cultural practices you’ll find helpful when visiting.  

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• Japanese people are often group-oriented.
  
• Uniformity is often preferred.
  
• Japanese do not like to stand out. Have you heard the saying – “the nail that sticks out gets hit.” That is how many Japanese will see how their behavior can influence others and situations.  
  
• Indirectness is often seen as being polite. (Avoiding conflicts is preferred.)
  
• Japanese tend to match their opinions with those of others.
  
• Japanese may not express their emotions openly or vigorously.
  
• People may seem shy, and it may take time to make friends.
  
• Japanese prefer to keep their distance in conversation, but trains may be very crowded.
  
• People do not mind waiting in line. (Cutting in line is rude.)
  
• People set much value on manners and rules.
  
• Japanese may have a specific image of foreigners. (You may encounter stereotypes.)
  
• Japanese are often embarrassed to use English.
  
• Greetings are mostly bowing but will return a handshake.
  
• Physical contact during conversation is not shared between colleagues.
  
• Social invitations may be made out of politeness. (May not be meant)
  
• Slurping food and tea is not considered impolite.
  
• Punctuality is considered politeness.
  
• Japanese often give gifts, but there is no need to reciprocate. 
  

Politeness: Japanese people are often considered very polite. Japan has many etiquette standards, and it would be very unusual not to teach a child how to follow them. Being polite also helps to put forward a good ‘face’ and is considered part of society’s structure.

Punctuality: Being late disrespects the other party as if you don’t value their time and work. When attending meetings and appointments in Japan, arriving early or on time at the latest is best. Even casual catch-ups with friends expect a high standard of punctuality.

Working Hard: Japan’s high level of hard work is now world-famous, with the amount of overtime done by many workers held up as a prime example. Many Japanese people are very hardworking and are very committed to their work. This is related to the critical values mentioned above, with a strong sense of duty and obligation and a need to maintain the harmony of doing overtime when everyone else is doing overtime.

These traits are exhibited through daily life and social interactions in Japan. For example, politeness can be seen in the high level of customer service and going well beyond what is needed for customers in service industry interactions. The reserved nature required for specific situations can be seen if you have friends who are loud and talkative in private cases but quiet and reserved in public situations, such as on the train.

Bowing is one of the most well-known Japanese cultural practices and is relatively easy to participate in. While there are extensive rules about how to bow for different situations, foreigners aren’t expected to understand all the rules, so a standard bow works in most cases. A general rule is that a more profound bow equals more respect, while a light head nod is more of a casual greeting. Bowing indicates respect, not only for the other person but for Japanese culture in general.

Dining Etiquette

Japanese dining etiquette is similar to Western dining etiquette in that it covers a range of practices regarding how to act while at the table. However, Japanese dining etiquette has some unique aspects, such as removing your shoes when entering a restaurant with tatami mat flooring and using the oshibori, or hand towel, to clean your hands before eating and not for cleaning the table.

Other unique aspects include never leaving chopsticks standing upright in food, pouring drinks for others instead of only for yourself, and never lifting the main dish to eat from it.

These practices are standard for interacting in Japanese society. While it is unlikely people will be rude or disapproving if you participate, it will be greatly appreciated. Participating in these cultural practices can also help you further understand Japanese culture.

Travel comes with a very healthy amount of curiosity. When traveling to a new destination, we want to experience those things we’ve heard or seen. It’s part of the experience. Welcome back to traveling with Annita and friends. 

One of my many questions is: Did you stay in a ryokan? A Japanese-style accommodation. The answer is yes, I did. This was one of the highlights of my trip, especially the opportunities to stay with families. Accommodations where you stay with families are called minshuku. They are similar to ryokans, and the difference may be that dinners are not as elaborate, and communal bathrooms are more common. 

Photos from my trip –