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Planning a Trip to Japan – and How to Behave Respectfully

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked all kinds of travel questions. I personally believe that when visiting a different country that you should be respectful of your hosts beliefs and customs. So with that in mind I have put together some useful tips and basic rules that should be observed when visiting Japan.

By far the best and most efficient way to travel is by train using the Japan Rail Travel Pass for foreigners. You will need to buy an exchange order before entering Japan as you can not buy it when you are there and travel agencies in your area will be able to tell you where you can get hold of one.
You have to be eligible for the pass so if you are visiting Japan for temporary sightseeing or are a Japanese national who lives permanently in a foreign country.
On arrival in Japan go to a Japan Rail Pass exchange office or a Travel Service Center which are located in major JR stations or airports. You will need to show your passport and the exchange order and tell them the day you want to start your travels.
This pass will enable to use Japan Rail Travel, JR ferries, and JR buses.
By purchasing a green -type Japanese Rail Pass it will enable you to use the green cars (first class) without additional charges.

The Japanese are very precise when it comes to common manners and I personally believe that as a foreigner it is important to be familiar with some of the basic rules.

When visiting a shrine or temple it is common sense that you should behave respectfully. This can be observed by making a short prayer in front a sacred object. You can also show respect by so by throwing a coin into the offering box, followed by a short prayer.
In some temples you can purchase a bundle of incense which you can burn. If you have an injury or medical problem it is believed that if you fan the smoke towards the injury that there is great healing properties in this.
Some temples may expect you to remove your shoes which you can leave at the entrance on the shelves provided or take them with you.
When visiting a shrine you are expected to be in good health to avoid bringing in any impurities. So before entering a shrine you are expected to cleanse both hands with the fresh water provided at the purification fountain. People will also rinse out their mouths with the fresh water, spitting it out by the fountain. This is not compulsory however.
You will be permitted to take photographs in the temple grounds but forbidden indoors there will be signs to let you know what is permitted.

Make sure that you have tissues when visiting a public toilet as there is not always toilet roll or hand drying facilities. There are western toilets and Japanese toilets in most places and wheelchair toilets were always in stations and temple areas.

The Japanese greet each other by bowing but since they do not expect foreigners to know proper Japanese bowing rules so a nod of the head is usually enough.

Older men sometimes use it on their face in working class establishments, but they are considered rude for doing so. Also, refrain from wiping your nose on it.
Here are a few table rules for you to be aware of when dining out. You will receive a hot towel at the start of a meal which can only be used for your hands as it is considered bad manners to use it on your face.
Blowing your nose in public is also considered bad manners especially if at the dining table.
The Japanese will consider an empty plate good manners but burping is not. When you have finished your meal try to remember to place all your dishes as they were at the start of the meal. Remembering to replace the lid of dishes and replacing your chopsticks on the chopstick holder. Speaking of chopsticks there are a whole lot of rules on how to use the effectively. I have narrowed them down to the basics here.
Do not stick chopsticks into your food, especially rice nor pass food with them directly to somebody else's chopsticks. Do not use the chopsticks to spear food with. Spoons are sometimes used to eat Japanese dishes that are difficult to eat with chopsticks and knives and forks are only used for Western food.

5 What to take – Finally, here are a few things you may or nay not have thought of. Electric. If you need to bring any appliances from your country, make sure to bring a converter or plug. American appliances can be used in Japan without a converter although they will have less power. You will need a two-pronged plug and you will be able to buy converters and plugs in the airports. Better still buy one before you travel.

It is advisable to look for Citibank ATM's when attempting to obtain money as most ATM's in Japan do not accept international visa cards, etc. in their machines due to the fact that the magnetic strip on the back is much thinner than ours.
The yen is the Japanese currency unit. A MasterCard or VISA card can be used in department stores, hotels, and restaurants in major cities. If, however you are traveling the countryside of Japan, you might find that credit cards/traveler's checks may not be accepted. While it is a good idea to carry Japanese currency with you, make sure that you remain alert in areas where pick-pockets may be rife such as crowded trains etc.

Last but by no means least to avoid any embarrassing moments when following the Japanese tradition of removing your shoes, make sure that your socks or tights have not got holes in them!

Have great holiday or vacation in Japan

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/planning-a-trip-to-japan-and-how-to-behave-respectfully-268560.html

Stuart Cheese is the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours and, having visited over 110 countries, has a wealth of travel experience. One World Tours / The Holidays in Japan Specialists
 

Japan, One Of The Best Destinations In Asia

Japan is notably one of the best destinations in Asia, if not one of the better know. Japanese culture has found its way throughout the world and common cultural items are recognized just about everywhere. Getting to vacation where these popular trends came from is like a dream come true. The wealth of cultural diversity is almost dizzying and its not hard to find something for every type of traveler.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. Most tours of Japan start or end in Tokyo if they ever leave. Tokyo is a very large, and very expensive city but well worth the time. There are many great sites to be visited among its crowded streets. Among the must-visit wonders are Akihabara, Tsukiji, and the Imperial Palace. Akihabara is the electronic gadget lover's paradise. Many goodies are found here in the wall to wall electronic shops, and may never see the mass market. Tsukiji is the world's largest open air fish market. It reportedly sells hundreds of different types of fish each day. The Imperial Palace is not generally open to the public except twice a year, and then only the outer areas. The gardens and grounds around the palace are open and a wonderful place to get glimpses of the Palace. The Tokyo National Museum is also a great stop to view a large suppository of Japanese antiques and artifacts.Some other things to take into account while traveling in Tokyo is the transit system during peak times might be a little uncomfortable to the average traveler who isn't use to packing into a subway car like a sardine.

Another city of interest is Hiroshima. Hiroshima is the site of the world's first atom bond detonation used in war. The Peace Memorial Museum is located here which houses a large collection that includes artifacts from its militaristic past, the events leading to the dropping of the bomb as well as the fallout afterward and Hiroshima's anti-nuclear movement. Living in the shadow of great tragedy has allowed a great place for wisdom to flourish.

Another great city is Kyoto and its famous geisha houses. You can easily tour some lovely historic structures as many made it through the war, and the basic grid structure makes it easy to navigate. There are numerous walking tours, including one by a native English speaker, Peter Macintosh, who helps the crew of Memoirs of a Geisha scout locations.

There are plenty of Japanese cultural events you can participate in no matter what city you are in. What trip to Japan would be complete without attending a Traditional Tea Ceremony? While it is usually not in English, several hotels in Tokyo offer it in English to accommodate tourists. Attending a sumo match is also great cultural events. Even if you can't actually attend one, they are highly televised during the tournaments. After a long day of touring the wonders of Japan, a shiatsu massage is a great treat. They are available at most first class hotels and many others as well. If massage isn't your thing you can also go to a hot springs. While not very common in some countries they are incredibly popular and can be found in all parts of the country.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/japan-one-of-the-best-destinations-in-asia-409139.html

A Visitors Guide to Tokyo Japan

Planning a trip to Tokyo, Japan in the near future? If so, this article will provide you with at least a day full of things to do in Tokyo and will also offer you a few travel trips.

Asia is a lovely place to visit and you will be able to take advantage of some bargains when you travel to Tokyo if you plan ahead. Hotels in Japan are no more expensive then many places and often less expensive than the hotels in Europe. You may even find that as a foreigner you will receive a small discount if you make reservations online. Be sure to check different websites so that you can compare prices and accommodations.

You will also find that domestic transport is moderately priced as long as you choose other modes of transportation over taxis and airplanes. Many hotels have limousine busses to get you to and from the airport or you could take the Keisei Sky Liner train. In the city you may want to use the subway or a Tokyo Combination ticket which is good for one day on a streetcar, Toei bus, JR train or the subway. There are thirteen subway lines and they operate from 5am to a little past midnight. If you are traveling with children from ages 6-12 they will pay half fare prices.

The food in Tokyo is often expensive and that is because most of it needs to be imported. The best thing to do if you are not willing to pay really high prices for meals is to avoid the tourist-trap restaurants and expensive Western-style hotels. Look for the best prices at lunch. The restaurants that serve the lower priced meals will often be the smaller ones and can be found in office building basements and in narrow lanes of business districts. Ask at your hotel desk for recommendations.

Now that we have covered hotels, food and transportation we are ready to move on to some of the sights that can be seen in Tokyo in a day or two. Anime has gone human in Tokyo and you can experience this cartoon-like phenomenon in the Harajuku district and also see some of the same kinds of things in Shibuya, which is the teen capitol of everything cool. There is even a tour you can take if you are truly fascinated by Anime.

Tokyo is also a place to view and experience some of the traditional arts of Japan and the Asian culture. Put on the clothing worn by a geisha and have a picture taken for your scrapbook. You can take a class and learn the art of Japanese flower arranging. Spend several hours or an entire day visiting the gardens, temples, shrines and museums. You will see things in Tokyo that are not available anywhere else you may travel.

Tokyo is also a city of the future. You can shop at some of the most fashionable places imaginable in the Roppongi district. Have fun shopping your way through 53 stories and you may want to visit the City View observatory and the Mori Art Museum.

Have a wonderful adventure in Tokyo, Japan!

You have the author's permission to publish this article in your ezine or on your website as long as you do not modify it. You must retain the resource box with live link back to the Search Japan Hotels website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/a-visitors-guide-to-tokyo-japan-56198.html

If you are planning a vacation to Tokyo you can find an airline hotel Tokyo at the Search Japan Hotels website by going to http://www.searchjapanhotels.com/Tokyo-1.shtml You can also find flights to Tokyo, car rentals, last minute deals and Tokyo vacation packages.

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