Want to make the most out of your Japan trip?
We assembled our top travel tips
for the Land of the Rising Sun
From temple etiquette to how to properly eat sushi
Let's go!
Politeness is very important in Japanese culture
So be sure to bow when you greet someone
or when you say goodbye
In general the deeper the bow
the more respect you are showing
It's also considered rude to use your phone
to make calls or sounds on the train
So leave it till you disembark
When you're in Japan, you will probably visit a shrine
Here are some pointers on how to behave in the shrine
First be sure to bow slightly
before you enter through the torii gates
Also walk in on the side of the gate
because the middle is reserved for the Gods
Next up, purify yourself at the chōzuya
with the ladle and fresh water
Now you're ready to pay your respects
Bow slightly
Toss a coin in the box
Bow deeply two times
Clap two times
Thank the Gods
And finally bow slightly one more time
When you visit an onsen there are a few things
that are good to know
First off, you generally cannot enter
if you have any large tattoos
So keep that in mind
Secondly, most onsen aren't mixed-gender
So make sure you enter the right bath
Before you enter the water
make sure you rinse your body thoroughly
Next, enter the bath slowly and place the towel
on the side or on top of your head
Make sure it doesn't touch the water
Now it's time to relax and let the healing waters
of the onsen do its work
If you're at a nice sushi restaurant
you can leave your chopsticks on the table
Eat sushi like a pro
First off, don't mix the wasabi into the soy sauce
Your sushi should already be properly seasoned
But if you want to add more wasabi
you can add this on top of the sushi with your chopsticks
Once you're ready, grab the piece with your hands
and tilt it fish down into the soy sauce
Try not to let the rice touch the sauce
Next, put the sushi fish down in your mouth
and have the piece in one bite
Once you've enjoyed your sushi
grab a slice of ginger to cleanse your palate
before you enjoy the next piece
If you are visiting a Japanese izakaya
and want to drink like a local
here are some drinks you should try
A refreshing highball is the start of any great night
The simple drink contains Japanese whiskey
and soda water in a tall glass.
If the whiskey taste is too strong for you
ask the bartender to add some ginger
to the drink to soften the blow
If you want to try another local delicacy
order some sake
This rice wine is the drink of choice for many
and can be enjoyed cold or hot
which makes it a great drink for cold winter nights
Almost every region in Japan makes their own sake
so there are thousands of flavors to try
If you have a bit of a sweet tooth give umeshu a try
The sweet liqueur is made from ume fruits,
soaked in alcohol and is very popular
And of course you can't go beyond
a traditional Japanese lager
which goes perfect with all the izakaya snacks
Whatever you do just don't forget to kanpai!