Cathay Pacific's Japan Travel Tips

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!