Japanese Culture 6 Things Tourists Should Know About
Japanese Culture 6 Things Tourists Should Know About. To have a really immersive experience and make the most of your stay there, you need to know a few characteristics of Japanese culture.
For a variety of different reasons, Japan is consistently ranked as one of the top tourist destinations throughout all of Asia. This intriguing nation has something surprising in store for every member of the family, from buildings that date back hundreds of years to delectable dishes and enchanted cherry blossoms that seem if they were plucked straight from a storybook.
However, in order to have an experience that is genuinely immersing and to make the most of your time there, there are a few aspects of Japanese culture that you need to be aware of before you go there.
The hospitality of the Japanese
Our instructor from Kyoto, Akio, told us that most individuals who visit Japan do it several times throughout the course of their lives. That is not just due to the fact that the nation has a naturally stunning aesthetic. The primary reason for this is because Japanese people are known for their warm hospitality.
The Omotenashi philosophy is the foundation of traditional Japanese hospitality. [Akio continues to explain as I gaze at him in complete confusion.] This phrase is a compound word made up of the words “omote,” which refers to one’s desired public image or how one wants other people to see them, and “nashi,” which means “nothing.” The combination of these two phrases encapsulates the guiding concept that governs the manner in which Japanese hosts are expected to conduct themselves: service is given from the very depths of one’s being, and honesty serves as the cornerstone of every productive connection. In Japanese culture, there is no room for deception or concealing anything.
Do not be self-conscious about your manners or scared to make errors if you ever participate in a tea ceremony (which, by the way, you should absolutely do). In traditional Japanese culture, the concept of a tea ceremony is brilliantly captured in a haiku written by Sen no Rikyu, a renowned tea master. The haiku reads as follows:
Despite the fact that you clean your hands.
as well as shake off the dirt.
as well as the grime from the containers,
What exactly is the point of all this commotion?
if there is still impurity in the heart?
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Therefore, the Omotenashi notion is not about having impeccable manners; rather, it emphasizes being open and sincere with others.
The Role of Religion in the Culture of Japan
Japanese Culture 6 Things Tourists Should Know About – When I ask Akio whether religion plays as significant a role in Japanese society as I see it doing, he stops for a moment before responding to my question. On the one hand, he claims that only approximately forty percent of people in Japan are followers of organized religions, which is a lower amount than one would anticipate. On the other hand, it is a fact that the majority of people in Japan regularly take part in rituals that are either Buddhist or Shinto in nature.
However, in contrast to what takes place at the majority of religious sites in the West, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples often coexist on the same land. People have had a tendency, throughout the course of the ages, to combine the two religions in such a complex manner that the name “shinbutsu” was created to refer to this blending of the faiths.
One of the advantages of practising religion in Japan is that it does not take too much time or effort to reach a holy spot. Shinto shrines may be found in some unexpected areas, such as narrow alleys, trees, mountains, and even at the foot of skyscrapers. In fact, you may be startled to see Shinto shines in these locations. Omairi, which literally translates to “visiting a shrine,” is such an integral part of daily life in Japan that it’s not unusual to see individuals in suits pausing to pray at a temple on their way to work. This practice is known as omairi.
In Japan, if you happen to come across a shrine (and trust us, you will), you are expected to perform the following rituals: bow once, offer a few coins, bow again (twice this time!), ring the bell (if there is one) to let the gods know that you have come to pay your respects, and then say your prayer. You are not required to commit any particular chant or lyric to memory. You need just offer a mental prayer of gratitude to the gods and beg them to bless you. Before you go, make a deep bow one more time, and then clap your hands. [Akio, am I understanding you correctly?]
The Significance of Bending One’s Knees
Japanese Culture 6 Things Tourists Should Know About – If you thought you were through with bows, you should reconsider that assumption. Bowing, also known as ojigi, is an essential component of social contact in Japanese culture. And we’re not just talking about subordinates submitting to the authority of their superiors here. In Japan, it is customary for even longtime friends to bow to one another. It is a simple action that enables individuals to convey respect and regard to one another. It goes without saying that the pace and depth with which you bow communicates the amount of respect or admiration you have for the one who is standing in front of you; but, it won’t hurt to opt for a more dramatic bow if you’re presented to a possible employer or business partner!
How to Present Your Business Card to Someone
Because of the meticulous nature of Japanese etiquette, there is a specific protocol for passing out business cards. There is a set of actions that you need to do in order to demonstrate that you respect the person who is in front of you and that you are actually caring about the information that is being delivered to you. We will be covering Japanese Culture 6 Things Tourists Should Know About – These steps are as follows:
Take the card with both hands (and don’t forget to give yourself a polite little bow!)
Read the information on the card, even if you don’t comprehend a single word of what’s written on it!
Place it cautiously inside your wallet (this is a far better option than stuffing it into a pocket beside a soiled Kleenex!).
Please Remove Your Shoes Before Entering.
If you have just purchased a pair of costly new shoes, you should plan ahead to take as many walks as possible in order to show them off. This is because as soon as you enter a home or even a restaurant, you will be requested to remove your shoes. When you walk into someone’s house while still wearing your shoes, Akio believes that it is quite impolite of you to do so since you are essentially polluting the space that someone has been gracious enough to welcome you inside. After all, taking off one’s shoes before entering a confined place serves no other purpose than to ensure that dirt remains outside the building.
You, on the other hand, do not need to be concerned about the cold. When you enter a home, restaurant, or hotel, there will be a designated space for your shoes where you may leave them and change into slippers or other appropriate footwear for the premises. In certain establishments, you could even find toilet slippers that are sold separately!
If you are going to go to Japan, it is strongly recommended that you bring along many pairs of quality socks due to the fact that you will be removing your shoes rather often while you are there.
When To Be Quiet
If you want to soak in the breathtaking views while the train travels through the Japanese countryside, you should bring a good book or some headphones with you. Because, as far as Akio is concerned, it is impolite to create noise when riding on public transportation. In point of fact, very few people—not even businesspeople!—answer their phones while riding the train. There is a strong emphasis in Japanese society on maintaining separation between one’s personal and work lives.
It goes without saying that this does not imply that Japanese people are silent all the time or that they are not willing to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. On the contrary, this is very definitely not the case with young individuals out for the night. According to Akio, Japanese people are really quite a lot of fun, and the typical Japanese person enjoys drinking almost as much as the average person from Ireland, which is to say a significant amount. And after they’ve had a few drinks (which often takes either inside or outside of bars), they’re more than happy to strike up a conversation with visitors from other countries.
Did any of this information on Japanese culture catch you by surprise?
You have arrived at the ideal location if you want to get an understanding of Japanese culture in addition to its language. At Listen & Learn, we work with native Japanese teachers who are excellent at teaching language in context, which ensures that each class is relevant and catered to the unique educational objectives of each individual student. A customer named Gary who had taken an online course taught by Ai had the following to say about the experience: “Ai is an excellent person, we get along well, she helps me out a tonne, and the courses are entertaining.” 10/10!”.
