Japan’s Culture Rules the Lifestyle of its People

Japan is a beautiful country to visit. If you love travelling, then is a country that is worth visiting. Japan is a country that you generally associate with culture, heritage, history and tradition. The Land of the Rising Sun is a wonderful amalgamation of modernity and antiquity. On one hand you will be blown away by technology and skyscrapers in the city while on the other hand you will love the beauty and serenity of the Japanese landscape and its beautiful shrines and temples. It is the culture that people follow in Japan that makes the country so unique.

The people in Japan are extremely well rooted to their past and still follow a few old age customs that makes their lifestyle, one of a kind. When you visit Japan, you should be aware of most of their customs so that, you do not have any trouble adjusting to the ways of Japan and its people.

Following an Age Old Ritual

If you are planning to visit Japan during the months of December and January, remember, that Japan is very cold and experiences snowfall in various parts. Heaters are present in rooms to mellow the temperature but carry sufficient clothing. Now coming back to culture, if you are visiting Japan during New Year, take some time and read up on how the Japanese celebrate it. A blog about Japanese lifestyle and culture can tell you all about New Year celebrations in Japan. During the New Year, the Japanese clean out their homes to welcome the Gods. They do not talk about anything ominous on that day, as they believe that it might bring bad luck. Even the food they consume is considered to bring good luck. They wear new underwear on that day and also use new towels.

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Eating

The Japanese eat with chopsticks. However, if you are not comfortable using them, feel free to ask for silverware. At a Japanese restaurant, wait till you are given an ‘oshibori’ or a wet napkin before you start eating. It is a custom to wipe your hands with an oshibori before you start your meal.

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No Shoes inside the House

This is an old custom that is still followed in most houses in Japan. You must take off your shoes before you enter a Japanese home. You might use house slippers inside but even those must be taken off in the dining area.

Before you plan your trip to Japan it is advisable to read up as much as you can about the country so that you do not face any difficulties when you are travelling. If you indeed love countries that are culturally rich and have a history, Japan is the country to go to.

Read up on Japan’s Lifestyle before you Visit the Place

If you are planning to visit Japan the next time you go on vacation make sure you read up properly on the country and culture of the people before you start packing so that it becomes easier for you to fit in and adjust when you go to the foreign land. Read up properly on the climate of The Land of The Rising Sun, because the weather in Japan is quite erratic and you might be faced with extreme weather conditions. Try and avoid visiting Japan in peak monsoon or peak winter.

The Japanese are very particular about a few things as they are culturally rooted. If you are visiting the house of a Japanese family, make sure you take off your shoes before you enter. They might give you house slippers but when you enter the tatami room, you must take off these shoes as well.

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Most of the Japanese and Chinese restaurants serve food with chopsticks. If you do not know how to use chopsticks feel free to ask for silverware. At most restaurants, you have to pay the bill in total at the end of your meal, even at bars, you have to pay the bill at the end, after you have finished eating or drinking.

There are two styles of toilets in Japan. One is the traditional Japanese style toilet where you have to squat and the other is the Western style toilet. Please check before you use the washroom as you might not be comfortable in a traditional Japanese toilet.

While shopping you should not have any sort of trouble communicating as most shopping plazas have signs in English and many people can speak in English. However, while shopping, it is advisable to carry cash as many shops do not accept credit card and personal cheques. If you read properly about Japan before visiting you should not have any trouble.

Study the Land of the Rising Sun before Visiting

If you are a globetrotter then the beautiful country of Japan must be on the top of the list, of the ‘places you must visit’. Japan is an amalgamation of modernity and antiquity. It is well known for its picturesque landscapes, tradition, culture, heritage and art forms. However, there is more to Japan than the eye can see. If you have plans of visiting the Land of the Rising Sun anytime soon, make sure you read up on it properly so that you don’t have trouble adapting to its ways.

The main aspects of Japan that you must read up on are

• Fashion and Accessories
• Interiors
• Food
• Culture
• Shopping and
• Places to visit

Fashion and Accessories

Japanese fashion is not just about their traditional attire, the Kimono. People of Japan are extremely fashion conscious and trends keep changing every season. In autumn you might see the men wear jackets and trousers that are well tailored and blocked hats. The women may also wear the same. The shoes men wear are stylish and resemble slippers. Cardigans are also in fashion during autumn. Sportswear is also very much in fashion. Accessories like scarves, bags and hats are popularly sported. Fur coats, trench coats and knitwear are also very popular in Japan.

Interiors

If you want to know how the Japanese decorate the interiors of their home then you can read up on blogs. Some beautiful furniture can be found in various parts of the country. A shop called Furniture Truck in Osaka. The furniture is vintage and tasteful. The Tim Tam Stool, the wire zigzag stool, and various other furniture pieces are available in various shops in Japan. The furniture can be both modern and classic

Japanese Food

If you are in Japan you must try out the various sorts of food found in the country and not just Sushi. Bamboo shoot, shiro dashi (white stock) and wasabi are used very commonly in all the dishes. Another very popular Japanese food trend is Vegetable Tea. The various kinds include Jerusalem artichoke, onion, Asparagus tea and Burdock tea. Lotus root and tofu are also used commonly. So, keep experimenting with food while in Japan.

Shopping

Japan is also a shopper’s paradise. The latest shopping mall has seven floors and is called Kitte. It is in Tokyo, and there is nothing you can’t find in this mall. From clothes to souvenirs to food, everything is available here. Everything from clocks toys and gadgets are available in shops all over Japan.

 Places to Visit

Apart from the grand shopping malls, the places to visit in Japan are, Yushima Tenjin (for the cherry blossom festival), Kanda Myoujin (a red painted shrine en route Ochanomizu), Yushima Seidou (it was built by the 5th Samurai shogun), museum of Yebisu beer in Ebisu, the hot springs in Niigata, and many more.

Culture

Japanese culture is really exquisite and you must read a blog about different aspects of Japan to really learn about their culture before you visit the country. New Year celebrations are a huge part of Japanese culture and all things lucky are done on this day. Even the food they eat is supposed to bring them luck. New underwear (Fundoshi) is worn and new towels are used. The banking system in Japan is also quite strange, only a few shops accept debit cards. Cash and credit card is the most common mode of payment.

It is always nice to know about the country and its ways before visiting it so that you can adjust well. Read up on Japan and its people before you visit.

Let Japanese Culture Sweep you off your Feet

If you are a globetrotter and love visiting new places, then Japan should be on top of your list. The lovely country of Japan is rich in culture and heritage. Sometimes, The Land of the Rising Sun is also referred to as the epitome of traditional beauty. The country is a lovely blend of antiquity and modernity. On your trip to Japan, you will be able to experience the best of both worlds. In recent times, Japan has been influenced by the West but the people of Japan have not let go of their roots. Japanese culture is upheld beautifully and the country does not ape the West.

Japan is different in different seasons but the essence of the country is unchanging. If you happen to be in Japan during the New Year celebrations you can see how wonderfully the occasion is celebrated. This event is considered auspicious to the people of Japan and they make it a point not to do anything that will bring bad luck. They mostly celebrate this day doing things that will bring them luck. Even the food they prepare and eat is considered to harbour luck.

If you are in Japan during this time you will see that the people in Japan eat food like red snappers, prawns, black soya bean, etc. According to the Japanese these food items are supposed to be lucky. Another interesting point that can be noted about this day is that, the people of Japan believe that wearing new underwear and using a new towel will bring them luck in the New Year and they consider it as a bearer of good luck. You can check out a blog about Japanese culture to find out more about Japan during the New Year.

While in Japan you will hear of and see new and fun things that are native to the country. However, if you are a tourist, you might want to keep a few important points in mind. You must know that the banking system in Japan is different from the one in the UK. If you want to buy something from a shop in Japan using your UK debit card, make sure they accept it because most shops in Japan don’t accept UK debit cards. The best way to pay in Japan is by cash or by using credit cards. If you are not fond of rain, make sure you don’t visit Japan during the rainy season as it pours incessantly and you are likely to fall ill.

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