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Go left in Japan
If you are riding an escalator, stand to the left. This is considered proper etiquette all over Japan, no exceptions.
Traveler tip
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Don’ t miss Tokyo’ s Sensoji Temple
go to because it is so busy is the marvelous Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. There are a lot of Japanese families there and the promenade up to the temple is full of street food vendors! Japanese food vendors are VERY clean. There are so many marvelous things to eat that are all reasonably priced. I ate these wonderful doughnut holes with a spicy pumpkin squash!
One of the number one places to go that a lot of tour groups do not
— Ann Barkley, 26-time traveler, Portland, OR
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Don’ t blow it
It is considered quite uncouth to blow your nose in public in Japan, so don’ t do it. Find a private place to do it discretely.
What to Eat in Japan
Sushi fans, rejoice! This classic Japanese dish based on raw seafood, in all its infinite varieties, is fresh all over Japan. Plus, if you are dining solo, a great way to try it is at a kaitenzushi or“ conveyor belt” sushi restaurant. You sit at a counter and plates of different types of sushi pass by on a conveyor belt, so you can conveniently grab whatever you want to try. If you prefer your seafood cooked, try ebi furai, large, deep-fried shrimps coated in panko bread crumbs. It’ s the same coating used for tonkatsu, a breaded pork cutlet. Gyoza are cabbage and pork-filled dumplings that are fried and steamed, so they’ re crisp on the bottom and tender on top.
Before you leave, do treat yourself to kaiseki, a multi-course banquet based on seasonal ingredients. It will include many small plates including appetizers, soup, rice, and simmered and grilled dishes; and will conclude with dessert and a traditional matcha tea ceremony. The aesthetics of a kaiseki meal— from the food plating to the garb of the servers— is full of symbolism and tradition. It is considered the epitome of Japanese cuisine and hospitality.
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