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Q: Visiting Japan; any tips on cultural similarities/differences with China?
So I'd just rather brush past the whole China-Japan hatred/rivalry thing for this question...
I'll be visiting Japan for the first time in a month or so, and I am wondering about how much of my cultural conditioning from China will work there (dinning practices, haggling, general social interactions). I'm assuming that breaking into Chinese when I don't understand what's going on or I want to buy something is a big no-no, but I really don't know much about the country and it's people outside of what I hear on the news.
Am I better off trying to speak/write English, or will basic characters and Chinese words suffice? Do the hand signals for numbers work there? Are there any specific cultural practices that are really different from China or the US that I should know about?
I'll be spending about a week in Tokyo and making traveling to Kyoto as well. Thanks for you tips!!!
I went there and the words are almost identical. The japanese use a lot of chinese characters so if you can read Chinese you will be able to understand most of the writings in Japan.
The only thing that I saw that was different was on the subway you arent allowed to speak on the phone. It's different from China and more X....you will see a big difference when you get on the subway!
The uniqlo stores and other brand name stores in TOkyo are like 4 or 5 floors high. They have their own buildings for that. Tokyo is awesome! Make sure to visit the Tokyo tower it's the best view in the entire place!
I asked my bother in law last year, when it seemed that I would be spending some time in japan. he is Japanese-American.
Table manners are of extreme importance!
Never EVER so much as touch your nose at the table. Sniffle, nose blowing etc. will be treated as if you had pooped at the table.
When you enter a bar, the bartender may point to where you should sit. It is expected that people will do so, even if it is "nicer over there".
At the bar, it is frowned upon to chat up with strangers unless you know them.
Smoking in bars is okay as long as you are smoking cigarettes. Pipe and cigar smoking is frowned upon (at that time, I was a cigar smoker).
Cloth handkerchiefs are for coughing and for wiping perspiration. Nose blowing, you should use the paper ones AND DISPOSE OF THEM! Do not stuff them in your pocket.
We were watching a police drama once (Japanese) a few years ago, and one of the cops (when referring to a corrupt lawyer) said that he "is dirtier than a Gaijin's handkerchief".
Shoes are removed whenever you enter a home and some restaurants, so make sure that your socks are in good order (no holes). You may also want to invest in some odor-eaters, just in case.
When in doubt, be polite. Politeness is a virtue in Japan.
Lastly and most important: have fun and be safe!
Japan is very different from China! Don't do Chinese stuff, I'm not sure they'll like it. For instance, when eating, no spitting! You shouldn't need to anyway. Don't worry about being quiet when eating, they also slurp noodles (to show appreciation). Don't eat or drink while walking down the street. There are very few trash cans on the sidewalk anyway. You will go through culture shock, because they are so polite in everything. Cars will wait for you to cross at a safe distance. People use words like thank you and please all the time (and you should probably at least learn those in Japanese, you have time!) "Sumimasen" is a very important word. It can be used in lots of ways, like getting someone's attention, saying sorry, etc. If you learn no other words, learn that one.
The best thing for you to do is not to compare Japan to your Chinese experiences. If China is like another planet from your home country, Japan is like a different planet from either. Just think of it as a whole new experience, and you'll be fine. Your Chinese experience won't really help you, and might actually hinder you. They will expect you to act like a foreigner, not like a Chinese foreigner. Some Japanese do know English, some don't. You can use google maps to help you find places. You can get the hang of the subways fairly quickly since the ticket machines have an English option. I don't know if there is any place you can haggle in Tokyo. You can't haggle at stores.
This site should be extremely helpful for you. It has all the things you can see in Tokyo: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
Try the Apples that used to sell for about 12usd each. Totally worth it. Hard to explain here,,, but report back and tell us if u agree. A true delicacy.
Try to visit Ueno Park if u r into nature and such. It is kept so pretty because it like belongs to the Emperor or some such...
oh, u r in for a treat- the females of the feminine variety have actually been known to provide the scientific definition of HOTNESS.
Thanks for your tips everyone! Hopefully they help me look/act like less of an idiot when I get there.
Oh, one other question, semi-related to what jnusb416 said--is public consumption of alcohol illegal then?
Japan is VERY expensive! Bring lots of duckies especially since you'll be in Tokyo. I speak from personal experience.
