Have you been eating sushi the correct way? What?! There is etiquette too for eating sushi? Yeah, In the west, we call it table manners, In Japan, we call it SUSHI MANNERS. Sushi, needless to say, only a person who is living under a rock will say he or she has never tried it before.…

Kyoto is a real draw to tourists due to all the landmarks, shrines and temples. There are many ancient buildings in Kyoto as it was the capital of Japan for hundreds of years. Therefore, it is important to be polite and follow the Akimahen rules of Kyoto. Akimahen means “do not” so follow these rules…

Different countries have different customs and manners and Japan is no exception to that. For the foreigners who are living in Japan, some things may be an unusual sight for you or you may not be familiar with certain practices. There are many customs and manners in Japan but in the business world, you need…

Manners and politeness in Japan are a big deal. The Japanese are renowned for their polite and unassuming ways and Kyotoites are no exception. The ancient capital has started to become fed up of the mess tourists are leaving so have devised several illustrations to help travellers behave well on their trip. Akimahen In order…

One of the many downsides of Kyoto being one of the top tourist destinations in Japan is the exponential growth of travellers who do not follow etiquette guidelines. The city of Kyoto is no exception to the struggles of a typical Japanese to express his frustrations against travellers committing a cultural blunder. On July 2015,…

No one can say that smoking is healthy – that’s for sure. But an adult choice is just that, much like drinking whiskey or playing the lotto. For those smokers in Japan, here is a quick guide to cigarettes. Some people would say that Japan is a smoker’s paradise. Cigarettes are fairly cheap, smoking areas…

Sure, a trip to the movies is a universal hobby, an escape from the everyday life. Japan is no different, and theatres can be found aplenty, with the three biggest companies being Toho, Cineplex, and Aeon Cinema (Warner Bros). Here are a few differences in both the theatres and the culture of watching movies in…

Shrines have long been considered sacred places in Japan where Gods are worshipped. Hence, it is crucial to follow a set of rules once you are inside a shrine’s premises. One important indicator of a shrine is the Torii Gate. It is a wooden gate, without a door, often painted in red. This is not…

Eating is the funnest part of traveling. However, each country has a set of rules to abide by when it comes to table manners. Following them is very significant as a sign of honoring the food served to diners. Japan’s table manners are as unique as they come. In order to know more of the…

Want to dine at a Japanese restaurant the Japanese way? Here is a brief rundown of what to say and what to expect. Entering the Restaurant   swaindestinations.com/ When you enter a restaurant, you’ll be greeted with a cheerful irasshaimase (Welcome). In all but the most casual places the waiter or waitress will next ask…