Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Japan for many years has had the reputation of being prohibitively expensive. While in some cases this can be true, anyone on a budget can also enjoy most of what this beautiful country has to offer.

You may see many Japanese walking around the streets wearing a mask. The Japanese wears mask when they have a cold, in order to prevent to spread the virus to others.

You may try asking anyone on the street. Normally a young lady will be able to speak better English than men.

Of course, you will need to speak slowly and pronounce words clearly and separately. If you can't communicate with them, you may write the destination on paper. A box of matches will also help when lost in Japan. You can show it to somebody or to the taxi driver. Not too many taxi drivers can speak English but if you show them the box of matches, they will know that you want to go there.

Take a pocket type of tissues (Kleenex etc.) with you. The rest room at public area like stations, there is no toilet paper. Paper Towel and Air Blower hand dryers are not popular in Japan. Normally the Japanese carry a handkerchief with them and use it at the rest-room. When out and about, there is always someone handing out something or other. You should take it whatever it is. It may be a pocket size of tissues, sample of tobacco or sweet candy.

The use of Negative Questions is best avoided and are a bad way in which to phrase questions. The Japanese will almost always reply in the affirmative even though the answer is a positive 'No' A good example is:

Don't you smoke?

Yes, I don't smoke. (A typical answer you will get from a Japanese person). This mistake comes from Japanese Language grammar.

In Japan, it is customary to remove ones shoes when enter the entrance of a home. You will find a step up in the entrance hall, Please take your shoes off before stepping up over this threshold. When you arrive, look around inside of the entrance and you will normally find other shoes laid out in order. That's the spot to take your shoes off. If you have a chance to take off your shoes when visiting your friend's house, check your sock don't have holes before you leave your hotel room. A lot of the rooms aren't heated so a pair of scuffles on our feet to keep feet warm. Guests will normally be offered a pair to wear in the home, put them on. If you are not used to them, tell your host, you may just wear your socks. (socks will get dirty). Or you could save face and just try them.

You may be told by a Japanese person that she/he is living at a mansion. Here you will not find a private swimming pool, private tennis court etc. A mansion means hierarchy apartment/condominium.

If you are tall, watch you head. Since most Japanese are normally shorter than the average westerner, doors everywhere are designed for the short Japanese. You may hit your head on door lintels especially inside a Japanese house.

A Tatami (traditional type of Japanese flooring) is a mattress made of straw. Many Japanese have now adopted the use of a bed to sleep in. But a Futon (Japanese mattress) is still popular to sleep on. A Futon is spread directly on top of the Tatami.

A Business card is called "Meishi" in Japan. When you first meet somebody, a Meishi is one of the most important tools you can have. Hand your Meishi to her/him before shaking hands. During meeting, don't play with their cards. It is considered to be rude. Your country code should be displayed on your business card (You may lose business without it). If your customer doesn't have an English Meishi, you should ask them to write their name and company name on back side of their Japanese Meishi. Now you can retrieve your contact person's information.

Average business men in Japan spends around 1,000Yen for lunch. A married man will makes both ends meet on this small lunch budget which if he is a smoker will also have to buy his cigarettes. So tobacco is a very good gift for Japanese smoker. And smokers like inexpensive lunches. If they have a 1,000 Yen lunch, they can't then afford to buy a cup of coffee.

Recently McDonald introduce the 120 Yen Hamburger making a meal around 400 Yen, consequently McDonald increased it's turnover. If you buy your business colleagues lunch, McDonald would make a tight budgeted person very happy.

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