Visitors to Japan should be ready to pass the white rice, raw fish, and miso soup. But they have a lot more culture coming at them too. Pretend you’re headed to Tokyo. Get ready for . . .
Last Name First. In Japan, what you may think of as the “last name” comes first. Like in many western countries, kids inherit their last name from their father. That name is said and written first. Their “given name” (the one their parents pick) comes last.
Be Careful When Saying Hello. Are you outgoing? Resist the urge to say, “Hi, my name is . . .” Wait for someone else to introduce you. Introducing yourself first is considered rude in Japan. Did you stick out your hand for a handshake? That’s okay. Japanese people expect foreigners to shake hands. But their tradition is to bow.
Holidays. Olympics-goers will stay in the country for only a couple weeks. But if you were to hang out in Japan for a whole year, you’d get to celebrate Coming of Age Day in January, the Emperor’s Birthday in February, and Respect the Aged Day in September. (Japan has a lot of elderly people—a higher percentage of people over 65 than any other country. Nearly 70,000 people there are more than 100 years old!) Japanese people celebrate some western holidays too. Example: On Valentine’s Day, girls give chocolate to boys.
Tight Squeeze. Japan has little land and lots of people. In cities, many live in small houses or in high-rise apartments. Walk into one of these homes the Japanese way. Take off your shoes. Put on slippers. Step onto the rush floor mats called tatami. Sit on a floor cushion. Sleep on a foldable mattress called a futon. Slide the door—a paper screen—closed before you take a bath in the square tub. But wash with soap and water before you get in for a soak. Other family members may be using the water after you.
Get from Here to There. Roads and superfast railways crisscross Japan. Ferries carry people between islands. Catch a bullet train and move at an average of more than 160 miles per hour. Or pay a toll to drive on the fastest roads. But remember: Drive on the left side.
School’s In! Maybe you’re about to get out of school for the summer. But in Japan, the school year starts in April. Kids go to school from Monday to Friday and on some Saturdays. They study Japanese writing, learning hundreds of characters called kanji. They spend time at the end of every day cleaning their schools.
