Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the most populous metropolis in the world. Prior to being named Tokyo, the city was known as Edo until 1868. This small castle town became the political center of Japan in 1603 after Tokugawa Ieyasu began his reign by establishing his feudal government here. Edo later on flourished and became one of the most populous cities in the world after a few decades. Edo was renamed Tokyo (Eastern Capital) with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the emperor as well as the capital finally shifted from Kyoto to Edo. Tokyo has today become one of the major destinations in Asia for tourists from across the world. The city’s historic temples, gardens and museums are prime attractions for the visitors. This magnificent city attracts shopaholics and tourists alike in large numbers offering them unlimited choice of entertainment and dining.
Make Tokyo your next holiday destination and book flights to Tokyo today. You’ll simply love visiting the city again and again. If you are a first-time traveler and planning to visit this place, then it will help you to know beforehand some of the etiquettes that you need to follow. Here are some of the helpful tips that will make easy for you to know the people and place beforehand. These tips will surely help you in making your visit memorable and enjoyable.
When you arrive in here to spend your vacation, the first thing you will notice that the Japanese people greet each other by bowing. It will be of course good for you if this customary Japanese way of greeting is adopted as soon as you can. However, it is important for you to know the various bowing techniques. These range from a small nod of the head to a long bow of 90 degree. If the greeting is to be on a tatami mat floor, then get on to your knees in order to bow. It is also common for people in Japan to bow when asking somebody for a favor or making a request or expressing thanks or an apology. If you are visiting this city as a tourist for the first time and don’t know the proper rules for bowing, a simple nod of the head will be sufficient. Most Japanese people will know that tourists from foreign country usually don’t know proper bowing rules, and they only expect a nod of the head from you as a form of greeting. Also, shaking hands in Japan is uncommon. However, Japanese people sometimes greet foreign tourists with a handshake.
If you are on a sightseeing tour and visiting the temples, you will be required to take off your shoes. So, be prepared for this. The entrance of the temples has shelves, and you can keep your shoes on them. If you don’t want to leave your shoes behind, then take them along with you in plastic bags that are provided at some temples. While at the temples, you are expected to be calm and respectful. You may also throw a coin into the offering box to show your respect.
These are some of the etiquettes that you need to know while you are on a visit. Knowing these etiquettes prior to your visit will make your journey enjoyable.
