BEFORE YOU GO
READ THIS
The world’s first novel follows a banished emperor’s son as he works his way back up through ancient Japanese society
WATCH THIS
Powerful, Oscar-winning fantasy from Studio Ghibli, widely acclaimed as the best animated film of all time
BUY THIS
Pretty much essential: a Japan Rail Pass is a very handy money-saver that is only available outside of the country
WHEN YOU'RE THERE
EAT THESE
Five foods to try on your trip round Japan
RAMEN This ubiquitous, hearty dish consists of handmade noodles in a flavourful broth, alongside a variety of toppings such as bamboo shoots, beansprouts, boiled eggs, slices of pork, seaweed, black garlic and so on!
YAKITORI Chunks of chicken covered in a sticky, tangy sauce and grilled over charcoal on wooden skewers. It’s a popular street-food snack, but there are also restaurants that specialise in yakitori.
OKONOMIYAKI A delicious pancakey creation, made with egg, shredded cabbage and spring onions, that's covered in all sorts of goodies (most often pork or shrimp), coated in a sweet brown sauce, drizzled in Japanese mayonnaise and topped with bonito flakes. Particularly popular in Osaka and Hiroshima.
SUKIYAKI Wafer-thin slices of beef simmered in soy sauce, sugar and mirin, often at your table, along with various vegetables and/or tofu.
MOCHI ICE CREAM Sticky rice, pounded flat and moulded into a ball, then filled with ice cream – classic Japanese flavours include green tea and red bean.
DO THIS (AND DON’T DO THAT)
A few handy pointers on life in Japan
DO...
• Learn some religious etiquette. You should bow either side of a temple or shrine’s torii gate, but there are also rules around the way you should cleanse yourself at the temizuya (font) and how you should pay your respects.
• Get used to taking your shoes on and off. You’ll be changing into slippers all the time, in temples, ryokans and sometimes in restaurants, too, and you’ll often have to change from your indoor slippers to a pair of special toilet slippers when you go to the bathroom.
• Your bit for the environment – carry a water bottle (the tap water is safe to drink) and a reusable shopping bag (the Japanese get through a lot of plastic bags) and buy your own chopsticks to use from a ¥100 store.
DON’T…
• Be too intimidated by the toilets! Modern ones come with a control panel full of buttons that change the type of flush you’ll get and play dignity-saving sounds. Just press away, and you’ll soon find out what does what.
• Be put off trying an onsen. The thought of having to bathe naked with a group of strangers may make you (and your kids!) uncomfortable at first, but you’ll soon get over it – and taking a dip in a hot spring is one of the great Japanese experiences.
• Blow your nose in public. Sniffing constantly is actually more acceptable.
