Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Nov 14

Many know Japan as a country with an excellent cuisine and advanced technology. More importantly, though, it is a country with a rich culture and deeply rooted unique traditions. Before you go on a trip to Japan, then, it’s best to learn about Japanese culture, starting with knowing the top Japanese customs.

Bowing is one of the most practiced Japanese customs, as well as one of the most important. Therefore, try to bow when you are introduced to a Japanese. You do not always need to bow from the waist. A short bow angled at about fifteen degrees should suffice, although keep in mind that bows are usually longer and lower when you are apologizing or in front of someone superior.

Greeting one another is also encouraged, so remember to always say good morning (ohayo gozaimasu), good day (konnichiwa), good evening (konbanwa) or good night (oyasuminasai) during your trip to Japan. Don’t forget to say thank you (arigato gozaimasu), as well or say goodbye (sayounara or jyaa ne) before leaving. When addressing someone, always use their last name, and then add the suffix -san or -sama, since only very close friends or family members call each other by their first name.

Another of the most popular Japanese customs is removing your shoes at the entrance of a house, as well as most Japanese business establishments and hotels. This custom is practiced in many countries but is particularly important in Japan. Usually, a rack is provided where you can put your shoes. If there is none, simply place your shoes beside the others in an orderly fashion with the toe facing the door, making them easier to put on before you leave.

If you don’t know how to use chopsticks yet, this is something you must learn before your trip to Japan, not only since some Japanese restaurants do not provide spoons and forks even upon request, but more importantly because it is the best way to enjoy Japanese food. In fact, it is how Japanese food was meant to be enjoyed. Learning how to pick up food and put them in your mouth using chopsticks is not enough, though. You also have to know that you should never stick your chopsticks into your bowl of rice, rub them together unnecessarily or use them to pass food to someone else.

Other ways to show respect at the table include saying ‘itadakimasu’ first before eating. If someone gives you an oshibori or rolled wet towel – a common practice in Japanese restaurants – use this to wipe your hands only then set it aside. Never use it to wash your face and never mistake it for a napkin. Remember to clear your plate, as well. As for eating noodles, slurping is acceptable, and is, in fact, one of the most unique Japanese customs.

Once you are finished with your meal at a Japanese restaurant, place your payment on the small tray provided and do not leave a tip. The ‘no tipping’ rule also applies to other establishments in Japan since this is widely considered as an insult so just pay the price and use your extra cash to shop for gadgets and other goodies on your trip to Japan.

Aside from getting your fill of Japanese cuisine, it’s also a great idea to go to an onsen or a hot spring during your trip to Japan so you can relax and refresh your mind and body. There are Japanese customs to observe when bathing, too. For one, keep in mind that onsens and public baths are technically not for bathing, but for soaking, so wash and rinse before getting into the water. Also, take care not to dirty the water in any way. Although you may still receive stares because you are a foreigner, at least, they will be stares of curiosity or even awe, rather than rude ones.

Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including many European countries by car. To book a car hire Austria, or learn more about cheap car hire worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jun 8

Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in East Asia with her many attractions and sights of nature such as park, lakes, majestic mountains and quiet countrysides. They provide both an urban charm and natural seductiveness, and nothing illustrates this best than the parks in Japan. Some can be found in the modern cities that are the focal point of busy Japan, while others flourish in Mother Nature with quaint little towns and villages.

The national parks in Japan are often high on the itineraries of first time visitors to the country. In the hectic times that we all face nowadays, many of us enjoy traveling to places far and wide all over the world that offer a temporary escape from our busy lives. What could be better to provide that than visiting the many amazing gardens and park in Japan that symbolize a fusion of both the East and West?

There are 29 national parks in Japan as of today, and they make up a total area of more than five per cent of the country. While locals are an ever present in terms of visitors, there is an increasing number of foreign tourists who are eager to have a taste of what the nature of Japan has to offer. The more popular parks include the ones found in Nikko, Fuji-Hakone-Izu and Shiretoko.

Nikko city is the town that leads one to the National Park, and it has a surprisingly small population. However, visitors arrive non-stop to see for themselves the scenic beauty of the area. From the serene and tranquil Lake Chuzenji to the majestic Mount Nantai, the park reaches far and wide over a total of four prefectures. Even visitors on a budget Nikko National Park day tour would be able to enjoy other highlights that include the large Kegon waterfall as well as the Toshogu shrine that has become a recognizable landmark for the city itself.

Mount Fuji can safely be said to be the one sight that everyone associates most often with Japan. However, the area in which it is found has an understated elegance of its own - the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It has an even larger area relative to Nikko park. This is due to the inclusion of Mount Fuji, the Fuji Five Lakes and other locations within it. Even tiny islets are included within the region, illustrating perfectly why it is often regarded as the biggest park in Japan.

Perhaps one of the most understated parks in Japan is Shiretoko National Park. It is a true natural haven untouched in the most part by civilization or commercialization. In fact, there is no way one can get there on wheels. There is much to see in terms of wildlife that might not be possible in other parts of Japan. The Shiretoko National Park also has a huge variety of flora and fauna, prompting UNESCO to designate the area as a World Heritage Site and it is a source of pride for the advanced industrial country.

Whether it be an adventure to the wilderness in Shiretoko, an experience with national symbols in Fuji-Hakone-Izu or visiting Nikko National Park on a tour package, Japan’s national parks have so much to offer for the eager and willing traveler. One will never cease to be amazed by a country that has an advanced and modern metropolis in its city centre of Tokyo, while surrounded by such extensive and beautiful nature.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jun 7

There is much that Japan as a country can offer to any person, regardless of interests, passions or hobbies. For any anime fan, going to the East Asian country that is a recognized leader of the sub-culture, as well as shopping hotbeds like Akihabara, it can be like a trip to heaven. There are hundreds of toys and figures that a collector would find it a dream to be found with. However, one might not notice a nice attraction located in a small town just minutes away from the busy heart of Japan. The quiet town of Mitaka is home to a museum that was erected by the legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. The Ghibli Museum must not be missed by any real anime fan.

Modeled partly in the likeness of the actual work studios that the Ghibli company is housed in, the museum is home to souvenirs and memorabilia from the many movies that they have created. Known by just about every anime fan in the world, films like Grave of the Fireflies have bred new followers in anime constantly. The success experienced by the movies have resulted in Miyazaki and his studio occupying a special place in the country's cultural arts and entertainment industry. With the museum, everyone would be able to understand and experience why this is so.

The attraction has become increasingly popular with each passing year. This initially led to large crowds descending in hordes and it was more than the museum could handle. Unusually for such an establishment, the management decided to make it harder for anyone getting tickets to the Ghibli Museum, in an effort to curb the crowds. It also prevented the exhibits from getting worn out or abused due to too many visitors within a short period of time. It was also a move that initiated regular maintenance in order to keep things fresh for visiting fans.

Once inside the museum, any visitor will be awashed in awe and amazement. If there is one place or thing that could convince anyone of the magic that exists in cartoons or animated films, it would be the Ghibli Museum. The exhibits can only be described as technical marvels that have elements of science, mathematics and creative thinking all rolled into one. Those who would like to experience a studio for an animation artists can head straight to the second floor of the museum. One will be pampered by the great number of options in the two souvenir shops that the museum houses.

Even with the daily limits being placed on visitor numbers, there remains thousands of people who are not able to resist a trip to the museum in Mitaka. An increasing number of fans will not take for granted that they can visit the attraction anytime in the future. It is also one of the most recommended places to stop by for anyone visiting Japan, especially within the city of Tokyo. Going on a Ghibli Museum day tour definitely provides one of the highlights for many a traveler who made the effort to venture there. Even if one were not a fan of the culture, it can still provide plenty of thrills and spills in every way.