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Arriving in Japan, we feel a culture shock. Everything is a little different and whatever your preparation, it takes a while to get used to it.
The language, the signs, the people may seem unusual at first, but one quickly comes to appreciate the contrasts that make Japan such a pleasant place to visit. The crowded streets and crowded bars are accompanied by serene sanctuaries and temples located just off the main streets, as well as small oases of calm where people refresh themselves for the day.
Go with the flow – make the most of your time here, but find moments to keep quiet and think about it too.
welcome
No-Side volunteers from Japan should be at the height of London 2012, which is a benchmark for major sporting events. The phrase "No-Side" is used at the end of a match and has become a symbol of respect, hospitality and solidarity.
Do not be afraid to ask for help. And to ensure a warm welcome, here are some tips.
Make
- Open your mind and your eyes and embrace very different culture
- Enjoy the differences – Japan is unique in the world
- Learn a few words – as in most countries, just saying please and thank you gives a positive impression
- Be polite and respectful of the different ways of doing things – washing your hands in the sanctuaries for example
- Use the great convenience stores – they're over 50,000 and offer snacks, coffee and all kinds of things you may need.
- Train travel because they are a phenomenon
- Ask the front desk to give you a map or write the name and address of your hotel and all the restaurants you plan to visit by taxi – English is limited among taxi drivers
Do not
- Be afraid of high-tech maneuvers – a deep wash and blow-dry is amazing
- Worry for signs – train, subway, main street signs in English – but see above for addresses
- Wear shoes indoors where there are tatami floors
- Eat in the street, right next to the booth where you bought your street food
- Do not miss out on experiences beyond the stage – here are some ideas
Will see
In addition to the match venues, try to take into account some essential aspects of Japanese culture:
- Take the time to visit a sanctuary or temple or both
- Stroll through a Japanese garden or urban park
- Relax in a hot spring or onsen
- Book a karaoke session in one of the hi-tech studios
- Feast on your eyes and stomach in a grocery store
- Eating and drinking in a neighborhood bar or izakaya, they are much more fun than classic restaurants, as good as they are with more Michelin stars than any other country.
Food and drink
While we are on the subject, you can always choose what you want to eat in the wonderful plastic plates displayed outside or in the windows of restaurants. Oh, and not everything about raw fish, even if sashimi is one of my favorite dishes.
- Try prepared dishes – many places offer these trays combined with rice, pickles, soup and a main dish
- Drink sake – you may need advice because there are many types. The higher the positive number, the sake is dry.
- Look for artisanal beer outlets – it's a growing industry in Japan and very good beverages abound
- Eat noodles – ramen, soba, udon all delicious inexpensive meals with lots of sauces and toppings
- Try to find an okonomiyaki – a kind of pancake baked in front of you, it's delicious and fun
- On the street, takoyaki (octopus balls), yakitori (chicken skewers), gyoza (dumplings), dorayaki (pancakes), senbei (rice crackers) and mochi (sweet rice cakes) are all worth the effort. 39 to be tried.
sport
The Japanese love their sport. They love the success that Kei Nishikori and Naomi Osaka have in tennis. Baseball is the most important, players passing major leagues in the United States.
They are proud that the Samurai Blue have participated in the last six FIFA World Cups and are crazy about sumo and golf.
Rugby is growing fast and will become very important as Japan is the first Asian country to host the World Cup. It already has more than 3,600 clubs and 125,000, the fourth largest number of players in all countries.
It is appropriate that the first recorded game took place in Yokohama in 1866, where will be held the final of this year. A first version of the game called kemari played around 600 AD using a buckskin ball with the hair facing inside and the skin outside.
locations
All sites are in large stadiums and in interesting cities. Sapporo, on the northern island of Hokkaido, which hosted the 1976 Olympic Winter Games, is a bustling city full of shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
Kamaishi built a new stadium as part of its recovery from the 2011 tsunami. It is located north of Honshu, the main island of a city located in a fabulous coastal landscape.
Tokyo
Tokyo is a city where there is so much to do and see. It's hard to know where to start, but here are some things you should not miss.
Ride the Tokyo Skytree and see the metropolis from the air, it's breathtaking. You can also do the same thing from the Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. It's free. In good weather, you can see Mount Fuji. Stay in Shinjuku to admire the extravagance of neon lights on Kabuchiko Street and the thousands of bars, restaurants and clubs located in the streets surrounding the busiest station in the world.
Cross the road to Shibuya at the famous jammed crossroads where 3,000 people cross the junction with every change of light at rush hour.
After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's busiest neighborhoods, spend some time in the peaceful surroundings of Meiji Shrine or in the north of the city, close to the Skytree, visit the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, reachable by the crowded and fascinating stalls of Rue Nakamise.
Japan is famous for its gardens. You can also experience it in Tokyo by visiting Shinjuku Gyoen, home to traditional Japanese, French and English gardens, in the heart of one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods. Hibiya, Ueno and the East Garden Garden are other great parks.
Kansai
The area south of Tokyo is called Kansai and you will find here the sites of Osaka, the third largest city in Japan, and Kobe.
Both cities are excellent port cities with excellent cuisine and shops. Osaka has the longest indoor shopping street, Tenjinbashi, Japan – attractions and entertainment.
Kyushu
There are three sites on the southernmost of the four main islands. It will be hot here in September. Like most of the country, Kyushu is very mountainous with the active volcano of Mount Aso, the last eruption of 2016, in the center. Kyushu cultivates 60% of all Japanese bamboos and uses a lot of them.
The sites are further north and Fukuoka is a bustling city with excellent shops, restaurants and interesting museums. It's full of marine air and green spaces, friendly, safe and clean.
Oita is on the east coast and is looking towards Shikoku and Honshu. This is a very popular area for thermal springs centered on Beppu, so do not miss a chance to enter the hot tub. Oita is also famous for its toriten – southern fried chicken – so try it in an izakaya.
Kumamoto is a little more inland and surrounded by mountains. It has one of Japan's finest castles, an ancient samurai mansion and the peaceful Suizenji Garden, which includes the ancient Kyoto-Tokyo road and a miniature mount, the Fuji.
The city has two detailed examples of shopping malls that are characteristic of so many cities with chain and individual shops, cafes and bars. The city has had a huge success with a bear mascot launched in 2010, so you will have to cross Kumamon.
Taboo tattoo
You may not see many. The players were invited and agreed to conceal their tattoos.
Japan has a long tradition of complex tattoos, but in the 1960s they were associated with crime syndicates known as yakuza. Since then, everyone avoids tattoos or conceals them in public.
More than half of the hot springs and resort hotels prohibit people with visible tattoos from using their facilities. It's a case of "when in Rome" respecting local preferences when it comes to showing off his tattoos.
and finally
It may seem strange at times and it is certainly wonderful, so just consider the differences and enjoy a great sport, gastronomy and culture experience.
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