Top 10 Things Tourists Do When They Visit Japan

Number 10 -  Visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and snap a picture of a pretty stone bridge rather than one of the Emperor. Wait, that’s all there is to see?

Number 9 -  Visit a local festival and snap a ton of pictures of the food vendors all the while saying “What’s that?” or “That’s gross” or “no way I’m eating that” and then heading to the local McDonalds for lunch.

Number 8 -  Head into a restroom stall and wonder what that urinal is doing in the floor and where the toilet paper is? Oh, and how the heck do you flush?

Number 7 -  Make a purchase at a department store only to find the store clerk walking way with their merchandise and their money and wondering where they’ve gone and if they are coming back.

Number 6 -  Chase a Geisha down the streets of Gion in Kyoto trying to snap a picture of her and wondering why she is for not stopping for yet another tourist with a camera!

Number 5 -  Wonder what all those slippers are lined up for at the entrance to a tatami room and why everyone is freaking out and pointing at the slippers as they step in wearing their comfy walking shoes.

Number 4 -  Go for overly priced cocktails at The New York Bar overlooking the lights of Shinjuku in a lame attempt to recreate a scene from Lost in Translation.

Number 3 -  Stare forever at the map in the train station wondering how much the fare is or which exit they are suppose to take and praying that someone who speaks English will stop and help them?

Number 2 -  Attempt to order a California roll at a sushi restaurant and wonder why the chef is giving them a funny look – it’s sushi after all isn’t it?

And the Number 1 thing that tourists visiting Japan have been known to do…..

Think that if they talk louder and slower, in English, that the Japanese will finally understand them!

If you are planning a visit, don’t be one of these tourists!  Be sure to subscribe to the Nihon Sun RSS feed or by email so you won’t miss future articles discussing how to avoid some of these potentially embarrassing situations.

If you have ever lived in Japan I know you will recognize at least a few of these and probably have a few of your own to add.

Please add them in the comments so that we can all have a chuckle and save prospective tourists some time and even a little bit of embarrassment…

This top 10 list was featured on Episode 2 of the Japan Podshow.  If you haven’t had a chance to listen in, you should!  In addition to my Top 10 list, there will be  a competition where you can win tickets to the Tokyo Comedy Store Crocodile Show, an interview with Nick Ramsay, creator of JapanSoc,  and much more.

Check out the Japan Podshow today!

Image Credit:  Personal Collection, Flickr: McDonalds, Toilet in Japan, Cheezu & slippers