Japanese Culture

Eating & Drinking

“While typical Japanese food is often reduced to a few dishes such as sushi and ramen, a fresh onlooker to Japan’s food scene is awe-struck by the subtle nuances and tasteful nodes it harbors.”

Traditional Japanese cuisine, or as locals call it, Washoku, resembles a layered cake with the local culinary heritage at the base and a variety of foreign influences on the top. Chinese cuisine is the strongest, having introduced iconic dishes like gyoza and ramen. But at heart, the traditional food of Japan revolves around seasonal ingredients like rice, fish, and regional vegetables. Dashi, the Japanese broth, is the basis of most dishes, while soy sauce is a popular flavoring. Recognized as an intangible heritage by UNESCO, Japanese cuisine is highly versatile and unimaginably satisfying.

The display and eating of food in Japanese culture are very important. Food is often presented in a petty style, in divided trays with different compartments for each dish. A typical dish consists of one soup and three sides, and rice comes in a small bowl. If you wish to eat like a local, use chopsticks for the chunks of food in your soup and drink the rest of it right from the bowl. Bear in mind that most dishes look very similar, and most look like ramen. But each is unique in flavor, so never hesitate to try. Famous Japanese foods to try are Champon, a seasonal variety of ramen, the delicious pufferfish dish Fugu, and some steamy Miso soup. There are a variety of stuffed dumplings that are also Japanese to the bone, which make great quick bites as you wander around the cities.

Inseparable from a Japanese culinary experience, the traditional drinks of the country are too good to pass up. Matcha is a cultural ritual on its own, a ceremony that you should live, observe and learn about as much as possible. And there is the iconic sake, the strong rice wine liquor that tantalizes with its balance of flavors.

Religion & Etiquette

Shinto and Buddhism constitute the religious profile of Japan, with almost 70% of the population practicing Shinto and 66% Buddhism. In general, most Shinto believers are also devoted to certain teachings of Buddhism. The main religion in Japan can be considered a mix of these two belief systems. On the state level, however, Japan is secular, and most Japanese people say that they don’t practice any particular religion when asked. This is due to the fact that the concept of religion in Japan has gone beyond the boundaries of a system and became a cultural element consisting of multiple faiths, traditions, and philosophies over the years. It shows great diversity among regions and communities, but commonalities exist. Kami, meaning belief in sacred spirits, is the most fundamental block alongside other symbols such as shrines and impurity rituals.

There is a pretty strict conduct for everyday life in Japan governed by subtle concepts and etiquette. Core values are hospitality, politeness, and discipline. As a guest in this beautiful country, you will be subject to extreme politeness, and although locals do not expect travelers to give something in return, you should practice care and caution to adapt to their rules. Make use of phrases such as “thank you” or “excuse me” as much as you can when out. Punctuality is very important not only as a sign of respect but for the social structure as well. When you are paying at a store, put your money in the small tray next to the cashier as passing money directly is considered rude.

As for the eating scene in Japanese culture, there might be dozens of rules regarding chopsticks, but you will be fine if you follow the most important ones. Leaving the chopsticks sticking out of the bowl in your food is impolite. So is passing food from one chopstick to another directly. Also, you may wish to avoid pointing at things other than your food with the chopstick.