+food+

[x] Just pouring soy sauce or teriyaki sauce on white rice and eating it, is not commonly done in Japan.

[x] Miso soup is not supposed to come before the main meal. Although many Japanese restaurants in America incorporate the western custom of eating soup before the main meal, you will find out that in Japan, the soup is eaten with the main dish.

[x] There is more to Japanese food that seafood. Some examples of typical non-seafood daily food are Katsu (pork cutlets), Korokke (fried mashed potatoes mixed with meat or other ingredients), Spaghetti, Curry, Karaage (fried chicken pieces), Karee Pan (Curry inside bread), and Hanbaagu (hamburger patty/meat loaf).

[x] If you are Japanese, it is normal to have salad as a side dish for breakfast. The salad usually consists of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. Not everyone eats this everyday, but it is a common option.

[x] Do not drink a lot of water even if you are eating something salty or spicy. You will notice that the restaurants do not give you large glasses of water, like the ones you find at American restaurants.

[x] California roles are not genuine Japanese sushi. Most of the time you will not be able to find it in Japan.

[x] Customers do not usually ask for extra wasabi, like they do in America, since the wasabi used in sushi restaurants in Japan are usually already fresh and spicy.

[x] French fries are called potato fry. (po-te-to fu-ra-i)

[x] Ordering a Diet Coke at a Japanese McDonalds is not common. It is possibly true that Americans are the only ones who eat salad with diet drinks, believing it is a healthy meal. Go ahead and try and drink the "real thing." However, if you are really desperate, you can always get a Coca-Cola Light.

[x] Do not request special orders at fast food joints. If you do not like something, take it out yourself.

+entertainment+

[x] Do not be amazed by the large number of food shows on basic television. This is possibly one of the few countries where you can find an episode that only focuses on a single vegitable. If you do not believe me, just turn on the TV and flip through the channels! You will soon start to realize how important good food is to Japanese people.

[x] In Japan, gaming is not just for guys. It is normal for a girl to own a Play Station, and it is not odd for a group of girls to come to archades like Joypolis.

+bathroom+

[x] When taking a bath, wash yourself first at the shower and then jump into the tub.

[x] Be an expert with the old fashioned squatting toilets, and the high tech water squirting toilets.

+money+

[x] Do not assume that grocery stores have ATM machines.

[x] Do not assume that you can buy groceries with your credit card. "Only cash," the cash register lady will tell you. Another hint that tells travelers to not ever think they can use a credit card everywhere they go in Japan.

[x] Do not assume that every bank takes travelers checks. My friend was sent around to various places to simply exchange travelers checks into cash. Even when she found the right bank, since the process of exchaging the travelers checks took longer than it usually does in the United States, it was quite frustrating.

[x] Do not give tips.

+etc.+

[x] Because Kyoto is constantly associated as being the ancient capital with all of Japan's beautiful historical remains, such as temples and gardens, many people do not realize that it is also a modern city like Tokyo.

[x] Summer is all about watermelon beach balls, 100yen ice-cream, Tube or Southern All Star music, fireworks and Matsuri! Without this mentality, how could you ever be Japanese! (haha)

[x] After you sneeze, do not expect anyone to say something that is equivalent to "bless you." No matter how long you wait, you won't be blessed!

[x] Stay on the left side of the escalator if you want to stand, so you can let the busy people walk by on the right. It is just to be courteous to those who are trying to run and catch up to their train, or anything else.

[x] Oddly enough, many but not all Japanese children wear swimming caps and goggles when they go swimming. It would make sense for a girl to wear a swimming cap, so she could keep her hair out of her face, but since the boys wear the swim caps too, maybe it comes from the habit of wearing both for physical education swimming classes at school?

N.B : These are suggestions, and not orders. These are generalizations, and are not always true about all Japanese people, customs, culture etc.