Tokyo Local Custom Tips by Wild_Orchid

I really wanted to share this with fellow tourists. The toilets at the hotels that I stayed at were simply fantastic.

Look at the pics, it has 4 buttons. From right to left, extreme right "Stand-By" to allow water to heat & fill up when you sit down, next is "Bidet", next is "Wash your Posterior" and final is the red "Stop" button, to stop the water flow. There is also a knob to adjust the water flow.

The best thing: the water dispensed is warm and made me feel so comfortable and clean.

The buttons won't work unless someone actually sits on the toilet bowl. Result: you can't accidentally mess up the floor.

After that, do check out the wash basins which are hands-free and oh-so hygienic. Everything from liquid soap, water and then air-blower is touch free and operated by a sensor.
Toilet breaks have never been so fun!


If you like this bit of humour and would like to check out the hi-tech toilets for yourself, please cast your vote!

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If you get the chance, there is nothing that beats putting up a night at a traditional inn or RYOKAN. There are quite a few within Tokyo city, but those that offer better facilities and a more traditional and culturally interesting experience, it is best to try those that are located outside of Tokyo (eg. around Lake Hakone, Nikko or Narita town). The one I stayed at was at Narita (see second pics) and I have done a more extensive write up under my Accommodation Tips in my Narita Pages.

The ryokan is usually family run and the room rate will include breakfast, with an optional dinner and lunch to be included. The food is usually of very high quality and standard at ryokans because the families that run the inns takes pride in their service and hospitality. Part of the unique cultural experience is to sleep on a futon (see pics) on a tatami mat floor.

Another interesting feature is the traditional bath ("furo") which is a delightful experience-similar to an "onsen" (public bath) but on a much smaller scale. The ryokans in Tokyo town are much smaller due to space constraints and therefore may not have furo facilities.

Don't miss this great experience!

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Website: www.japaneseguesthouses.com
Other Contact: www.jpinn.com

When you visit the Meiji Shrine, you could make a wish or say a prayer.

As you enter through the Torii Gate, at the Temizusha well ("the font for ablutions"), you must rinse your hands and mouth using water from the stone basin. You should not touch the dipper with your lips directly.

After that, if you want to make a wish, you could buy a small 3 inch by 2 inch polished wooden block. Upon this, write your wishes or prayers in black marker ink. Enter the temple grounds and hang your wish under the tree in the inner courtyard. In this way, when the shinto Monks say their prayers and do their daily chanting, they will be sure to ensure that the deities include habe taken note of your wishes or prayers.

How to pay respects: At the Main Shrine, you may throw some coins into the Offering Box. In front of the Main Shrine, you bow twice. Then you clap your hands twice. Finally, you bow once again.

May all your wishes come true!

Transport Tip: 1 min walk from JR Harajuku Station
or
1 min walk from Meijijingu-mae Subway on Chiyoda Line Exit 1/2

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Phone: 03-3379 5511
Website: www.meijijingu.or.jp/

From my research and also what I observed, the Japanese love to dress up. The men and women are very well-groomed and can be seen in business suits everywhere, even when riding their bicycles!

However, another interesting thing about the Japanese, is that they love to dress up in costumes! For example, I noticed people of all ages participating in the Asakusa Samba parade & festival (Aug each year). Here's a picture I took at the Asakusa temple groups immediately after the parade. Notice, both the young and the young-at-heart getting into the spirit of things!

Where to buy: At an ordinary supermarket near this temple, there were groceries, kitchenwear, alcohol, ubiquitious household sundries, electrical items and last but not least, party favours and costumes of all kinds for adults and children. With costumes, life is so much more fun!

(ahem, ahem, apparently some people find it sexy too...)

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Tokyo has to be one of the cleanest and tidiest cities I've ever visited. Look at the picture, this was taken at an underground walkway in Shinjuku (near Isetan). There is no graffiti, no litter, and instead, there were paintings and at some subways, plenty of underground shopping.

It's simply amazing!

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