Homework, but the good kind
An evening’s viewing between now and July 2027. Shrine manners, the bath, chopsticks, enough Japanese to be polite — and a look at the two ports where a day ashore goes fastest.
This trip is shrine-heavy: Ryugusha in Toba, Ryūō-gū at Katsurahama, the Chinatown temples in Yokohama. Paolo walks the full sequence, from the torii bow and temizuya rinse to coin, two bows, two claps, one bow.
Paolo fromTOKYO·Japan Shrine Manners | DONT make FOREIGNER MISTAKES
The Diamond Princess's Izumi bath follows Japanese rules: wash seated and fully before entering, no towel in the water, no swimsuit. Japan Guide films the actual sequence, so you walk in already knowing the choreography.
Japan Guide·Bathing at a Japanese Hot Spring | Onsen Etiquette
Shogo covers the chopstick habits that read as rude in Japan: passing food chopstick to chopstick, standing them upright in rice, spearing. Useful in the ship's dining rooms and at every port lunch from Kochi to Nagasaki.
Let's ask Shogo | Your Japanese Friend in Kyoto·Tutorial on How to Hold/Use Them Correctly | 10 Things You Should NEVER Do With Chopsticks in Japan
Fifty phrases at beginner pace: sumimasen, arigato gozaimasu, ordering, asking directions, numbers. Outside Tokyo and Yokohama, in Toba, Kochi and the Kanmon Straits towns, English thins out fast and these carry you.
Easy2LearnJapanese·50 Basic SURVIVAL Japanese Phrases for Travellers!
Buy a goshuincho and each shrine or temple hand-brushes a calligraphy stamp. Senso-ji and Sofuku-ji both offer them. This explains the etiquette, the cost, and why it beats anything from a gift shop.
Anne in Wonderland·Your Ultimate Guide to Collecting Goshuin Stamps In Japan
Your Tokyo day: Kaminarimon's giant lantern, Nakamise street, Senso-ji itself, and Skytree nearby. An orientation guide so you spend those hours looking at things rather than working out where they are.
Kensho Quest·Guide to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Tokyo, Plus Skytree!
A first-visit orientation to Glover Garden, the Peace Park, Dejima and Chinatown, so you can decide in advance what actually fits into a single day ashore rather than losing time choosing.
Laurens & Laura·What to do in NAGASAKI during your first visit | Japan Travel
Your only Korean port, and a different country with different customs. Covers Jungmun Beach, Cheonjeyeon Falls and Seongsan, enough to pick two or three that fit a short call rather than improvising at the pier.
World Wild Hearts·JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA (2026) | 10 Best Things To Do On Jeju (+ Travel Tips)
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