Rush hours in Japan

Japanese rush hours are very always crowded, especially urban areas.
Trains begin to fill just after 7:00 am and the peak is 8:00-9:00 am. Key train stations and their platforms are filled with people.

Since the trains are so crowded, it is called as "Packed like sardines".

Train staff push people to get into a train

At some stations where there are many commuters, station staff routinely help the passengers get into the train by pushing them through the doors from behind.
The evening rush hour is 17:00-18:30, of which conditions are much better than in the morning.

A foreigner who visited Japan may be surprised to experience the packed train - people are packed in so tightly that they don't even need to hold onto anything. (on the other hand, no danger of falling - because of too packed)

The roads are very crowded, too - especially 8:00 -9:30am. But even after this rush hour, the roads of urban areas are always crowded. Because there are just too many cars for limited roads.

If we need to arrive on time, we will use trains or subway which run very punctual, instead of car or taxi.

Packed like sardines

Tipping in Japan

NO tip is expected at a restaurant 

Different from the practice in western countries, tipping is not customary in Japan. We Japanese don't tip waiters, hotel man or cab drivers etc. These people are paid for just their work; they are proud of doing a good job, and they don't expect any extra from the customers.
But some employees at western-style hotels are used to get tipping from westerners. They don't refuse the tip, BUT they don't expect it. (some hotels originally add a service charge to the bill.)

We may give tips to Japanese staff in special occasions -. If somebody provide something special for us, we tip to show appreciation.

But no tip is expected for standard good services in Japan.

UFO Catcher

UFO Catcher

Prize gotten by UFO Catcher 

In a game center, there are various kinds of games we can play. For example, there are computer games and car-racing games.
One of the popular games is "UFO Catcher"(as above photo). We will pick a prize with a mini crane. The playing fee is about 100-300 yen. The typical prizes are stuffed toys. It is very difficult to get the prize because sensitive operation of the crane is needed. Many people spend about 1000 yen (means 10 times of play) to get a prize. But some trained young people get several prizes at one play - because people are hooked!

100yen shop

100 yen shop

100 yen shops (100 yen = about 1 dollar) are popular in Japan. In most shopping areas, there are 100 yen shops.
Everything in the shop is sold at 100 yen - from stationary, kitchen goods, cosmetics, food and etc.

The quality of some items is not so bad even if it is 100 yen.

As they are very cheap, we tend to buy many items.

  Those items are one of examples - all are 100 yen!

Japanese religion - difference Shinto vs Buddhism

Buddhist Statue

Shinto and Buddhism were mixed and combined a long time ago. People whorshipped gods and Buddha together at temples and shrines.
Shinto and Buddhism were only separated from the Meiji Period (around 1900). The Meiji government protected Shinto as a national religion, but suppressed Buddhism. Shintō was needed in order to unify the country around the Emperor as the process of modernization was undertaken with all possible speed

In 1945(after World War II), the State Shinto was abolished. The State and religions were separated after World War II.

Today both Shinto and Buddhism are important religions in Japan.

Difference between Shinto and Buddhism:

                           Shinto               Buddhism
Worship              Shrine                    Temple
Gate                  Gate (torii)    
Statue               No specific statue    Buddhist statues
Praying style       Clap your hands      just put your hands together

Temple

Shrine - torii (gate)

Japanese religion - Buddhism

Horyuji-temple in Nara

Buddhism was born about 2500 years ago in India. It was founded by the Indian Prince Siddharatha Gautama.
Though China and Korea, Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century.

Zazen

The goal of Buddhism is to reach the state of nirvana.(= a state of enlightenment which exists beyond all pain and suffering). People who attained enlightenment are called "Buddha."

In Japan, there are 13 Buddhist sects- one of them is "Zen".
The focus of Zen is to achieve enlightenment that comes from within. Enlightenment is achieved by emptying our mind and giving up earthly desires.

Tea Ceremony

Zazen is a method to calm our minds through meditation which is performed in the lotus position.

To study Zen, you can go to a Zen Buddhist temple. You can stay for a few weeks or a few months, depending on the temple.

Zen gave great influences on various cultures - ex. tea ceremony, flower arrangement.

And we Japanese often prefer quiet reflection when people from other cultures might talk a lot. Maybe that's why we say Japanese culture is Zen culture.

Japanese religion - Shinto

In Japan, there are two key religions - Shinto and Buddhism.

Pray for a field god

Shinto alter

Shinto was born in Japan. Shinto literary means "the way of the gods", of which faith is based on animism. Once upon a time, people believed there were gods in nature. (ex. in a mountain, there was a mountain god, in the field, there was a field god.) People whorshipped god as a divine being and prayed to gods to receive blessings.
People also looked up to their ancestors.
In short, Shinto is a combination of nature and ancestor whorship.

Shinto - Ise Shrine

Shinto is part of Japanese cultural heritage. The Majority of Japanese who conceder themselves religious would say they are both Buddhist and Shintoist. Shintoism as a belief system doesn't exclude other loyalties.

Shrine for the mounting

Many Shinto shrines are noted for the great natural beauty of their surroundings.