1. Bowing: In Japan it is customary and expected that two people bow a greeting and a goodbye to one another.  This is done no matter how well you know a person and even if you’ve seen them already that day.  There are different levels of bowing that are reserved for different individuals.  Generally the more authority a person has the longer and deeper a bow they receive.
2. Dinner Etiquette: Before beginning a meal, it is polite to say “itadakimaso,” which is translated to mean “I humbly receive.” One etiquette rule many westerners struggle to wrap their head around is the acceptance of slurping.  Most of us grew up being scolded for slurping our soup or noodles, but this is actually encouraged as a showing of gratitude and enjoyment of the food.  Holding a bowl up to the face to eat or drink soup or noodles is also an acceptable practice.
3. Tipping: No matter what the service, whether it is a waitress, a taxi driver or a bartender, tipping is not expected.  It can even be considered rude, so enjoy the reprieve from adding gratuity while you’re away.
4. Taking off Shoes: Unlike in the United States where taking off your shoes in public or in someone’s home can be considered rude, the opposite is true in Japan. When you enter a person’s house you should always remove your shoes and they will usually have guest slippers for you to wear.  This is often the custom in businesses or hotels as well.
5. Public Behavior: In our fast paced society it is nothing out of the ordinary to see someone eating in public or talking on the phone.  However, this is considered extremely rude in Japanese culture.  Blowing your nose in public is also extremely offensive, so try to take care of any sniffles in private.

Suntory is responsible for producing a number of well-known beverages seen at local supermarkets and restaurants.  With tea being such a common part of the Japanese culture, it’s no surprise that one of Suntory’s most popular products is its Oolong Tea.  Other popular Suntory drinks include Boss, a line of canned coffee, and Dakara, considered to be a health beverage.  Suntory also has several lines of alcoholic beverages.  The Premium Malt’s has gained international recognition and is definitely worth a try.  A line of low priced beers include Hop’s Draft, Magnum Dry and even Seven Hops RELAX, which is carb free.

The unique bottle design and marble of Ramune make it one of the most memorable of Japanese beverages.  This soft drink comes in a codd-neck bottle and is sealed with a marble which must be pushed into the bottle with a special device before it can be consumed.  This drink is especially popular among children who can remove and keep the marble after drinking the beverage.  Having been expanded from its original lemon lime flavor, there are now 26 flavors of Ramune, including, kiwi, octopus, and wasabi.

You may be thinking water is one thing that stays the same from continent to continent.  Well, think again.  Japanese beverage companies have taken some very unique approaches to bottled water production and marketing.  Though it is no longer manufactured, one company recently advertised “diet water” on shelves in Japan.  Your guess is as good as mine as to what exactly constitutes diet water.  Asahi, a Japanese beverage company has a Gyugyutto Shimikomu Collagen Water.  Yes, it contains collagen.  They also make a mineral water called Vanadium Tennen Mizu, which contains vanadium.  Other unique bottled water attributes include extra oxygen or a refreshing aroma.

For a quiet, more sedate environment, Chiba Beach, only a short trip from Tokyo, is less crowded than many of the other coastal hot spots and is adorned with beautiful white sand and clear water.  Shirahama is a large beach on the Izu peninsula that is known for great surfing.  Though crowds of visitors come to this beach each year, it is large enough that you can find a spot to yourself for a peaceful day by the water.

If you’re looking for a vivacious and entertaining day at the beach than one of the more touristy beaches such as Oarai is the place for you.  Swimmers and surfers flock to the pleasant waters of the Pacific Ocean and can enjoy a variety of area attractions.  Golf courses, dolphin watching excursions and the Oarai Aquarium make this a great place to spend an entire vacation.  Its close proximity to Tokyo makes Kamakura a hugely popular beach during the summertime.  Visitors can walk to the beach from Kamakura Station to enjoy a swim in the Pacific.  There are plenty of nearby stores and restaurants to account for any needs you might have throughout your day there.

You may have heard that tea is popular in the east, but you’ll probably be surprised to find out how large a part of the culture it actually plays.  Preparing Japanese tea requires an extensive and specific process that includes skilled memorized movements.  Hotel Okura in Tokyo holds daily tea ceremonies for guests to learn and participate in the art of making this drink.

Tokyo is marked by beautifully landscaped parks and lush gardens.  Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, Rikugien Gardens and Kyu-Furukawa Teien each has unique designs and make a great day trip while in Tokyo.  Not only are these natural beauties aesthetically pleasing, they also offer some lessons in history and culture as most of them were originally owned or built by former shoguns or statesmen.

If you enjoy the arts, you should definitely take advantage of the many performances and theaters in Tokyo.  The style of both performing arts and theater design in Japan differs from that of the United States and is sure to be a unique experience for the art lover. The National Theatre, with two different performance halls, hosts traditional Japanese dance and music performances, Kabuki and Buddhist liturgical chants.

And, of course, there is plenty of shopping to do in Tokyo.  Whether you want to bring home a few souvenirs or spend all the money in your wallet in one of the city’s shopping complexes, there is no shortage of opportunity.  Akasaka Sacas and Tokyo Midtown are two recently-opened shopping and entertainment centers that attract large crowds of expectant visitors.

The site of the Yoshinogari Remains contains one of the largest collections of archeological remains in the country.  It is estimated that remains from this site date back to the 3^rd century BC.  The largest tomb mound in Japan is located at this site along with pit dwellings, storehouses and watchtowers.  Visitors can view models of all artifacts from this site at the Yoshinogari Exhibition Hall.

Hirosaki Park is another noteworthy historical site, which contains the Hirosaki castle ruins.  Built in the 17^th century, this castle is surrounded by a triple moat.  Paper lanterns lighting up the town and annual events, such as the cherry blossom festival, create a unique and entertaining atmosphere in Hirosaki.

Formerly the capital of Japan, the Heijo-kyo area is now a popular historical attraction and the site of the Heijo Palace ruins.  The Heijo Palace Site Museum contains many of the artifacts that have been unearthed during the excavation of this site, believed to have dated back to the 8^th Century.

The Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine is the site of millions of visitors every year as it is the headquarters of thousands of Sumiyoshi-sha Shrines throughout Japan.  This is also the location of the Otaue Ceremony held every summer, where inhabitants of the area come together to pray for rich harvest.  Traditional art and dances are performed and a ceremonial planting of rice seeds by the women takes place at this ceremony.

These are just a few of the ancient historical grounds of Japan and additional information on travel and visiting information for these sites can be found on the Japan National Tourism Organization website.