Page 69 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

13 Go left in Japan.

If you are riding an escalator, stand to the le . This is considered proper
etiquette all over Japan, no exceptions.

What our travelers say:
14 Don’t miss Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple.

One of the number one places to go that a lot of tour groups do not
go to because it is so busy is the marvelous Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. There
are a lot of Japanese families there and the promenade up to the temple is
full of street food vendors! Japanese food vendors are VERY clean. There are
so many marvelous things to eat that are all reasonably priced. I ate these
wonderful doughnut holes with a spicy pumpkin squash!

—Ann Barkley, 19-time traveler, Portland, OR
15 Don’t blow it.

It is considered quite uncouth to blow your nose in public in Japan, so
don’t do it. Find a private place to do it discretely.

What to Eat in Japan

Sushi fans, rejoice! This classic Japanese dish based on raw seafood, in all its infinite
varieties, is fresh all over Japan. Plus, if you are dining solo, a great way to try it is at
a kaitenzushi or “conveyor belt” sushi restaurant. You sit at a counter and plates
of di erent types of sushi pass by on a conveyor belt, so you can conveniently grab

whatever you want to try. If you prefer your seafood cooked, try ebi furai, large,
deep-fried shrimps coated in panko bread crumbs. It’s the same coating used for
tonkatsu, a breaded pork cutlet. Gyoza are cabbage and pork-filled dumplings that
are fried and steamed, so they’re crisp on the bottom and tender on top.

Before you leave, do treat yourself to kaiseki, a multi-course banquet based
on seasonal ingredients. It will include many small plates including appetizers,
soup, rice, and simmered and grilled dishes; and will conclude with dessert and a
traditional matcha tea ceremony. The aesthetics of a kaiseki meal—from the food
plating to the garb of the servers—is full of symbolism and tradition. It is considered
the epitome of Japanese cuisine and hospitality.

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