Below is a link to a draft packing list to get you started.  If you see something missing--let me know.  You might want to think about working with your roomie and sharing in order to save room in suitcases (which should be no larger than medium sized as the rooms in Japan are small).

Welcome to our first of many blogs relating to the expected behaviors and manners for those of us visiting Japan.  As with any country that you visit--there are different customs that we must learn and portray while we are in Japan.  We are all super excited to be going, so it is easy to overlook things such as this--and doing so can sometimes offend those we do not wish to.  So, between now and June--expect a lot of information!!

First up...Shrines and Temples:
To start...what is the difference between a shrine and a temple you may ask?  They are 2 different religious factions for one.  

Shinto or kami-no-michi (the original traditional term) is the natural spiritual cult of Japan extensively followed by the Japanese people. Shinto exemplifies the worship of the abstract forces of nature, the ancestors, nature, polytheism, and animism.  The central focus remains on ritual purity which revolves around the honoring and celebration of the existence of Kami which is the ultimate spirit of essence. 

Buddism is a tradition envisaged as the ultimate path of salvation which is to be achieved through an imminent approach into the absolute nature of reality and existence.  The foundation of Buddhism lies on the performing of altruism and following the paths of ethical conduct. Some of the common practices of Buddhism are cultivation of wisdom through meditation and renunciation, invocating the bodhisattvas and studying the scriptures.

For either,  you should behave calmly and peacefully in the shrines and temples.  Remember, these are places of prayer and worship--much like your church at home.

Usually in both shrines and temples, you are welcome to take pictures of the grounds, but not of the inside of the buildings.  Be sure to keep an eye out for clearly posted signs as to what you can and cannot photograph.  

When visiting a Buddhist Temple, it is customary to show respect by making a short prayer at the sacred object.  You do so by throwing a coin in the box in front of the object and standing and saying a short prayer.

When entering a temple, you may be asked to take off your shoes.  Be sure to place them neatly in the shoe bin that is usually located right in front of the temple entrance.  DO NOT step on the tatami with your shoes on!!  Since you will be taking your shoes on and off frequently in Japan--plan on bringing plenty of socks so that they are always relatively neat and clean looking :)

When visiting a Shinto Shrine you will see a purification fountain at the entrance.  Take the ladle provided and fill it with fresh water.  Use this water to rinse your hands, then take another ladle of fresh water, transfer it into your hands and rinse your mouth--spitting the water beside the fountain.  DO NOT drink directly from the ladle or swallow the water.  Many people skip the mouth rinsing, but you do need to rinse your hands.

It is also customary to offer a prayer at the Shinto Shrine.  You do this by throwing a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once again and offer a short prayer.  If there is a gong or bell, ring it before praying.  This is to get Kami's attention.

Well that's it for Part 1 of Manners in Japan.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Cyndi Jones
Dublin Taiko Secretary


References: www.thedifferencebetween.net & www.japan-guide.com

Several of you have asked what the easiest way to travel is for your kids.  There really isn’t a right or wrong way to travel, so I thought I would just provide the pros and cons of each:

Cash:
Traveling with cash is probably the easiest way to travel.  You always know exactly what you have to exchange.

   Pros:

•  Easy to use
•  No conversion fees after exchanging
• Easy conversion at airports, most hotels and banks
• Will need to carry at least some cash (whether through cash or traveler check exchange) for the rural areas where they do not take credit cards.

   Cons:

• Can be bulky and bothersome depending on # of bills brought
• Once lost, cannot be recovered or ‘blocked’ from usage.

Traveler’s Check:
Often the safest way to travel as these cannot be exchanged or cashed without ID and signature of the user.  Your child can use their passport to exchange these at the airport or their hotel/bank.

   Pros:

• Traveler's checks and check cards provide more security than cash because they can be replaced (usually within 24 hours) if lost or stolen. 
• Has a higher rate of exchange than cash.
•  Can be exchanged at airports, hotels and banks.

   Cons:

• Takes longer to exchange due to the signing and verification at exchange locations.
  

Pre-Paid Credit Card:
 A great way to limit space needed to carry currency are pre-paid cards.  Some pros and cons:

   Pros:

• Ease of use.
• Limited space needed.
• Limits spend amount.
• Can track remaining funds online.

   Cons:

• Since we will be traveling to rural areas, pre-paid credit cards may not be taken in all locations.  
• You run the risk of “holds” being put on funds that you are attempting to use during the trip.  This could lower the amount available to you to spend. 
• You must make sure the bank you purchase these from confirms that they will work overseas in Japan.  Some are US and Europe only.

Credit Card:
Since kids can’t have a credit card, this portion of the blog is for the parents traveling.  Credit cards are usually best for larger purchases only:

   Pros:

• The biggest advantage to using credit cards while traveling overseas is that credit card purchases are exchanged at the interbank exchange rate, usually the best rate you can get for currency exchange. While most credit card issuers charge currency conversion fees each time you make a purchase in a foreign currency (generally 1 percent from Visa or MasterCard plus an additional 1 - 2 percent for themselves), these fees are typically lower than those you'd pay to convert your own currency at a change bureau. And there are a few cards out there (many from Capital One) that do not charge any foreign transaction fees at all, not even the ones from Visa or MasterCard. (source: IndependentTraveler.com)
  

   Cons:

• Since we will be traveling to rural areas, credit cards may not be taken in all locations.  
• You run the risk of “holds” being put on funds that you are attempting to use during the trip.  This could lower the amount available to you to spend. 
• One problem for U.S. travelers is the growing prevalence of "chip-and-PIN" credit cards in Europe, Asia and South America. Designed to reduce fraud, these cards rely on an embedded chip that transmits information to a merchant, which the consumer then verifies by entering a PIN.  These cards are not widely available in the US.
• Some cards charge additional conversion rates.

In conclusion, probably the best way to travel is to have some cash / traveler’s checks and a pre-paid card.  However, the decision is really up to each individual family.  I personally use traveler’s checks and my credit card—but I have friends that are cash only too.

Hope this helps you make your decisions.

Cyndi Jones
Dublin Taiko Secretary

Many of you have asked about cellular options while in Japan.  This blog post is a way to communicate options for you or your student traveler for the duration of the trip.

DOMESTIC PLAN OPTIONS:

• AT&T: AT&T has several options via their AT&T Passport option.  Depending on usage and data options, this will range from $30 - $120/month  plus a per minute rate for calling.  You can learn more here:  AT&T Passport

• SPRINT: Sprint has options via their international travel packages.  Depending on the phone type, usage, data options--the pricing will range from $40-80/month plus per minute rates .  You can learn more here (you will need to select your phone type): Sprint International

• TMOBILE: T-Mobile has free data with $.20/minute calling from Japan.  You can learn more here: T-Mobile International

• VERIZON: Verizon's options start at $25/month plus per minute calling rates.  Find out more here: Verizon Global 

• SKYPE: There will be several parent's on the trip with computers that can be used to skype home during the trip (advanced request and scheduling needs to occur so that everyone is not trying to use the service at the same time).  If you are interested in this option, please set up a skype account here: SKYPE and also schedule during a future parent trip planning meeting.

RENTAL PHONES:

• Several companies within Japan offer phones for rent.  In this option, you order the phone you want online and THEY SHIP THE PHONE DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME!!  The phone will arrive about 1 week before the trip is scheduled.  Once the trip is over, the user merely mails the phone back at the airport before boarding the plane for home.  This is often times the lowest price option available to you.  Options available are:

1. Rentafonejapan
2. Softbank (these guys don't ship the phone to you)
3. Pupuru
4. Global Advanced Communications
5. Mobal
6. My Japan Phone

I hope that this information and these links are helpful!  More information to come--so subscribe to our RSS Feed!

Cyndi Jones
Dublin Taiko Secretary