Japanese cuisine is often a highlight of a traveler's Japan tour, featuring a variety of fresh, delicious dishes. However, if you plan to travel to Japan, you should debrief on a few pieces of etiquette at the dinner table. Here are a few do's and don'ts of Japanese table manners, from chopstick basics to the surprising verdict on slurping. 

Do:

Use the wet towel provided to clean your hands.

At the beginning of a Japanese meal, you will receive oshibori, or a wet towel to wipe your hands before eating. This first step is common courtesy to everyone at the table, especially if you share food. However, don't use this towel to wipe your face.

Use the opposite end of your chopsticks to serve shared food.

Not every meal on your Japan tour will be shared, but a popular shared meal called izakaya will include dishes that are communal to the entire table. When you serve yourself a helping of these dishes, it is customary to use the opposite end of your chopsticks to pick up the food from the shared plate. This etiquette is sanitary and polite because you use the side of these utensils that doesn't come in contact with your mouth.

Slurp your soup or noodles.

In the United States, slurping your food is typically considered bad etiquette for the dinner table, but it is the exact opposite in Japan. Slurping soup or noodles is considering a testimony to the quality of the food, so within reason, slurping noises are compliments to the chef and restaurant staff. However, other noises, such as burping, loud chewing, and blowing your nose at the table are still considered improper etiquette. 

Don't:

Begin your meal before everyone has their food.

As with meals in the States, it's polite to wait for everyone's dish to arrive at the table before you start eating. A meal will typically begin with the phrase "itadaki-masu," meaning "I gratefully receive." If the dish you're eating is usually better eaten right away, other members of the table may permit you to begin eating before their food arrives. 

Waste soy sauce. 

It is considered impolite to waste soy sauce in Japan, so try to gauge how much you will need for your meal and pour it into the small dish provided. Never pour soy sauce over white, cooked rice, and try to minimize the amount of wasabi you add to your soy sauce dish. In the case of nigiri sushi, dip the piece into the soy sauce upside-down so that the fish rather than the rice gets submerged in the dish. 

Practice improper chopsticks etiquette.

Similar to a fork and knife, chopsticks are an eating utensil and should not be played with at the table. Besides primary use, there are a few crucial faux-pas for this aspect of Japanese dining. Avoid using chopsticks to point—whether at a dish or another party at the table. Never pass food with your chopsticks, as it often reminds Japanese diners of a traditional funeral ritual. For similar reasons, you should also never stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. When you are finished with your meal, rest your chopsticks sideways on the plate rather than pointed at the person sitting across from you.

When you're bit by the travel bug, turn to N & K Travel Service for all your travel booking needs. Serving the residents of Honolulu, HI, since 1997, this travel agency coordinates a variety of trips, whether you want to explore the U.S. or venture abroad on a Japan tour. In 2021, they have five guided Japan tours planned, whether you want to see the cherry blossoms in the spring or preview Tokyo before the Olympics. For more information and to speak with one of their agents, visit their website or call (808) 739-9010 today.