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Travel Tips
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Traveling to Japan
Editor’s note: Global business, and subsequently, global business travel, continues to expand rapidly. In response, CWT Traveler will provide to readers each month in 2007 insights and tips on traveling from North America to other countries around the world. This month’s installment focuses on Japan.
In business:
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As an international visitor, travelers may be asked many questions upon arrival, including information about their job, title, age, and responsibilities. This information will be used to determine how to refer to the traveler, using the many Japanese forms of address and honorifics.
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During negotiations, start with agreed-upon points or topics, and build upon those. Being positive and persuasive in presentations will yield better results than a confrontational approach.
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Age is equated with rank and respect. Younger members of a team generally will be expected to remain quiet and defer to their seniors during meetings.
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Western travelers will often be greeted with a handshake, as the Japanese are aware of Western habits. However, the bow is the traditional Japanese greeting. If this greeting is used, travelers should:
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Bow to the same level as the greeter if they are a peer, as the depth of the bow indicates the status of your relationship.
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Quickly lower their eyes and keep their palms flat against their thighs.
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Punctuality is extremely important in Japan; tardiness is considered rude.
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If an interpreter seems to be taking a lot of time to translate statements into Japanese, it likely is because he or she is using lengthy forms of respect.
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When working with Japanese citizens who know English, speak slowly, pause often, and avoid colloquialisms.
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Entertainment during business trips will take place after business hours, most likely outside the home. When invited to a gathering, the host will likely pay for any associated costs. Allow the host to handle ordering the meal, and be appreciative.
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While entertaining is generally used for building friendships, it is acceptable to discuss business as well.
Good to know:
- Japanese is the official language. Three different forms are used: kanji, which represents blocks of meaning; katakana, which is used for foreign names and words; and hiragana, which expresses the grammatical relationships between words.
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Being invited into a Japanese home is a great honor. To show respect, travelers should verbally express their appreciation and remove their shoes at the door.
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The Japanese are smaller in stature than most North Americans. Because of this, travelers may find many items, from shower stalls to train seats, difficult to use because of their size.
Source: “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries,” by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway. Published by Adams Media of Avon, Massachusetts.
Tips for a more comfortable flight
A number of factors, including cabin pressure, dry air, and lack of personal space, can make air travel potentially uncomfortable for passengers. While some of these elements are simply facts of life on a plane and are out of a traveler’s control, there are a few things travelers should keep in mind to make air travel more pleasant.
Cabin Pressure
Studies have shown that the air pressure inside the plane’s cabin can contribute to a general feeling of discomfort. Most airplanes are pressurized to a level equivalent to 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. This is an altitude that lowers the oxygen saturation in the blood and may trigger symptoms similar to mountain, or altitude, sickness. Passengers without heart, blood or lung diseases can usually adjust to this change without noticing it, but bear in mind that low oxygen in combination with alcohol, inactivity and/or sleep can make a person feel dizzy or faint. Avoiding alcohol and doing arm and leg exercises before standing up can help combat these side effects. Chewing gum or swallowing during takeoff and landing can also reduce ear discomfort.
Dry air
The relatively low level of humidity of cabin air can be another source of discomfort. Dehydration, dry skin, and dry eyes are all symptoms of a passenger reacting to dry air. Drinking water, as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine, can help with dehydration. Using skin moisturizers and wearing glasses instead of contact lenses should also help relieve dry skin and eyes. Dry air can also aggravate allergies or asthma, so travelers with those conditions should take necessary precautions.
Personal space
For travelers flying in coach class, tight quarters are often a challenge. Especially for taller passengers, it may not be possible to stretch out much in the seat. One potential side effect that can occur in planes (or trains, cars, buses or other tight spaces), is blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. To avoid this risk, travelers should move about the cabin periodically during times the captain has the seatbelt sign turned off. If possible, travelers should also try not to stow bags under the seat in front of them, in order to free up more leg room for stretching.
General tips for a more pleasant flight also include getting enough rest before takeoff, avoiding overeating, and consulting with a doctor about any health concerns that could be aggravated by air travel.
Sources: Aerospace Medical Association, HealthDay News, Boeing.com
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