Kobe Etiquette & Behavior

A good traveler is not only one who religiously sticks to the travel guidebook and makes sure that he has been to every museum and every sightseeing destination mentioned there. A truly good traveler is the person who takes an interest in the customs and traditions of the place he is visiting and takes care not to ruffle the feathers of the locals with insolent gestures and overtures. So mind your P's and Q's and brush up on your Kobe etiquette & behavior before you step out for your Kobe tours.

About Kobe Etiquette & Behavior

The best thing about Kobe etiquette & behavior is that the Kobe people are considerate enough to realize that it is just not possible for a foreigner to be well up on all the nuances of Japanese etiquette, so they overlook a minor slip here and there. But then you can always make sure that you leave no cause for a stare and a frown on the other respects.

Here's a handy guideline of Kobe etiquette & behavior for you to take stock of:

•  Bowing forms an integral part of greeting and showing respect in not only the etiquette and behavior in Kobe but also in the norms of etiquette and behavior of Japan as a whole. However, you need to remember that when somebody bows down to you, you bow only as low as the other person and keep your palms flattened against your thighs and eyes looking down.

•  Kobe etiquette & behavior within the business circles demand that you be on time for your appointments. The Kobe folks may not scream at you the way your superior does when you are late, but they will surely be offended.

•  Kobe etiquette & behavior may just seem too mind-boggling at times, especially when it comes to wielding a tricky piece of cutlery like the chopsticks. Just remember not too keep them standing up in your rice, it is a symbol of death. A good policy for the chopstick novices would be to ask for a fork, if available and then have the food without spewing it all over the place.

•  The Japanese love their drinks and their drinking sessions too involve observing certain behaviors. Things are not too different either at Kobe. Social behavior in Kobe dictates that you fill other people's glasses as they do yours and wait for everyone's glasses to be filled up to take your first sip. Etch this etiquette in Kobe before you step into the bars & pubs in Kobe.

•  Blowing noses in public places is considered improper as part of Kobe etiquette & behavior. But then it is indecent in many other cultures.

•  Don't barge into a Kobe house, shrine, Japanese-style restaurant with your shoes on. This is very wrong according to Kobe etiquette & behavior and may bring on the mild reproaches.

These are only some of the do's and don'ts in Kobe. But follow these norms of Kobe etiquette & behavior and you will pass off as someone with the most charming manners.