Two-minute guide to ‘responsible’ Japan

With its efficient public transport, almost non-existent crime, one of the most well-preserved cultures in the world and family-friendly travel, on the face of it Japan is hard to find fault with.

Perhaps it does not shout about its incredible opportunities for authentic tourism loudly enough, but that just means that travellers who take the time to discover its remote valleys, hiking trails, ryokans, traditional baths, and cities where the ancient and modern collide, find something special and unspoiled by international tourism.

Defined customs and cultures shape all aspects of daily life in Japan, with set codes of conduct and propriety preserved and passed down through generations. These rules and rituals are part of what makes Japan so unique and so charming to visitors, but they are also what are resisting change as Japan still hunts whales for meat, and what a number of animal welfare issues hide behind.

To the Japanese, culture is sacred, and if visiting the country tourists should take the time to learn and understand some of the more basic rules. Politeness is key, and learning to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese before travelling will go a long way. Saying ‘itadakimasu’ before starting to eat (similar to ‘bon appetit’) will get a meal moving along happily, especially if staying in a traditional ryokan, and knowing to soap and rinse before getting into a bath will save any public bathing embarrassments.

The Japanese are, however, very accepting of foreign visitors, aware and proud of how complex their cultural codes are and will happily forgive a few faux pas, so causing offense isn’t as easy as it might sound.

This codification of society also works well for tourists, as there are no muggings, no taxi drivers taking advantage or tourists being overcharged. As Jeremy Spence, of responsibletravel.com member Oku Japan says: "it is a fine line between visitors appreciating the orderliness of everything, but also tolerating this when it goes overboard."

Whilst Japan’s traditions will charm visitors, and offer an insight into the country’s ancient heritage, they also hide a number of animal welfare issues. Chris Pitt, from animal welfare NGO Care for the Wild says: "Animal cruelty can often be disguised as culture, and this is very evident in Japan. Tourists can easily find themselves taking part in something that they otherwise wouldn’t, purely by immersing themselves in local traditions without actually knowing what it means". Thus tourists should be warned to avoid ‘token’ – dog fighting, and ‘unesu’ or ‘onomi’ – whale meat.

Japan’s relationship with whales and dolphins is particularly controversial. Along with Iceland and Norway it is one of the only countries in the world still whaling commercially, despite an international moratorium, and is set to flout an UN International Court of Justice ruling halting the country whaling for ‘research’ in Antarctic waters.

There are, however, some fishing communities starting to switch onto sustainability, and a whale watching industry, which places value on these creatures alive in the wild, is slowly starting to appear. Tourists should show their support for this industry – booking wild whale watching trips with local operators and avoiding any kind of whale meat while in Japan.

Avoiding dolphinariums and captive whale facilities is something that responsibletravel.com advocates around the world, but in Japan this is even more important.

Dolphinarium: Antti T. Nissinen

An independent survey carried out by responsibletravel.com and the Born Free Foundation last year found that 86% of UK holidaymakers would not want to visit a marine park as part of an overseas holiday, however the international turning tide of sentiment against whale and dolphin shows doesn’t seem to have reached Japan, with the number of dolphinariums increasing by 23% over the last 10 years.

Shockingly, over half of these source their dolphins from the infamous Taiji dolphin drives and any tourists visiting these facilities are showing their support for a cruel and barbaric practice. 

Going in all guns blazing and rocking the whaling and dolphin hunting boat in Japan might not be effective, but politely conversing with hosts and local people can help sow the seeds of change.

And as more and more Japanese travel, they are slowly, slowly starting to look in and review the aspects of their traditions which do not sit so well with the international community.

Find more tips for responsible tourism in Japan at http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/japan