PICK UP SOME JAPANESE

Speaking a little Japanese goes a long way when showing respect to your host country, even if you don’t speak it well. Standard phrases like “arigato” (thank you) and “sumimasen” (excuse me) can open doors and create smiles, as people appreciate the effort. One useful phrase even helps reduce plastic usage. Tell the clerk “Reji bukuro wa irimasen” to indicate you don’t need a plastic bag.