Blog Post 1: Japan

Sushi in Japan: 5 Essential Etiquette Tips to Eat Like a Local
Visiting Japan is a dream for food lovers, but walking into a traditional sushi restaurant can feel intimidating. Many tourists inadvertently disrespect the chef or miss the true flavor profile by using too much soy sauce or eating nigiri in the wrong order. This article will teach you how to enjoy sushi in Japan respectfully, including proper etiquette for eating, soy sauce usage, and ordering to make your dining experience authentic.

• The Art of the Itamae (Sushi Chef)
• Don’t Over-dip: Soy Sauce Etiquette
• Fingers or Chopsticks?
• Order from Light to Heavy
• Green Tea is for Cleansing

Valuable Information

• Tip: Never rub your chopsticks together; it implies the chopsticks are cheap, which is rude to the restaurant.
• Step: Dip only the fish side (not the rice side) into the soy sauce. The rice will absorb too much sauce and fall apart.
• Strategy: Eat nigiri in a specific order: white fish first, followed by silver-skinned, red-skinned, then fatty tuna or heavier fish.
• Explanation: The pickled ginger (gari) is a palate cleanser, not a topping to put on your sushi.

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See our guide on [Understanding Japanese Culture and Hospitality]