Comments on: Barefoot in Japan: A bumbling fool

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:44:46 +0000

In reply to Basil. That is a very good question, and I don't have an answer! I suppose you could keep a cloth by the door and give your feet a wipe before you put on the slippers.

By: Basil

Basil — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 06:39:27 +0000

There is a small persentage of people around the world who prefere to go barefoot outside. Is it even possible for them to somehow exist in Japan with such a strict footwear etiquett? If the point is to keep the house clean how can they take of… naked skin to get in?

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 18:59:40 +0000

In reply to Mechelke, Wolfram. Thanks, Wolfram! It was nice meeting you in Otsu, Japan!

By: Mechelke, Wolfram

Mechelke, Wolfram — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 15:33:11 +0000

Dear Rachel, I attached your blog to my recent blog as a fine example of a post.
You find our meeting on this recent post of mine.
http://rundumdenglobus.com/en/2015/08/23/japan-otsu-airbnb/

I hope you enjoy it.
Best from Down Under
Wolfram

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:35:47 +0000

In reply to Victoria@ The British Berliner.

When I was in the Peace Corps in Malawi I heard a story of a volunteer who didn’t know how to use the hole-in-the-ground kind of toilet. He sat down on it instead of squatting, and his keys fell in! They had to dig the whole thing out to get them back! Now that’s embarrassing!

I haven’t written my post yet about the Japanese toilets, which are a whole other story, with all sorts of buttons, usually without English translations…

By: Victoria@ The British Berliner

Victoria@ The British Berliner — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:19:58 +0000

I love the post Rachel and even though I really shouldn’t laugh, it is quite funny. I can just imagine your tall self trying to squeeze into teeny tiny slippers!
Have I had similar experiences on my travels? Absolutely. Especially where the toilet situation is concerned. I remember going to a developing country for the very first time when I was about 13. My parents wanted us to experience a more rural atmosphere as we were all in private (independent) schools.
I wanted to go to the bathroom. I was desperate to do a number 2.
There was a bucket filled with water. I didn’t know what to do with it.
So I pooed in the bucket!
Everyone found it hilarious and unfortunately, they still talk about it.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:03:50 +0000

In reply to Anita @ No Particular Place To Go. Yep, lots of smiling apologetically! I tried often to simply ask what the custom was, but so few people in Japan spoke enough English to do much but try to use hand gestures. It was a fun challenge, though!

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 08:59:39 +0000

In reply to Suzanne Fluhr. Yes, I thought of that, but I did see Japanese people walking around with food or drink, especially things like iced tea and smoothies in plastic cups. Do they just carry them along with them till they get a chance to throw them out? That's what I ended up doing.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 08:56:34 +0000

In reply to Suzanne Stavert. Me too! I really tried to obey. I'm just forgetful!

By: Suzanne Fluhr

Suzanne Fluhr — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 22:18:40 +0000

The thing with hardly any trash cans in public is that you are not supposed to walk around eating—-not even an ice cream cone. We learned that when we bought one and the woman at the stand where we bought it glared on us and ordered us to stand there to eat it. That’s when the lack of trash cans started to make sense. And, obviously, given the emphasis on propriety in the Japanese culture, no one would even dream of littering.