Taking time to understand local customs can help travelers explore Japan more thoughtfully and respectfully. Learning the etiquette associated with a shrine visit, an onsen soak, or even a train ride can deepen your appreciation of everyday life and traditions in Japan.

Host Angie Orth talks with Chris Peskosky and Alex Murphy, the travel content creators behind It's Chris and Alex. The pair has spent extensive time exploring Japan and built a following by helping travelers experience the country the way locals do.



You'll learn about etiquette at sacred sites, from approaching a torii gate to taking part in a shrine's prayer ritual. Chris and Alex also share what to expect during a traditional bathhouse visit, how to behave respectfully on Japan's famously punctual trains, and the unwritten rules for interacting with some beloved animal residents.

What You’ll Learn:

1:21 The traditional ryokan stay that made them fall in love with returning to Japan

9:29 How to tell a shrine from a temple, and what each gate signals

12:36 The proper etiquette for praying at a shrine

23:17 What actually happens inside a traditional Japanese onsen

31:44 Meeting Nara's famous bowing deer, and how to handle them

Connect with Chris and Alex:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschrisandalex/

Website: https://www.itschrisandalex.com/

What are you most excited to see and experience in Japan? Tell us in the comments!

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Podcast: TravelingWithAAA.com