Great advice. I forgot to mention when you asked the following. If you would be upset by anyone, especially a foreigner who does not speak your language, doing something outside your home, don’t do it when traveling.
On tats, I didn’t even think of this. My experience is that only those who are long stayers generally venture to a public bath. I did not while in the navy here. My first time was after a kendo practice while I was studying in Niigata after leaving the canoe club.
A few years ago my kid’s swimming school hosted a parent and child swim day. I took the oldest and as we were leaving the changing area a staff member came running up to tell me I had to leave. Either my rash guard sleeve slipped up a bit uncovering my navy tat or someone saw it as I was changing. Meaning either a father of one of my kid’s swim mates or any parent of same saw the bottom if the sleeve rode up a bit. Not a good day.
Given the seeming over sensitivity concerning foreign visitors, I’m betting on stronger enforcement of no tat rules. My wife found an elastic bandage that affixes to itself with Velcro. I just wrap it around my bicep to hide my tat and life has been much better since. Do NOT use the adhesive tat hiding patches. They are hard to remove with bits hanging on for days afterwards.
Great advice. I forgot to mention when you asked the following. If you would be upset by anyone, especially a foreigner who does not speak your language, doing something outside your home, don’t do it when traveling.
On tats, I didn’t even think of this. My experience is that only those who are long stayers generally venture to a public bath. I did not while in the navy here. My first time was after a kendo practice while I was studying in Niigata after leaving the canoe club.
A few years ago my kid’s swimming school hosted a parent and child swim day. I took the oldest and as we were leaving the changing area a staff member came running up to tell me I had to leave. Either my rash guard sleeve slipped up a bit uncovering my navy tat or someone saw it as I was changing. Meaning either a father of one of my kid’s swim mates or any parent of same saw the bottom if the sleeve rode up a bit. Not a good day.
Given the seeming over sensitivity concerning foreign visitors, I’m betting on stronger enforcement of no tat rules. My wife found an elastic bandage that affixes to itself with Velcro. I just wrap it around my bicep to hide my tat and life has been much better since. Do NOT use the adhesive tat hiding patches. They are hard to remove with bits hanging on for days afterwards.
"If you would be upset..."
I'd hope that was covered by some of the other points. But I'll add it
I would hope so too, but that fact that this article even needs to be written leads me to believe that hope is unfounded.
Thanks for the excellent guidelines.
""Often customers are expected to help clear the dishes when they leave""
There are places in the world, outside of high eateries, were this isn't the case? Learned something new today!
""Hot Spring (Onsen) and Public Baths (Sento)""
* Pay note where and when to take your outdoor shoes off, usually directly in the entryway.
" Pay note where and when to take your outdoor shoes off, usually directly in the entryway."
good point. Adding. Applies to other places too come to think of it