Prince Hotel BlogsTokyo is one of the most important cities in the global business landscape, but taking a business trip to Japan can often be a little different to other popular locations. While Tokyo is one of the world’s most technologically advanced and developed urban spaces, it is also rich in the heritage and culture that shapes Japan as a whole. For visitors travelling to the country for business, it’s important to have some understanding of what to expect beforehand.
If you’re planning to stay at the Yokohama Hotel for a business trip, read on for some useful tips, to help you enjoy a smooth and enjoyable stay in the city of Tokyo.
Depending on where you are coming from in the world, a trip to the Yokohama Hotel or anywhere else in Japan will probably mean dealing with the inevitable experience of jetlag. If you’re in the city with a busy schedule of meetings and formal events, you’ll want to be well rested and refreshed, so it’s a good idea to plan your trip to allow some time to recover after your flight and journey.
If you are planning to head straight to a meeting soon after your arrival, then ensure you’ve had a good rest on the flight. Useful sleep aids, such as eye masks or noise cancelled headphones, can make having a rest during the journey much easier, and help you arrive feeling awake and alert.
Tokyo has two major airports, Haneda and Narita Airport. Both are served by international flights, and while there are good transport connections via public transport and taxi into the city from them, Narita is a little further out, so it will take longer to get in.
If you’re tight on time and need to get in promptly, check your airport details and plan your journey to the Yokohama Hotel or other locations in Tokyo, ahead of time.
Japan in general is still a cash-based economy, and this can often surprise visitors coming into Tokyo. In most restaurants, bars and local shops, you can expect to pay with cash, so make sure that you have brought plenty of Japanese currency with you.
While you can withdraw at local ATMs, this can get costly, depending on your bank, but another workaround is to bring foreign currency and changing this in an exchange bureau, as required.
You should also note that tipping is not a common thing in Japan, and may in fact be considered poor form, so avoid tipping, unless otherwise advised, when you eat or drink out.
While most business meetings in Japan may be conducted in English, it is still polite and respectful to learn some essential Japanese greetings to show gratitude towards your hosts. Having a few key phrases to hand to meet and welcome someone will make a great positive impact.
It’s also helpful to learn basic practical phrases to help you get around or navigate the city easily, as well as noting the names of any important landmarks or locations that you need to know.
Punctuality is very important in Japan, and most business and social events will start promptly, on time. It’s good form to arrive at least ten minutes in advance, so if you’re staying at the Yokohama Hotel, plan your journey to your meeting ahead of time, to allow plenty of time to get there.
As well as a punctual start, you can also expect meetings to end on time as planned. If you are in charge of organising a meeting while in Tokyo, make sure you pay attention to this, as people will expect a timely schedule.
One of the most disconcerting and confusing things for business travellers visiting Tokyo is making sense of the formal greeting process of bowing. While handshaking and hugs are common forms of greeting in business settings in other parts of the world, in Japan, you can customarily expect a strict and formal bow.
While there are a number of rules about bowing, some simple ones to keep in mind are as follows: do not place hands together at your chest as you bow, unless you are making a serious apology. Men should keep their arms at the sides of their bodies, while women should keep arms straight, with hands clasped at the front.
Japanese culture is built upon respect and politeness, and it’s important to be aware of this as you navigate the country. As well as bowing as a sign of respect, there are numerous other ways that respect is communicated between people.
You may often not receive a direct answer, especially if it is a negative one, as saying “no” outright or making firm eye contact is considered disrespectful. You may need to pay attention to the overall context, to determine if a vague response is simply a polite way of turning something down.
The person with the highest authority will often make decisions, so informal agreements are not typically commonplace. Be aware of the hierarchy of people you are dealing with, and ensure that you approach the relevant person when it comes to making a decision. You’ll also want to take plenty of business cards with you, as the exchange of cards is an important way of establishing authority in business contexts.
Business meals or drinks are a popular and common activity the world over, and it is no different in Tokyo. If you’re in the Yokohama Hotel, you’ll find some great places to enjoy a dinner out. It’s important to remember that sharing from the same dish with a group is considered a positive and welcome act. Conversely, pouring your own drink is seen as extremely rude – instead, you are better off waiting and allowing someone else to pour your drink for you.
The cherry blossom is a quintessential symbol of Japanese culture and the country’s natural beauty, and the custom of celebrating the spring season with cherry blossom viewing parties has been taking place since the 8th century. While cherry blossoms can be seen all over the world, in Japan these delicate soft flowers, and the short […]