Know Before They Ask — The Ideal Tour Preparation

As a tour guide in Japan, your guests will often ask questions that go far beyond the basics. Curious travelers notice everything — the color of a shrine gate, a symbol etched into a ceramic bowl, the pattern on a kimono, or why a certain food is only eaten in one particular season. These seemingly small details are windows into centuries of Japanese history, religion, philosophy, and craft. It is not enough to know the major landmarks; the best guides are the ones who can answer the unexpected question with confidence and depth. Study the nuances — Shinto symbolism, Buddhist iconography, regional traditions, the meaning behind colors and materials — because that is exactly where your guests’ curiosity will take them.

10 Questions Tourists in Japan Might Ask:

1. Why are torii gates painted orange and black? Is there a symbolic meaning behind those colors?

2. I noticed a swastika-like symbol on this temple map — what does it mean and why is it there?

3. What’s the difference between a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple, and how can I tell them apart?

4. Why do some geisha have different collar colors or hairstyles — does that mean something specific?

5. What are those small paper strips tied to tree branches at shrines, and what do people write on them?

6. I saw people pouring water over a stone figure outside the temple — what ritual is that?

7. Why does Japanese food look so minimal and precise? Is there a philosophy behind the presentation?

8. I noticed some shrines have fox statues and others have deer or lions — why do different animals appear at different shrines?

9. What does the family crest (mon) on this ceramic/lacquerware represent, and how were these symbols chosen?

10. Why do some Buddhist monks have shaved heads while others don’t — does it depend on the sect?

The goal isn’t to memorize every answer right now — it’s to build the habit of asking why whenever you encounter something in Japan, and then going and finding out.