WAZA Travel Glossary

Bento - A single portion meal packed at home, or as a takeout meal.

Ekiben - A type of bento box meal sold on trains and at train stations. 

Futon - traditional Japanese mattresses that are laid directly on the tatami flooring.

Genkan - A section at the entrance of a home or an apartment where shoes are to be removed before accessing the rest of the house.

Kanpai - ‘Cheers!’, said when drinking.

Noren - Split fabric curtain often seen in the entrance of a business or restaurant.

Manga - Comics or graphic novels created in Japan

Monozukuri - refers to the art, craft and science of making things, but more broadly the spirit of craftsmanship in Japan.

Okonomiyaki - A savoury pancake that contains cabbage, and various other ingredients.

Onigiri - A rice sandwich that contains a filling in the centre, like fish.

Onsen - communal baths usually containing spring water.

Ryokan - A traditional Japanese inn, usually found in the countryside or rural villages.

Sake - Japanese rice wine

Shinkansen - High-speed trains

Shichirin - traditional cooking stoves used to grill food over coal.

Tatami - straw mats used as flooring in traditional Japanese rooms.

Tonkatsu - Crumbed pork cutlet

Tendon - Tempura rice bowl

Washitsu  - Traditional rooms that are open, minimal and includes traditional straw mats as flooring.

Yukata - A casual cotton Kimono usually worn in spring and summer.