The Land of the Rising Sun is renowned as a nation steeped in rich history and traditions with a variety of unique customs and fascinating etiquette rituals. With my fabulous itinerary chock-a-block full of bespoke adventure that included interviewing famous kimono designer Jotaro Saito (I am pictured above wearing one of his beautiful designs), I arrived in Kyoto; the heartland of traditional Japanese culture with a mixture of excited anticipation mixed with mild trepidation.

Besides the obvious “two-handed-bowing-head” maneuver used while exchanging business cards, there are strict rules that govern much of your existence here; how you bathe; where you can wear shoes; and even how best to navigate getting in and out of a taxi or use the restroom while wearing a kimono.

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