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GENERAL ENGLISH · ENGLISH IN VIDEO · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

VISITING
JAPAN
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1 Warm up

Look at the questions about Japan, select the correct answer and then discuss the questions below
with your partner.

1. What is the capital city of Japan?

a. Kyoto

b. Tokyo

c. Osaka

2. Sushi is a popular type of food in Japan but what does ‘’sushi” translate as?

a. raw fish

b. sour rice

c. fresh fish

3. What is the best time of year to see cherry blossoms in Japan?

a. spring

b. summer

c. autumn

What comes to your mind when you think about Japan?

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2 Visual Guide

Look at the images below and answer these questions:

cherry trees in blossom Yubatake hot spring / bath Kinkaku-ji temple

Japanese traditional painting traditional art of origami traditional outfit: kimono

ryokan hotel soba noodles and tempura bullet train

1. Japan is famous for hot springs, would you like to visit one of the well-known ones?
2. What do you think of the bullet train? Does your country have a good train system?
3. Have you ever seen examples of Japanese culture in your own country?

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Now work in pairs and put the words from above into the correct sentences.

1. Soba noodles are the perfect introduction to authentic Japanese food.

and tampura

2. I find it really hard to make a paper aeroplane so I don’t think I’d be good at origami .

3. Some people say that travelling on the is the best and fastest way to see Japan.

4. If you are a nature lover, then spring is such a nice time to travel to Japan as the cherry trees
are in blossom.

5. The kimono is a beautiful example of traditional Japanese fashion.

6. I really like sleeping on the floor, so a is perfect for me.

7. Kyoto is great for traditional architecture and Kinkaku-ji is one of the best examples.
Japanese
8. In a traditional , you often see the subject with a gentle smile on their face and sometimes
painting
focusing on a task.

9. When I have had a long day at work the thought of relaxing in the hot water of somewhere like
the makes me happy.

3 Vocabulary

Part 1: You are going to watch a video about visiting Japan. First, match the words to the definitions.

1. downright (adv.) a. things provided in large quantities

2. distinctly (adv.) b. completely different

3. thrive (v) c. too hard to be understood

4. bounties (n) d. become stronger and more confident

5. unfathomable (adj.) e. made someone like something a lot

6. entranced (v) f. be done clearly and obviously

7. a world apart (idiom) g. an emphasis to something negative

8. blossom (v) h. grow and become more successful

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Part 2: Watch the first part of the video (00:00-00:40) and try and fill in the gaps using the words
from Part 1. The forms may differ.

1 2
Japan is , a cultural Galapagos where a unique civilization and today
3
it in delicious contrasts of traditional and modern.
Standing at the far eastern end of the Silk Road* and drawing influences from the entire continent,
4
Japan has spent millennia taking in and refining the cultural of Asia, to produce
5
something Japanese.
6 7
Travellers have found themselves by a culture that is beautiful, and
8
odd.

Glossary:
*Silk road - an ancient trade route that linked the East and the West

What do you think the metaphor: cultural Galapagos relates to?

4 Listening for details 1

Watch Part two of the video (00:35-01:30) and answer these questions.

1. What can you find lots of in Kyoto?

2. What can you do in an onsen?

3. What are soba and kaiseki?

4. What blossoms in Japan during the spring?

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The statements below are all taken from the video. Match the words in bold to the definitions
underneath.

1. " ...spoiled for choice in Kyoto"

2. "There’s nothing like lowering yourself into the tub..."

3. "Japan is a food lover’s paradise"

4. " ...running the gamut from simple soba to multi-course kaiseki"

5. "Once you try the real thing in Japan..."

6. " ...the restaurants back home will pale in comparison"

7. "If you think of the Japanese as a sober and serious people..."

a. straightforward

b. a container used for bathing

c. a perfect place

d. seem less important, not as good

e. experience a complete range

f. have many things to select from

g. an authentic example

5 Listening for details 2

Watch the final part of the video (01:30-02:35) and answer the questions below.

1. What can you learn from staying in a ryokan?

a. how to live life like a monk

b. how to make traditional noodles

c. how the Japanese used to live

2. When is high season in Japan?

a. June and July

b. April, May and August

c. September and October

3. What public transport does Japan offer?

a. trains, buses, ferries and planes

b. trains, buses, ferries and bikes

c. trains, buses, ferries and tuk-tuks

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6 Synonyms

Look at the part of the script from below and try to find similar words.

1. plentiful:

2. high quality:

3. tired:

4. give a sample:

5. captivate:

6. magnificence:

7. modest:

We highly recommend a night in a good ryokan. From first class to the more humble - every
traditional ryokan will give you a taste of how the Japanese used to live.

High season runs through April, May and August. Winter is cool but fine for travel January through
March. Travel costs in Japan can range from less than 8,000 yen a day if you enjoy a basic
guesthouse with dorm room and take the bus, to over 20,000 yen a day for a top end hotel room
with taxis.

Japan has a brilliant public transport system: trains, buses ferries and planes are all abundant and
efficient.

Its spirit is strong, warm and welcoming. From the splendour of a Kyoto Geisha dance to the spare
beauty of a Zen rock garden. Japan has the power to enthral even the most jaded traveller.

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7 Pre-reading vocabulary

Part A: Match the following vocabulary to the definitions.

1. pickiest (adj.) a. somebody who is the most difficult to please

2. mouth-watering (adj.) b. a mixture of different styles

3. subsequently (adv.) c. later, after something has happened

4. renowned (adj.) d. something that has been very finely chopped

5. fusion (n) e. well respected

6. ground (adj.) f. something that is extremely exciting and attractive

7. steaming (adj.) g. very hot

8. tantalising (adj.) h. food that looks or smells so good you can’t wait to eat it

Part B: Now fill in the gaps using a word from Part A, the form of the word might be slightly different
than the word form used above.

1. I like to cook different cuisines together - my favourite is Italian and Mexican.

2. The only way to keep Sarah happy is to take her to a buffet and give her 100 things to choose
from, she is the eater in the world.

3. The episode ended on a cliffhanger - I cannot wait to see the next one!

4. On a freezing, cold January day, I love to stay inside and have a cup of strong
coffee.

5. The University of Oxford is one of the most universities in the world.

6. The film was a huge success and it was translated into 20 different languages.

7. I much prefer the taste of coffee, instant coffee just isn’t the same.

8. The bakery down the road bakes fresh baguettes every morning and they always smell so
!

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8 Skimming for general understanding

You are going to read about food from different parts of Japan. Match the following titles to the
paragraphs in the article. Two of the titles are not needed.

• Future Travel
• Tokyo Twists
• The Freshest Fish
• A Taste of the USA
• Noteworthy Noodles
• Cooked to Perfection
• Lots of Choice

The food of Japan

Is it more than just sushi?

A. Japan is a country of great variety, and these variations are often represented in the distinct
regional foods that the nation has to offer. From the freshest sushi to the warmest ramen, there is sure to be
something that even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy. To help you discover a little bit more about the culinary
world of Japan why not read on below and find out about some mouth-watering dishes from three of the most
travelled to places in the country.

B. As the biggest and most powerful city in the country, the tastes of Tokyo can be felt all around
this island. So much of the food from this mega-city, can be identified by the word ‘’Edo” (the former name of
the capital) with one of the most popular "Edo" twists being on the popular dish, tempura. Traditionally, tempura
was made by deep frying various vegetables, however "Edo" chefs from Tokyo were the first to deep fry locally
sourced seafood and subsequently gave tempura the ‘’fresh” taste that is now so popular.

C. The tradition and heritage of Kyoto is wonderfully reflected in its food, with one of the most
renowned meals being Kaiseki Ryori. Presented as a gorgeous multi-course meal, the order the dishes come to the
table is defined by the way in which each food is painfully but perfectly cooked by highly skilled chefs. The menu
changes throughout the year and is often handpicked to help show off a particular seasonal delight. Unsurprisingly,
a meal like this doesn’t come for free, with meals ranging anywhere from $60 per person to a sky high $300.

D. The island of Okinawa offers something quite different in terms of food, compared to the rest
of Japan. Lying around 400 miles from the mainland the cuisine of Okinawa has drawn inspiration not only from
Japan but also China, South East Asia and America. One of those American inspired dishes is taco rice, a wildly
popular but easy to prepare meal. Fusion in concept, taco rice came to light sometime after the conclusion of the
Second World War and is made up of your common everyday taco ingredients like ground beef, lettuce and salsa.
Those ingredients are then served on top of some steaming hot Japanese white rice for a match made in heaven.

E. Hopefully, this has given you a tantalising snapshot of Japanese cuisine and made you think that
a trip to East Asia may be just around the corner. If a trip to Japan seems just like a pipe dream then why don’t
you try and prepare one of the dishes at home from scratch, you won’t be disappointed.

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9 Reading comprehension

Read the sentences and decide if they are true, false or not given. Give reasons for your answers.

1. Edo chefs from Tokyo originally used seafood from all over Japan.

2. Kaiseki Ryori is different depending on what time of year you eat it.

3. The food from Kyoto is known to be the most expensive in Japan.

4. Okinawan food is influenced by a number of different places.

5. Taco rice was a common dish during World War II.

6. Japanese food is becoming increasingly popular all around the world.

10 Talking point

Look at the questions and discuss them with your partner.

1. Have you ever travelled to Japan? If not, would you like to go there someday?
2. What was the most interesting thing that you read in the article about Japanese cuisine?
3. Which food in the article would you most like to try? Why are you attracted to that one?
4. Have you ever tried "fusion" food? Which two types of food do you think would go really well
together?
5. If someone was to travel to your country, what type of food do you think they should try?

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11 Extension / homework

Look at the three texts about Japanese culture below and try to complete each one with the vocabulary
in the box. Then divide texts A, B & C with two of your classmates and once you have read your
texts you must then summarise your paragraph for your partners. While summarising it, try and use
different vocabulary as this will develop your ability to paraphrase.

ceremonies / melodies / traditional / history / century / primarily

A. Traditional Japanese Music

1
As a country that possesses such a long and intriguing it seems natural that
it should also have the music to provide the soundtrack. ‘’Hogaku" is one of the most well-
2
known types of music in Japan.
3
Starting in the 17th and remaining popular until mid-way through the
19th century ‘’hogaku" literally translates as "country music".
4
used to provide ambience at both imperial court and religious
5
, it was also regularly played during festive times of the year.

Sharing similarities with music from both Korea and China, the style is different from
6
European music in that it is primarily built around individual as opposed
to rhythmic chords.

men / female / crafted / locals / weddings / modest

B. The Kimono

Despite not being worn as much today as it was in the past, the kimono remains a striking
1
item of fashion that impresses both tourists and alike. From birthday parties
2
to , and from graduations to funerals the chances are you will see a few
beautifully radiating kimonos dotted around the guests.
3
Despite the version of the kimono being more visible, there is a style of
4
kimono made especially for . A man’s kimono tends to be less vivid in colour
5
and made with a more fabric than the luscious silk in which a woman’s kimono
6
is skillfully .

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challenge / tourist / remember / capital / impressively / opportunity

C. Mount Fuji

1
Mt. Fuji is one of the most iconic sites in all of Japan and can be seen towering
2
over Tokyo. Lying just over 100km from the , it remains an active volcano
despite the last eruption occurring over 300 years ago.
3
Mt. Fuji continues to be the most popular site in Japan with more than
200,000 people visiting it every year, and if the idea of hiking up Mt. Fuji fills you with wonder
4
it is important to that it is only open to hikers for a few months each year.

5
From July to September hikers can take up the of ascending this impressive
natural wonder. It can often take at least two days to climb to the summit with hikers taking
6
the to rest up and sleep in huts halfway up the mountain before completing
their hike the next day.

Look at the questions below and talk to your partner.

1. Do you like traditional music? What is traditional music from your country like?
2. If you got the chance, would you like to wear a kimono? Why/Why not?
3. Do you like hiking? How do you think it would feel to stand at the top of Mt. Fuji?

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