Many restaurants will provide you with a wet towel immediately after sitting. While this warm sensation may remind you of spas and ignite your desire to leave everything and go there, you should not use a towel on your face or neck. They are intended to clean your hands only. Once you're done, simply fold it and set it aside. Chase Kojima, chief executive of Sydney-based Sokyo, told Australia's SBS: "The wet towel is there to eat everything with your hands and wipe your fingertips with the towel in the process."

Do you tear the paper containers of the wooden food sticks, take them out of them, and rub them together to get rid of the wood fragments? And even without looking at them first? The problem with this behavior is that it is considered an insult because it tells the restaurant that you think the chopsticks are of poor quality. However, if you find shrapnel in the wood, ask for a new pair of chopsticks.

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Sometimes, you don't know what to do with silverware, and the same can be said about using chopsticks. You're probably so busy enjoying the food, that when it's time to take a break, you want to put the sticks in the rice bowl and rest a bit. But never do it! Putting chopsticks vertically in a rice bowl is very prohibited, because during funerals in Japan, a bowl of rice with two vertical sticks is placed in front of the coffin of the deceased. Instead, place chopsticks together right in front of you, parallel to the edge of the table.

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You probably didn't know that there was a recommended arrangement for eating sushi. Proper etiquette boils down to starting with white fish and lighter fish, followed by richer and oilier varieties, according to Jeffrey Elliott and Ruby Cook, authors of The Complete Guide to Sushi and Sashimi. Think of it this way: you won't start with red wine with your salad, and then switch to pink wine with dinner steak! Make sure you know the etiquette of eating steak before your next steak dinner.

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In the best restaurants, a sushi chef puts the right amount of wasabi and soy sauce on the fish to provide the perfect balance. But, if he hasn't, you'll have to make sure you follow dipping etiquette. When dipping nigiri or sushi in soy sauce, simply put any extra wasabi directly on the sushi. Speaking of soy sauce, you're probably dipping it wrong! Be sure to dip the nigiri in the soy sauce with the side of the fish down, otherwise the rice may fall into the sauce. In addition, they taste better this way. And by the way, these are the ingredients of wasabi that you get in Asian restaurants.

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Japanese cuisine attaches great importance to serving food, and considers it an art form. When you are served a beautifully arranged dish, it is important not to touch or rearrange the food as this is a lack of respect for the chef's creativity. Instead, appreciate the effort involved in serving the dish and enjoy it as it is. It's also worth noting that unless the dish is for eating with hands, such as sushi or tempura, it's customary to use chopsticks or other available utensils.

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In many Western cultures, it is common to share dishes with others at the table. But when eating in Japan, everyone is generally expected to order their own dish. This is because in Japan, meals are often served in individual rations to ensure that everyone gets their fair share. So, unless it is explicitly stated that sharing is allowed, it's best to order your own dish and enjoy it to the fullest.

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Maybe it's a good idea to leave a little food on your plate, so you don't look voracious, but in Japanese culture, that's a bad thing. This is especially true if you ask for the chef's choice, called Omakasi. Giving the chef the opportunity to prepare what he wants for you is an honor, so not finishing the items is rude and a very big waste. That's a good reason to ask for what you think you can eat only, because eating too much sushi isn't healthy. It is also suggested that, while you are enjoying your meal, you eat each piece of sushi as soon as it is served to you instead of letting the items pile up on your plate. The chefs choose the fresh ingredients, carefully prepare the meal correctly, and check the temperature of the rice.