Here we share some essential etiquettes, customs, and cultural and civic practices in Japan to prepare you for your adventure.
With a distinctive juxtaposition of ancient traditions and groundbreaking technology, Japan has always been an alluring destination for visitors. With stunning natural landscapes, a world-class food scene, trendy fashion, one-of-a-kind shopping, and electrifying pop culture, there is a reason for everyone to experience Japan at least once in their lifetime.
Ready to go? Just one more thing to keep in mind – Japanese etiquette and customs. That distinctly Japanese way of life that is part intimidating for first-time visitors, and part “I’m definitely not at home and this so exciting!” Japanese culture is so visible yet so unspoken. That feeling of trying to follow the rules or trying to understand what the rule even is (like the social norms of eating at a restaurant or riding on the subway), keeps you on your toes, adding something even more special to your experiences on each day of your trip.
But don’t worry, Japan is a welcoming and forgiving country to foreigners. So long as you are respectful, you are not expected to follow every rule of conduct. With that said, it will make your trip even more rewarding and memorable if you gain a general understanding of Japanese culture. Yes, there’s a lot to learn, but let’s start with the basics. Here are the 17 things you should know before visiting Japan.
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1. To bow or not to bow
Offering a bow is a Japanese way of greeting, acknowledgment, respect and more. As a foreigner, it can get a little uncomfortable when you’re greeted with a profusion of bowing. A simple rule of thumb is to follow the social status. A younger person would offer longer and deeper bows than the older person. Keep your hands by your side as you bow. However, you’re not expected to bow as a foreigner. If you’re not comfortable, a slight nod and a simple handshake are totally acceptable.
2. No phone calls or loud talking on a subway or public transport
When you are onboard the subway or any public transport in Japan, you will notice people rarely talk to one another. Sending texts or playing video games are acceptable, but phone calls or talking loudly is strictly not welcomed. There is ‘no noise’ policy display everywhere on carriages, as a reminder to respect the privacy and space of other passengers. That’s how the Japanese like it. Why not take this time to practice mindfulness and moments of silence?
3. No tipping. Hooray!
Yes, you hear that right. Tipping is not a favorable practice in Japan. The Japanese have been priding themselves as one of the best services in the world and it is how they demonstrate their hospitality. In many situations, it can be considered rude or even insulting to tip. If you insist to leave a tip behind, someone will likely run after you and politely return the money back.
4. Make your payments with change trays
Whether you’re at a restaurant or in a store or a post office, there will be a small change tray for payment purposes. Instead of handing the money directly to the cashier or the clerk, you want to place your cash or credit card in the tray provided. On a rare occasion, if no tray was provided, use both hands to hand your credit card or money to the person.
5. Irasshaimase!” (いらっしゃいませ！) What does the phrase mean? Do I need to respond to the greetings when I enter a store or a restaurant?
‘Irasshaimase!’, ‘Irasshaimase!’. The moment you step into a store or a restaurant in Japan, you will find yourself being bombarded by overly enthusiastic and at times dramatized greetings by the shop assistants at every turn. The phrase ‘Irasshaimase!’ (いらっしゃいませ！) means ‘welcome to the store!’. It is a standard greeting used at almost every store in Japan.
With so much attention given to you, you may feel like you need to say something back. There’s really no need to respond to the warm welcome. If you insist, you can show some acknowledgment by nodding or by saying ‘doomo’ どうも which means ‘thank you’.
6. Where are the trash cans?
Japan is probably the cleanest country in the world, yet, it may shock you to know that there are very few public trash cans in sight. Since littering is an offense, where do the bins go?
The primary reason for this practice is as a safety measure after the sarin gas attack by a doomsday cult in Tokyo Subway in 1995 that caused many injuries. With the trash cans gone, the Japanese started rolling out a large-scale recycling program to take care of the garbage disposals and street cleanliness to much success.
If you do not want to carry a banana peel for miles, we recommend keeping a paper or plastic trash bag with you when you are out and about. You can find thrash cans next to vending machines or at train platforms or at department stores. It is also very helpful to find out more about the various trash disposal rules at your residence if you are staying longer.
7. It is rude to eat or drink while walking on the street or on the subway
Why is it considered rude to eat and walk in Japan? Well, it has to do with the notion that you should always be considerate with all your actions when you’re in the public. If you are eating while walking on a busy street, you might accidentally spill your food onto someone or create a mess on the ground.
Now there are vending machines, street stalls, and eateries everywhere. You can eat and drink right on the spot. There will be a bin next to the vending machines for you to toss away the trash. If you’re buying food from a street stall, there is usually a dedicate area for you to consume the food right away. Since there are very little trash cans in public, it makes sense that one is not encouraged to eat while walking or on a train.
That said, you will still see people, especially the young Japanese, eating foods in public or in a busy touristy area.
8. What’s up with the surgical masks?
Walking through the streets of Japan, you may start wondering why are people wearing surgical masks everywhere. Is there a cold going on? Is it for hygiene reason?
To begin, mask-wearing can be traced back to the early years of the 20th century, when a rampant of influenza killed millions of people around the world. The practice was then carried on as global flu epidemics, air pollutions and other environmental occurrences took place. Mask-wearing started off as a prevention measure and became a prevalent habit adopted by the Japanese society.
Today, masks have even evolved into a multifaceted object. A lot of people wear masks to block out the high pollens. Some wear it to keep their faces warm in the colder months. Young Japanese wear masks as an expression of style, to disguise anonymity, to hide undesirable facial features, and to cope with social anxiety.
9. Nose blowing in public
In a public area in Japan – on the train, in a workplace, around the mall – you may never hear a ‘honk’, or even someone lightly blowing their nose. Instead, you will hear the soft sound of sniffling under the surgical mask. As in many parts of Asia, sniffling is considered polite, until you find a bathroom to blow your nose.
10. Sometimes you need to take off your shoes
Like many other Asian countries, when you visit someone’s home in Japan, always remove your shoes. It is considered rude to bring dirt into a person’s house. Some restaurants and temples may also require visitors to remove their shoes before entering. Wear guest slippers whenever they are provided. To avoid any moments of embarrassment, be sure to keep your feet hygienic or wear some clean socks during your travel.
11. The Japanese address system is not as straight-forward
Instead of building number on a specific street, the Japanese address system is completely different from the rest of the world. It uses geographic entities and areas. When it’s written in Japanese characters, a typical address starts out with a postal code, followed by a prefecture, a municipality, a city district, numbers of the block and building, and then an apartment number if included. As if it’s not confusing enough, the address is written in the opposite order when it is in the Roman alphabet. That means, you start from the numbers and goes back to the postal code.
12. The high tech toilets and the surprised squatty potty
Toilets in Japan are like a smart Instant Pot. Known as washlets locally, these high-tech toilets come with impressive features like water pressure adjustment, air-dryer, seat warmer, power deodorizer, noise maker, water sprays to wash your bottom etc. Not all of them come with English labels, but you can probably figure out the graphics instructions. Just don’t be afraid to experiment.
Sometimes you might come across traditional squat toilets, especially in the rural areas. If you have to use them, just remember to stand over the basin and squat down facing the hood of the toilet. Make sure both feet are down and don’t tiptoe. You don’t want to lose your balance.
Bear in mind that toilet etiquette is very important in Japan, so make sure you keep it clean and tidy after use.
Wish to experience more? There is a Toto’s Toilet Museum in Kyushu island where you can marvel at the Japanese toilet artistry.
13. English isn’t widely spoken (or written) in Japan
Even though millions of tourists visit Japan every year, it may surprise you that English is not widely spoken amongst the locals. Except in major tourist areas, English signages are also not as readily available. This may pose some challenges to communication or for getting around in Japan, but it’s one that the Japanese always handle with patience and good humor. Sometimes the person may understand you, but are a little shy to respond in English. Try not to interrupt when he/ she is thinking about an answer. Of course, it always useful if you could learn a few basic Japanese phrases before you go.
14. Always be on time
Punctuality should be a universal habit, but we understand not every culture regards the concept of time the same way. If you are coming from a laid-back culture where it’s a norm to be late, you may want to take note of this. In Japan, punctuality is taken very seriously. You do not want to be late for any meeting – be it formal or informal. This kind of discipline applies to all aspects of life and it is what makes Japan such an orderly society.
15. Crossing your legs
You may notice, for example in a formal setting or on a train, that Japanese do not sit with their legs crossed. Not even their ankles. It is considered disrespectful to the people around you. Instead, Japanese sit up straight with their feet planted on the ground, especially when sitting across from someone. Women will lock their knees together, while men will generally have their knees a few inches apart. Not an easy thing to remember as a tourist when it is so natural to cross your legs or ankles.
16. Gift giving
Gift giving is part and parcel of the Japanese culture. If you are visiting someone in Japan, it is customary to bring a small yet meaningful gift to the person. Be it something special from home or a simple food like cake or chocolate, your gesture will be greatly appreciated. Just be sure the gift is nicely wrapped. The presentation of the gift shows that you care and respect the recipient.
17. Escalator etiquette
With sprawling high scrappers, subways and shopping malls all over the cities, you will find yourself riding escalators very often in Japan. If you do not wish to get a stern look or get stared down when using the escalators, the simple rule is to leave one side of the escalator open so that those in a hurry can pass.
In Tokyo and other cities in the Kanto region, people stand on the left side, whereas in the Kansai region, people stay on the right side, and leave the left side for others to pass. As a visitor, the easiest way is to follow the person in front of you, unless you have got this memorized.
In the recent years, the railway companies and Japanese escalator etiquette have been promoting a ‘do not walk on escalators’ campaign due to the increasing injuries. Despite the effort, this initiative hasn’t been seriously practiced by the public. To be honest, you will be fine as long as you observe the basic etiquette and be careful of people around you.
There is plenty more about the Japanese way of life and no better way to learn about it but to experience it. If you’ve already traveled to Japan, what did you learn whilst visiting Japan? What are some things you wish you knew before you got there? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Reese lives in Minnesota with her husband and their baby boy. She previously ran an Asian spice shop, and also worked on UNESCO Heritage projects in Penang in the areas of performing arts, history, and arts education. Reese loves spending time with her family, listening to podcasts, and reading up on art & design. And of course dreaming of another trip to Japan to hike mountain trails and eat her favorite street food Okonomiyaki. More from Reese →
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