Visiting Japan - Etiquette
Japan is a very ordered society, where you are expected to play by the rules. Even so, the Japanese are usually understanding of visitors’ lack of knowledge but being loud, unruly or getting angry or upset will not be appreciated.
Things to remember :-
1. No jaywalking. You stand there until the little man turns green, even if there’s no traffic, not even a car in sight.
2. No litter. None. Anywhere. You take your rubbish with you. That said, rubbish bins can be very hard to find (try looking outside a ‘konbini’ store — 7-Eleven/Lawson/Family Mart). You can always spot the foreigners on the Shinkansen - they're the ones who leave their rubbish behind.
3. No eating on the street, at least when you're walking. If you buy a snack at a konbini, it's ok to stand outside and eat it (which is why you'll likely find a rubbish bin) but don't walk down the street eating it (and even in the Nishiki Market in Kyoto, if you buy a snack, stand and eat it, don’t walk eating it).
4. No graffiti (well, almost none).
5. How polite the Japanese are, at least in one-on-one situations. Say hello (at least Konnichiwa, if you can’t remember the other variations) and bow slightly (from the waist, not a nod of the head).
6. Don't blow your nose in public - it’s considered rude. Just keep sniffing if you have to.
7. In a restaurant, you will probably be given a hand towel (“oshibori”). Before you eat, use it to wipe your hands ... and nothing else. No matter how hot and sweaty you may be, don’t be tempted to use it to wipe your face etc. .... and under no circumstances use it to blow your nose.
8. No tipping. None. It would be considered insulting.
9. You play by the rules, so you stand in line on the subway platform; however, once the train arrives and everybody becomes ‘anonymous’, all bets are off and it’s everybody for themselves. If you hesitate, expect to be elbowed out of the way by all and sundry (including little old ladies) and, if you’re a woman or older, don’t expect anybody to give up their seat for you. It may happen but it’s very much the exception that proves the rule. I find this bizarre, given how polite the Japanese are but it’s just the way it is. By all means give up your subway seat to someone more deserving but don’t be surprised if they look confused or try to decline - say ‘Dohzo …. Dohzo!’ (meaning ‘please, go ahead..’).
10. To indicate something(or someone), don’t point at it but extend your hand, fingers extended, palm up.
11. Pronunciation. It’s fairly easy to mangle all the words, place names etc. etc. Just try and remember that, whereas in English the emphasis is invariably on the last syllable, in Japanese the pronunciation is usually flat, with no emphasis on any particular syllable. Thus, that food in crisp batter (tempura) is Temp-er-a, not Tem-pura, you’re going to (Teshima) Tesh-e-ma, not Ter-sheemer and that subway stop (Karasuma) is Ca-rass-u-ma, not Ca-ra-soom-a. You have to listen carefully to them say it, as they’ll be too polite to correct you. If you can read the Japanese name, you can more easily determine how many syllables there are and thus how to pronounce it. Note that Tokyo and Kyoto are two syllables (Toe-kyo and Kyo-toe) and not three (i.e., not Toe-key-yo and Key-yo-toe).
12. Marvel at how many vending machines there are. No matter where you go, there’ll be vending machines to sell you a bottle of water, an iced coffee, a hot coffee and an amazing myriad of other stuff. Walk down some back street in Kyoto and suddenly there’ll be a bank of 2, 3, 4 vending machines. Station platform? No problem. Outside a temple or shrine? No problem. Outside some random apartment building? No problem.
13. When entering a Japanese home (or an AirBnB apartment, for example) it is customary to remove your shoes in the entry way (“genkan”) and use the provided slippers (or just your socks etc.). There will be separate slippers in the toilet - don’t mix them. Many temples or shrines also require you to remove your shoes; where to do so (along with somewhere to store them) is usually clearly indicated. Some houses, temples and shrines may have tatami mat floors - under no circumstances should you step on a tatami mat with your shoes (or slippers) on.
14. Don’t talk on your phone on public transport. On a train, move to the vestibule (if there is one) at the end of the carriage.
15. Hotel check-in time is usually 3 pm. Although you can probably leave your bags if you’re early, do not expect to check-in before the appointed time.
No jaywalking. You stand there until the little man turns green, even if there’s no traffic, not even a car in sight.
2. No litter. None. Anywhere. You take your rubbish with you. That said, rubbish bins can be very hard to find (try looking outside a ‘konbini’ store — 7-Eleven/Lawson/Family Mart). You can always spot the foreigners on the Shinkansen - they're the ones who leave their rubbish behind.
3. No eating on the street, at least when you're walking. If you buy a snack at a konbini, it's ok to stand outside and eat it (which is why you'll likely find a rubbish bin) but don't walk down the street eating it (and even in the Nishiki Market in Kyoto, if you buy a snack, stand and eat it, don’t walk eating it).
4. No graffiti (well, almost none).
5. How polite the Japanese are, at least in one-on-one situations. Say hello (at least Konnichiwa, if you can’t remember the other variations) and bow slightly (from the waist, not a nod of the head).
6. Don't blow your nose in public - it’s considered rude. Just keep sniffing if you have to.
7. In a restaurant, you will probably be given a hand towel (“oshibori”). Before you eat, use it to wipe your hands ... and nothing else. No matter how hot and sweaty you may be, don’t be tempted to use it to wipe your face etc. .... and under no circumstances use it to blow your nose.
8. No tipping. None. It would be considered insulting.
9. You play by the rules, so you stand in line on the subway platform; however, once the train arrives and everybody becomes ‘anonymous’, all bets are off and it’s everybody for themselves. If you hesitate, expect to be elbowed out of the way by all and sundry (including little old ladies) and, if you’re a woman or older, don’t expect anybody to give up their seat for you. It may happen but it’s very much the exception that proves the rule. I find this bizarre, given how polite the Japanese are but it’s just the way it is. By all means give up your subway seat to someone more deserving but don’t be surprised if they look confused or try to decline - say ‘Dohzo …. Dohzo!’ (meaning ‘please, go ahead..’).
10. To indicate something(or someone), don’t point at it but extend your hand, fingers extended, palm up.
11. Pronunciation. It’s fairly easy to mangle all the words, place names etc. etc. Just try and remember that, whereas in English the emphasis is invariably on the last syllable, in Japanese the pronunciation is usually flat, with no emphasis on any particular syllable. Thus, that food in crisp batter (tempura) is Temp-er-a, not Tem-pura, you’re going to (Teshima) Tesh-e-ma, not Ter-sheemer and that subway stop (Karasuma) is Ca-rass-u-ma, not Ca-ra-soom-a. You have to listen carefully to them say it, as they’ll be too polite to correct you. If you can read the Japanese name, you can more easily determine how many syllables there are and thus how to pronounce it. Note that Tokyo and Kyoto are two syllables (Toe-kyo and Kyo-toe) and not three (i.e., not Toe-key-yo and Key-yo-toe).
12. Marvel at how many vending machines there are. No matter where you go, there’ll be vending machines to sell you a bottle of water, an iced coffee, a hot coffee and an amazing myriad of other stuff. Walk down some back street in Kyoto and suddenly there’ll be a bank of 2, 3, 4 vending machines. Station platform? No problem. Outside a temple or shrine? No problem. Outside some random apartment building? No problem.
13. When entering a Japanese home (or an AirBnB apartment, for example) it is customary to remove your shoes in the entry way (“genkan”) and use the provided slippers (or just your socks etc.). There will be separate slippers in the toilet - don’t mix them. Many temples or shrines also require you to remove your shoes; where to do so (along with somewhere to store them) is usually clearly indicated. Some houses, temples and shrines may have tatami mat floors - under no circumstances should you walk on a tatami mat with your shoes (or slippers) on.
14. Don’t talk on your phone on public transport. On a train, move to the vestibule (if there is one) at the end of the carriage.
15. Hotel check-in time is usually 3 pm. Although you can probably leave your bags if you’re early, do not expect to check-in before the appointed time.