Japan Etiquette

🇯🇵 Japan Travel Etiquette Checklist

🏠 General Manners

☐ Bow or nod when greeting
☐ Speak quietly in public
☐ Don’t tip at restaurants or taxis
☐ Respect personal space — minimal touching
☐ Avoid confrontation or raised voices

🍱 Dining Etiquette

☐ Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice
☐ Don’t pass food chopstick-to-chopstick
☐ Say “Itadakimasu” before eating
☐ Say “Gochisousama deshita” after eating
☐ Use the back of chopsticks for shared dishes
☐ Finish all the food on your plate
☐ Don’t pour soy sauce directly on rice

🚆 Public Transportation

☐ Be quiet on trains & buses
☐ Let passengers off before boarding
☐ Remove backpacks or hold them in front
☐ Avoid phone calls on public transport
☐ Use “priority seats” only if needed

🏯 At Shrines & Temples

☐ Rinse hands & mouth at temizuya before praying
☐ Follow shrine bow-clap-pray-bow ritual
☐ Don’t take photos if signs say no
☐ Stay on designated paths

🏨 Hotels, Ryokan, & Onsen

☐ Remove shoes before entering tatami rooms
☐ Don’t wear slippers on tatami
☐ Use bathroom slippers only in restrooms
☐ Wash body before entering shared baths
☐ Enter bath quietly — no splashing
☐ Check tattoo policy before using onsen

🛍️ Shopping & Money

☐ Use the small tray when paying
☐ Don’t hand cash directly to the cashier
☐ Carry cash — not all stores take cards
☐ Don’t open products before paying
☐ Say “Fukuro wa iranai desu” if you don’t need a bag

🌸 Street & Outdoor Etiquette

☐ Don’t eat or drink while walking
☐ Don’t litter — carry your trash
☐ Smoke only in designated areas
☐ Stand on the left side of escalators (right in Osaka)
☐ Close & shake off umbrella before entering buildings

🍶 Social Etiquette

☐ Pour drinks for others before yourself
☐ Don’t cross arms to say no — use gentle gestures
☐ One person pays the bill, others reimburse later
☐ Say “Arigatou gozaimasu” often

💬 Communication

☐ Avoid sarcasm or strong opinions
☐ Use polite phrases (e.g., Sumimasen, Onegaishimasu)
☐ Smile and bow slightly when thanking
☐ Avoid pointing directly at people or things

🚫 Cultural “Don’ts”

☐ Don’t blow your nose in public
☐ Don’t rest feet on seats or tables
☐ Don’t wear revealing clothes at temples/shrines
☐ Don’t talk loudly on phones indoors
☐ Don’t assume “maybe” means yes

🏠 General Social Etiquette

Bowing: A small bow or head nod is the standard greeting — handshakes are okay with foreigners but not always expected.
Silence and Respect: Avoid speaking loudly in public (trains, buses, restaurants). Japan values quietness and subtlety.
Personal Space: Keep a bit of distance when standing or sitting near others; physical contact is minimal.
No tipping: Tips can be seen as rude — excellent service is already expected and included.

🍱 Dining Etiquette

Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice – it resembles a funeral offering.
Don’t pass food from chopstick to chopstick – also resembles a funeral custom.
Use the back of chopsticks when taking food from shared dishes.
Say “Itadakimasu” before eating and “Gochisousama deshita” after finishing to show gratitude.
Finish your plate – leaving food is considered wasteful.

🏨 Hotels, Ryokan, and Onsen

At ryokan (traditional inns): remove shoes at the entrance; wear slippers indoors and change to separate “toilet slippers” when using the restroom.
At onsen (hot springs):

Wash and rinse your body before entering the communal bath.
Don’t bring towels into the water — place them on your head or on the side.
Tattoos may still be restricted in some places, so check in advance.
Speak quietly and avoid splashing.

🛕 Temples & Shrines

Bow slightly before walking under a torii gate.
Purify hands and mouth at the chōzuya (water basin).
When praying:

Bow twice,
Clap twice,
Pray silently,
Bow once again.

Photography: ask first — some areas forbid it.
Donations: toss a small coin (like ¥5 or ¥10) before praying — never large bills.

🚄 Public Transportation Etiquette

Priority seats (“優先席”): leave them open for the elderly, pregnant people, and the disabled.
Don’t block doors or stand in groups near train entrances; form an orderly line.
Let passengers exit first before boarding.
Backpacks: wear them in front or hold them down when trains are crowded.
No loud conversations or phone calls — texting or using silent mode is preferred.

🛍️ Shopping & Convenience Stores

Don’t open products before paying.
Don’t hand coins directly — always use the small tray at the counter.
Bags: Many stores now charge for plastic bags (“レジ袋”); say “Fukuro wa iranai desu” if you don’t need one.
Receipts: They’re automatically given — you don’t need to request them.

🌸 Outdoors and Street Etiquette

Walking lanes: Keep left when walking, especially on escalators — stand on the left (except in Osaka, where people stand on the right).
No littering: Carry your trash if no bin is nearby — public trash cans are rare.
Smoking: Smoke only in designated smoking areas — outdoor smoking bans are common.
Umbrellas: Close and shake off rainwater before entering buildings; don’t drip indoors.

🍶 Social and Dining Behavior

Pouring drinks: Pour drinks for others before refilling your own.
Don’t cross arms when paying or saying no — it can seem aggressive.
When paying the bill: Don’t split it at the counter — one person pays (“on behalf of the group”), others reimburse later.

💬 Interactions and Communication

Avoid sarcasm or jokes about culture/politics.
Don’t touch strangers or point directly.
If you don’t understand something: Smile and say “Sumimasen, wakarimasen” (I’m sorry, I don’t understand) — people will appreciate your politeness.
Gratitude goes a long way: Always thank service staff with a small bow and “Arigatou gozaimasu.”

🚫 Cultural “Don’ts” (often forgotten)

Don’t blow your nose in public — step aside to the restroom.
Don’t eat on local trains or while walking (unless at a food festival or long-distance train).
Don’t rest your feet on seats or furniture.
Don’t wear revealing clothes in temples or traditional places.

🚶♂️ Everyday Manners

Queue properly (for trains, elevators, etc.) — cutting in line is a serious faux pas.
Don’t point at people or objects — gesture with your whole hand.
Dispose of trash correctly — there are few public bins, so carry your garbage until you find one.
Respect temples and shrines: bow lightly at the torii gate, cleanse hands at the water basin before entering, and avoid disruptive behavior.

💬 Communication Style

Indirectness: Japanese people often say things softly or indirectly. A polite “maybe” (e.g., “ちょっと難しいかもしれません”) often means “no.”
Politeness: Adding “please” (〜ください) and “thank you” (ありがとうございます) goes a long way.
Avoid confrontation or public displays of anger — maintaining harmony (“和,” wa) is highly valued.