Feature photo by kalandrakas. Photo above by kalandrakas
If you know these key Japanese customs, you’ll get closer to the locals and see beneath the surface of Japan.
1. Addressing Someone, Respect
Bowing is nothing less than an art form in Japan, respect pounded into children’s heads from the moment they enter school. For tourists, a simple inclination of the head or an attempt at a bow at the waist will usually suffice.
The duration and inclination of the bow is proportionate to the elevation of the person you’re addressing.
The duration and inclination of the bow is proportionate to the elevation of the person you’re addressing. For example, a friend might get a lightning-fast 30-degree bow; an office superior might get a slow, extended, 70-degree bow. It’s all about position and circumstance.
In addition to bowing, addressing someone properly is key. Just as a “Dr. Smith” might feel a little insulted if you were to refer to him as “Smith”, so would a Japanese if you do not attach the suffix “san” to their last name, or “sama” if you are trying to be particularly respectful.
Usually children are content with just their first names, but you can add the suffix “chan” for girls and “kun” for boys if you like.
2. Table Manners
Some simple bullet points here:
- If you’re with a dinner party and receive drinks, wait before raising the glass to your lips. Everyone will be served, and someone will take the lead, make a speech, raise his drink, and yell “kampai!” (cheers).
- You will receive a small wet cloth at most Japanese restaurants. Use this to wash your hands before eating, then carefully fold it and set it aside on the table. Do not use it as a napkin, or to touch any part of your face.
- Slurping noodles or making loud noises while eating is OK! In fact, slurping hot food like ramen is polite, to show you are enjoying it.
- You may raise bowls to your mouth to make it easier to eat with chopsticks, especially bowls of rice.
- Just before digging in, whether it be a seven-course dinner or a sample at a supermarket, it’s polite to say “itadakimasu” (I will receive).
3. No Tipping
There is no tipping in any situation in Japan – cabs, restaurants, personal care. To tip someone is actually a little insulting; the services you’ve asked for are covered by the price given, so why pay more?
If you are in a large area like Tokyo and can’t speak any Japanese, a waiter or waitress might take the extra money you happen to leave rather than force themselves to deal with the awkward situation of explaining the concept of no tipping in broken English.
Just remind yourself: a price is a price.
Photo by tavallai
4. Chopsticks
Depending on the restaurant you decide upon for that evening, you may be required to use chopsticks.
If for some reason you aren’t too adept with chopsticks, try to learn before passing through immigration. It’s really not that hard.
One false assumption among many Japanese that’s slowly being dispelled by time is the “uniqueness” of Japan. Japan is an island nation; Japan is the only country that has four seasons; foreigners can’t understand Japan; only Japanese can use chopsticks properly.
I cannot count the number of times I’ve been told I use Japanese chopsticks with skill and grace, despite the fact I’ve seen three-year-olds managing just as well.
If you’re dining with a Japanese, don’t be surprised if you receive a look of amazement at your ability to eat like a Japanese.
5. Thresholds
Take off your shoes at the entrance to all homes, and most businesses and hotels. Usually a rack will be provided to store your shoes, and pair of guest slippers will be sitting nearby; many Japanese bring a pair of indoor slippers just in case, though.
Never wear slippers when you need to step onto a tatami mat (used in most Japanese homes and hotels; the standard unit of measurement for area even today), and be careful to remove the toilet slippers waiting for you in the bathroom.
It is extremely bad form, for example, to reenter the main room of a house wearing slippers that have been running across dirty linoleum.
6. Masks
Photo by toestubber
SARS is long gone, though I did happen to see a “SARS Preparation Kit” during my brief stay in a Japanese hospital.
Nevertheless, sterilized masks, like the ones you’d see in the emergency room, are commonly used by salarymen, office ladies, and municipal workers to protect other people from their germs.
Rather sensible when you think about it, as masks do not protect the wearer so much as the ones around him. The reason could be anything from a slight cold to simply being worried about exposing other people; don’t let it concern you on your Japanese vacation.
7. Conformity
When groups of high school students in Japan were asked to identify the dangers facing children today, the majority agreed on the number one threat: individualism.
Japanese society is focused on the group. Western cultures are focused on the individual.
Does this mean that the Japanese are nothing more that worker bees in a vast hive of steel and concrete? Certainly not, but their presentation of such individual qualities are carefully calculated and given in doses.
Drawing attention to yourself as an individual is a huge no-no: don’t blow your nose in public, try to avoid eating while on the go, and don’t speak on your cell phone in crowded public areas like trains or buses.
The main problem with this is that foreigners simply can’t avoid standing out; we stick out like sore thumbs no matter how long we’ve been here, or how much we know about Japanese culture and society.
As a result, being in Japan gives foreigners the status of D-level celebrities: you’ll get glances, shouts for attention, calls to have pictures taken with people, requests for autographs (happened once to me on a southern island), and overall just more awareness of being a “stake that sticks out”.
8. Bathing
Photo by meganscheminske
Public bathhouses are alive and well in Japan.
Sento, or neighborhood bathhouses, can be found from the largest area in Shinjuku to a small town on the island of Shikoku.
Onsen, or hot springs, are very popular as weekend excursion resorts.
Unlike in western cultures, the Japanese bath is used after you have washed and rinsed, and feel like soaking in extra-hot water for 10, 20, 30 minutes. It’s an acquired taste to be sure, but can be very relaxing.
If you happen to be invited into a Japanese household, you will be given the honor of using the bath first, usually before dinner. Be extra careful so as to not dirty the water in any way; the sanctity of the ofuro (bath) is of utmost importance.
Take the time to visit a sento if you have the opportunity. These are places without barriers, without regard to skin color, age, or language… well, they are separated by sex with the exception of some mixed-bathing areas.
Lying in the hot water and slowly listening to my heart beat slow down is a time when I feel most attuned to Japanese culture.
9. Speaking English
Japanese will generally assume you are a native English speaker until you prove otherwise.
Japanese will generally assume you are a native English speaker until you prove otherwise. Even during a short visit, you’ll see:
-A group of schoolchildren in neatly pressed Prussian uniforms walking across the intersection, shouting “Hello! Hello! Herro!” as they assess your foreign features
-A random person just walking up to you and asking “Where are you from?”
Friendly? Certainly. But I can see how constant celebrity status might get confusing or frustrating for travelers who don’t speak English.
Although you may speak some or fluent Japanese, the default language of choice is English. Many Japanese will insist on using their own English language ability, however limited, to converse with foreigners, in spite of the fact that the person on the opposing end may have more knowledge of the local tongue.
10. Safety
Every Japanese person I have met warns me to be safe in my travels, to take care of my belongings. Every foreigner tells me not to worry, nothing can go wrong, nothing will be stolen. This may be based on individual experience, but there are other issues:
- The fear of crime in Japan is high, especially among Japanese citizens.
- Murders happen. I repeat, murders happen. People are attacked, robbed, assaulted, raped, beaten, and swindled
However, Japan’s low crime rate is evident when you see businessmen who have missed the last train sleeping outside on a park bench, or a group of 5-year-old boys walking by themselves for over a kilometer to make the starting bell at school.
Going to Japan?
Check out our humorous list of 10 Extraordinarily Useful Japanese Phrases.
Community Connection!
There are a bunch of cool Matador folks living in various parts of Japan. If you want the lowdown on teaching English, ask Abram or Stephanie.
If you’re looking for a photography outing in Asia, ask pro photographers Ryan Libre or Scott Lothes.
Wanna ride a wave? Ask Angie where the best surf spots in Japan are.
Wanna go hiking? Check out Tim’s definitive list of the top 10 hikes in Hokkaido.
About the Author
More By This Author
- A Day in the Life of an Expat in Kagoshima, Japan (11 comments)
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278 Comments... join the discussion!
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I have been to Japan twice,and i really enjoyed it especially during springtime when cherry blossoms mark the coming of spring.These customs are helpful tips of “Do’s and Dont’s” before you travel to Japan.When in Japan,do as the Japanese do.
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Hi,
Really enjoyed this! Read it all the way through (something I don't usually do for stumbles).
Thanks alot!
jhrf
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Hi,
Really enjoyed this! Read it all the way through (something I don’t usually do for stumbles).
Thanks alot!
jhrf
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I especially like Japanese foods.
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I especially like Japanese foods.
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Japanese or ni-hon-go-jin do not use chopsticks they prefer Hashi.
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i think that everything that is said in the article is true. except the part about safety. dead wrong. Could not be farther from the truth. One of the safest countries in the world, Tokyo receives about one assault charge a day. Feel safe walk around at 4a.m. When i was there for a year i would have the wildest weekends and there was no problems. Still it is smart to travel safe, but don't be paranoid and ruin you trip by looking over your shoulder every second.
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i think that everything that is said in the article is true. except the part about safety. dead wrong. Could not be farther from the truth. One of the safest countries in the world, Tokyo receives about one assault charge a day. Feel safe walk around at 4a.m. When i was there for a year i would have the wildest weekends and there was no problems. Still it is smart to travel safe, but don’t be paranoid and ruin you trip by looking over your shoulder every second.
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The Japanese are the most socially repressed people in the world. This is a good thing, because it would take a civil war to make them normal again if they ever were able to come out of their shells. For example check what they did during WWII.
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The Japanese are the most socially repressed people in the world. This is a good thing, because it would take a civil war to make them normal again if they ever were able to come out of their shells. For example check what they did during WWII.
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Excellent comments for a first time visitor.
Japan is a great country but it does help if you know what you're doing when you visit.
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Excellent comments for a first time visitor.
Japan is a great country but it does help if you know what you’re doing when you visit.
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You forgot to mention that the public display of pubic hair is considered offensive. Just a warning.
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You forgot to mention that the public display of pubic hair is considered offensive. Just a warning.
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These were very good tips in my opinion. When I visit Japan, I will be mindful of these customs. I think that the bath house idea would have stumped me and taking a bath before dinner would have surprised me as well. I probably would not have known what to do had I not read your article! It was helpful to someone like me.
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These were very good tips in my opinion. When I visit Japan, I will be mindful of these customs. I think that the bath house idea would have stumped me and taking a bath before dinner would have surprised me as well. I probably would not have known what to do had I not read your article! It was helpful to someone like me.
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great guide, I was in Japan not long ago for a school exchange and this really helped!
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Great site! Having stayed in Japan as a foreign exchange student, this info would have been so helpful before I left. I found myself learning all of these things throughout my stay. Take these tips to heart if you plan on visiting! Japan is an amazing country with a beautifully rich culture as well! I miss it greatly and wish to return soon!
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actually most people in japan do not wear face masks because of germs. large numbers of cedar trees were planted to fuel industry after the war and every spring they release huge amounts of pollen to which a great deal of the population are allergic
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Placing your chopsticks vertical in your food represents a sign of mourning. It is used symbolically by Buddhists when serving rice to deceased ancestors. They also look like the incense burned during ceremonies.
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Turner, I wonder if you might give me some cultural advice. I have a small open source software package that has recently received a lot of attention in Japan. Using Google's translation service I was able to get the gist of the very nice writeup it received on one blog. I would like to show my appreciation by having some of the content on my site translated into Japanese or at least have a page in Japanese welcoming my Japanese visitors. Of course, I do not want to accidentally be offensive. Do you have any suggestions regarding what to say or not to say? Also, do you think it is even necessary given that as you and many others have stated many Japanese are very skilled in written English? Thanks.
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Great article! Now I know a little bit more about Japan!
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Great Article! Very interesting
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Scott, I'm sure it would be appreciate and possibly catch on faster if you gave a few mentions in Japanese. As far as the technical write-up, I'm not sure what you want to say, but you could add (irrasshaimase) in the title – it means welcome. Sorry I can't type the characters now – not on my notebook. Hope that helps.
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Turner, Thanks for your response. I think I will go through the site and decide which content items would be most helpful to Japanese visitors and concentrate on getting those translated first. I can definitely add "Welcome" now at any rate. Scott
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Nice Article. But using chopsticks skilfully is a task. Thanks for those tips.
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I have visited Japan several times – enjoyed very much – cuisine as well.
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Do the Japanese ever respect other cultures when the travel?
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Nice list – I visited Japan a couple of years ago and love being reminded of its custons, although I'm sure you can use the wet cloth (oshibori) on your face before a meal – to freshen up.
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Awesome article! I'd love to visit there some day. I learned so many new things from reading your blog! Thanks!
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I've traveled a lot and lived in Japan. It is by far the safest place I have ever been. I never felt unsafe even when walking alone at night to my apartment.
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Ive always wanted to go to Japan and Im glad Ive read this beforehand. Excellent guide. Cheers!
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This is a reply to the noise level on the train. People on the trains are quiet because they do not know one another. As an individual you are non-existant. A group of Japanese people who know each other on a train can be very loud and disrespectful. There is a saying in Japan. If there is a red light and an individual on the street corner, then yes, the light is red. If there is a red light and a GROUP of people on a street corner who decide to walk, then the light is not red. In other words, a group can break the rules, set the rules, whatever. I found group behavior in Japan to sometimes be shocking in that the group has a complete lack of concern for the individual(s) around them.
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Awesome article! I'd love to visit there some day.
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I was amazed to be sent your blog. Turner is an unusual name. My grandfather was Turner Wright!
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I had lived in Japan about 5 years, I totally agree with you that Japan is a very safe country. A high school or college girl student can go home after part-time jobs even at late night without safety worry.
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japanease culture very safely.. one day i wanna visit there.. thanks for article..
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I am 16 years old and would like to know a little more about their schools and education(cant find a good website like this anywhere else). If possible, could you add some more information to this site and rid me of my curiosity.
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A really good post with lots of excellent advice. It's good to see someone putting so much thought into their articles. Off to check out your blog : )
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ほとんど正解。 よく知っていますね。 嬉しいです。 しかし日本の中には"大阪city""名古屋city"も有るのです。 そこは東京と比較して、とても異質。 日本へ来る皆さん、ぜひnagoyaにも来訪して欲しい。とても楽しいよ! Almost correct answer. You very know a lot.You understand it and are very glad. However, there is "Osaka city"" Nagoya city" in Japan, too. There is very heterogeneous in comparison with Tokyo. I want nagoya to visit the forthcoming all of you by all means to Japan.It is space to be able to enjoy
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Hey Angelina, sorry, but I hadn't checked the comments on here in quite some time. Send me an email if you have any questions about Japanese schools.
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Good article for what it is, could use some depth, though.
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realy
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This is indeed a very enlightening as well as educational post about Japan and its unique culture and traditions. The comments are also interesting as well, mirroring both positive and negative aspects of the Japanese way of life. There are still a lot more about the Japanese customs that can possibly be added on the list and perhaps the author can consider a follow-up post for those that he might have missed. May I also personally suggest that the writer conduct a thorough research prior to posting the article to verify the information presented and provide more concrete examples and actual instances to support the "facts". He should be given credit though for writing about his personal encounters and experiences and sharing with us his own insights on the Japanese customs and readers must understand that any discrepancy or apparent "errors" must not be criticized but must be considered as a personal observation and views by the author. We all have a right to express ourselves and let us all respect that.
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Great Tips! Very Helpful!
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Your tips are a useful primer for anyone planning a trip to Japan. When I traveled around the country a few years back I was often stopped by people who wanted to practice English and even treated to coffee for this. The general level of politeness was overwhelming and perhaps the word I most often heard in cities was sumimasen (I am sorry). I was also amazed by an example of the general honesty in the culture. I left my waist pouch on a bus after a late night trip to Okayama and the bus company returned it to me the next day after I phoned them. My passport, camera, money and everything were there! I can't think of another place where this would happen.
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when was the last time you pointed at *anyone* with your feet?
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Not just frowned upon, but in some (many?) you are not allowed to enter if you have a tattoo.
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I lived in Japan for several years – mostly in suburban Saitama – and was not spoken to by the police in any way even once. I find it hard to believe that foreigners are "routinely hassled by the police" unless they go out of their way to appear offensive and "different".
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