I’ve been living in Japan for the last six months, and I love it so much. Japan is an incredible country with so much to offer, however, there are many traditions and norms that may differ from what you are accustomed to. Japan is a very formal society, and has many rules that are surprising to foreigners. While there is of course some leeway as a foreigner, knowing these rules before you arrive will enhance your experience and have the locals impressed with your knowledge. In this blog post I am going to dive into the most essential customs and etiquette rules you need to know before you arrive so you can travel Japan like a pro!

Respect is of the utmost importance in Japan.

Every country has rules, but in a lot of countries people don’t necessarily follow these rules. Japanese people have such a high level of respect for their culture that almost everyone follows the rules, even in the absence of a potential punishment. Collective responsibility is of the utmost importance in Japan, and everyone plays a role in ensuring harmony within the society. While there are of course some outliers, majority of people adhere to societal rules and show a great respect to the culture. As a foreigner, it is super important we are doing the same. Japan has SO many tourists and there have been so many problems that a lot of rules have had to be changed due to disrespectful tourists (you may have heard about the Gion District in Kyoto, the Lawson in front of Mount Fuji, and the list goes on). The last thing anyone wants to be is the tourist that ruins it for everyone else, right? So one of the most important things to remember is to respect the rules, whether you like them or not.

Japan is an incredibly punctual society, and being late is disrespectful.

Japan is one of the most punctual places I have ever been. Japanese people are always on time, and being late is considered disrespectful. This stems from the importance of collective responsibility, and the role everyone plays in keeping the society running smoothly. You will learn that Japan is a very efficient society, and punctuality plays a large part in this. If trains are delayed by only a few minutes, Japanese employees get a letter from the trains to explain to their employer why they are late. It is super important that you arrive on time for anything in Japan, as being late is impolite and disrespectful. You run the risk of things going wrong if you are late, like having your table given away at a restaurant or missing your train, so being on time will make your experience all the better. This has great benefits for travellers, such as being able to plan your travel efficiently and knowing that transport is reliable.

Trains are a time to unwind and relax, and they are eerily quiet.

Unlike the subway in New York City or the tube in London, trains in Japan are incredibly quiet and peaceful. The train is seen as a time for people to relax and unwind, and you will often see people napping on the train. Talking is fine, as long as it is at a low volume and not disrupting others. Some things you cannot do on the train are eating and talking on the phone. There is an exception to the eating rule though, if you are on a train with tray tables (similar to an airplane) it is totally fine to eat on these. You will normally find them on longer distance trains like the Romance Car, the Shinkansen, the Hida Wide View, and so on. The no talking on the phone rule always applies, and it is very strictly adhered to. Use the trains as a time to relax yourself, as Japan is a super busy and chaotic country and it’s nice to get a break throughout the day!

Bins are incredibly hard to find and no one litters.

After spending some time in Japan, you will be amazed at the excitement of finding a bin. I know it sounds silly, but anyone will agree. In 1995 there was an attempted terrorist attack where Surin gas was placed in trash bins. After this incident, they removed majority of the bins. The two most likely places you can find bins are in train stations and convenience stores, but even those aren’t guaranteed. It is a good idea to carry around a plastic bag to hold your rubbish in until you can find a bin, so you don’t have your hands full of trash all day. Also, no one litters. So do not be that person that gets annoyed at holding their trash and throws it on the ground. Not cool.

You can smoke inside and outside, but not just anywhere.

Japan decided to clean up the city before the Olympics were scheduled to come, and in doing so they decided to limit smoking to designated areas. You will find smoking rooms or areas in most places, and these are the only places you are allowed to smoke. You cannot just smoke on the side of the street unless there is an ashtray. There are often smoking rooms inside, as well as many establishments that allow smoking anywhere inside. If you see ashtrays on the tables, be aware you can smoke anywhere. Majority of clubs allow smoking inside as well, and you will come out incredibly stinky.

There is a way to offend people with chopsticks.

Of course there are the obvious rules with chopsticks, like not stabbing anyone or anything with them. When you’re not using them, you should either put them on the chopstick rest or use the wrapper they came in. These things are considered good manners. What most people don’t know though, is that there are two things that are huge no nos when using chopsticks. First, never leave your chopsticks stuck in your food so they are stood up straight. Second, never pass anything from one set of chopsticks to another. The reason for this is that during funeral rituals chopsticks are used to give last offerings to the dead. Doing either of these two things is only appropriate during these ceremonies, and doing them at any other time is offensive.

There are a lot of rules regarding food and eating.

Aside from the chopstick rules, there are a few other rules that are different from what most people are used to when it comes to food. For one, eating and walking is not allowed. Just to be clear, eating in public or on the street is completely fine. It is the physical act of moving and eating that is prohibited. There are a few reasons for this: the first is because it doesn’t show respect for the food. Japanese chefs take their cooking incredibly seriously, it is an art form for them. Sushi chefs must make rice for three years before they even get to touch a knife. If you are walking and eating, you are not showing the food the respect it deserves. The other reason is that walking and eating is actually bad for your digestion, so by following this rule you’re actually helping your own health. Another food related rule is that restaurants do not modify meals. For example, if you don’t like something in a dish you cannot modify it and ask to have some ingredient not included. This goes back to food being an art form, and requesting a modification is seen as you telling the chef you know better than they do. That being said, if you don’t like something in a meal it is totally fine to not eat it and leave it on the plate.

A bonus very strange eating rule is the encouragement of slurping when eating noodles. In most countries this would be considered incredibly rude, but in Japan this shows appreciation for the food and the chef. So slurp away!

When it comes to getting the bill, Japan has some unique rules.

One thing Japan rarely does is split bills. If you are sat at the same table with other people, you will be paying one bill and you’ll have to figure out the split yourself. This is why it’s important to always have cash on you, so you can easily sort these situations. Most places accept card, but they won’t do multiple card payments, so cash makes your life easier. There is also no tipping in Japan. It is seen as rude and that you think they don’t make enough money. They will literally chase you down the street with 1 yen of change (trust me) so just wait for your change and no need to leave a tip!

The X is common and you will undoubtedly experience it on multiple occasions.

Japanese people will often give you an X either with their arms or their fingers and there are a few different reasons this happens. If you go into a restaurant and are given an X for example, that probably means they don’t want to deal with foreigners and you will have to find a different place to eat. It isn’t personal, so try to not be offended. There is also no arguing it, so just move on. Another reason you might get an X will be in response to a question. While this sometimes means no, this can also mean they don’t understand. The English level in Japan is low, and sometimes they will just give an X if they don’t know what you’re saying, not necessarily that the answer to your question is no. Google translate will be your best friend to avoid this confusion, and I highly recommend you use it!

You are not expected to bow as a foreigner.

In Japanese culture, bowing is very common and you will often see Japanese people having “bow offs” where both people are trying to get the last bow in. As a foreigner however, you are not expected to bow. A slight nod of the head is sufficient, as bowing rules are extensive and you are not expected to know these.

Shoes inside are a no go.

When entering someones home, they will often have slippers for you to wear. Japanese people do not wear their outside shoes indoors and going barefoot is not good manners, unless in informal situations. The only time this does not apply is on tatami mats, always remove your slippers or footwear before entering a tatami room. There are often dedicated toilet slippers, and one should remove your indoor slippers and use the toilet slippers in the washroom.

Japan loves a queue, and they do it well.

Whether you’re waiting for a train, entering a restaurant or trying to get on the escalator, there is often a queue. There are often lines on the floor that show where the queue should be, and waiting inside these lines and keeping a neat queue is important in Japan.

I know that list might seem long and daunting, but I promise these rules quickly become second-nature once you’ve been in Japan for some time. These are the most important in my opinion, and this list isn’t comprehensive of every etiquette rule in Japan as there are so many. If you stick to this list, you should have the Japanese people impressed by your knowledge and respect for their culture. Have you been to Japan and noticed any other strange rules or customs? Let me know in the comments!