Japanese Etiquette Guide
Navigate the Land of the Rising Sun with grace. A little respect goes a long way in connecting with the local culture.
The Golden Rule: Meiwaku (迷惑)
Japanese society is built on the concept of avoiding meiwaku—causing trouble or inconvenience to others. If you keep this single principle in mind (being quiet, clean, and considerate), you will instinctively follow 90% of Japanese etiquette rules.
1. Everyday Interactions
✓ Do
- • Bow lightly when greeting, thanking, or apologizing. A small nod of the head is perfectly acceptable for tourists.
- • Take off your shoes at the entrance (genkan) of homes, ryokans, and some izakayas.
- • Hand over money/cards using the small tray provided at registers, rather than directly into hands.
✕ Don't
- • Initiate hugs or handshakes unless the other person offers first. Physical contact is rare.
- • Tip. Excellent service is the standard. Tipping can cause confusion or embarrassment.
- • Blow your nose loudly in public. Sniffing is tolerated; honking into a tissue is not.
2. On Trains & Buses
✓ Do
- • Queue neatly at the designated floor markings on the platform.
- • Set your phone to "Manner Mode" (silent) and avoid calls.
- • Offer priority seats to elderly, pregnant women, or those with disabilities.
✕ Don't
- • Talk loudly. Train carriages are often library-quiet.
- • Eat or drink on local subway trains (water is okay). It is acceptable on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) or Green Cars.
- • Block the doors. Step off onto the platform to let people out if the train is crowded.
3. Street Smarts
✓ Do
- • Carry your trash. Public bins are rare. Hold onto it until you find a bin at a convenience store or station.
- • Smoke only in designated smoking areas. Street smoking is often fined.
- • Wait for the green man at crosswalks, even if no cars are coming.
✕ Don't
- • Walk and eat. It's considered sloppy. Stop at the side of the road or sit on a bench.
- • Jaywalk. It sets a bad example and drivers don't expect it.
- • Block the path for photos in busy areas like Kyoto's Gion district.
4. Dining Decorum
✓ Do
- • Say "Itadakimasu" (I humbly receive) before eating and "Gochisosama deshita" (Thank you for the meal) after.
- • Slurp your noodles. It cools them down and shows the chef you enjoy the meal.
- • Use the wet towel (oshibori) to clean your hands before eating, not your face.
✕ Don't
- • Stick chopsticks vertically into rice. This mimics a funeral ritual.
- • Pass food from chopstick to chopstick. Also a funeral ritual. Place food on a plate first.
- • Pour your own drink when in a group. Pour for others, and they will pour for you.
5. Temples & Shrines
✓ Do
- • Purify yourself. Use the ladle at the water pavilion to rinse your hands and mouth before entering.
- • Bow lightly before passing through the Torii gate (Shrine) or Sanmon gate (Temple).
- • Be quiet. These are active places of worship.
✕ Don't
- • Walk in the center of the path at a Shrine. The center is reserved for the deity. Walk on the sides.
- • Take photos of the deity statues or where signs explicitly forbid it.
- • Clap at Temples. Clapping is for Shinto Shrines only. At Buddhist temples, simply bow and pray silently.
6. Onsen (Hot Springs)
✓ Do
- • Wash thoroughly before entering the water. The bath is for soaking, not cleaning.
- • Go nude. Swimsuits are not allowed in traditional onsens (unless mixed/specified).
- • Keep your towel out of the water. Place it on your head or the side of the bath.
✕ Don't
- • Enter with tattoos unless you've checked the policy. Many places still ban them, though this is changing. Cover small ones with a bandage.
- • Run or swim. It is a place for quiet relaxation.
- • Let long hair touch the water. Tie it up.
7. Ryokan & Home
✓ Do
- • Wear the slippers provided for walking in halls.
- • Wear the toilet slippers only in the toilet. Don't wear them back into the hall!
- • Be punctual for meals. Dinner is often served at a fixed time in Ryokans.
✕ Don't
- • Wear slippers on tatami mats. Socks or bare feet only.
- • Wear the yukata incorrectly. Left side over right side. (Right over left is for the deceased).
- • Drag wheeled suitcases on tatami mats. Carry them or leave them in the entrance area.
8. Magic Words
You don't need to be fluent, but these three phrases will smooth your path everywhere.
Sumimasen
(Sue-mee-mah-sen)
"Excuse me" or "Sorry." Use it to get attention, apologize for bumping someone, or thank someone for a small favor.
Arigatou Gozaimasu
(Ah-ree-gah-toe Go-zai-mass)
"Thank you very much." Essential for every interaction, from convenience stores to hotels.
Konnichiwa
(Kon-nee-chee-wah)
"Hello" (Daytime). A polite way to greet staff when entering a small shop or restaurant.
Resources
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