When traveling in Japan, it doesn’t take long to notice how much courtesy is woven into daily life. Japan is known for its cleanliness, order, and politeness—but those qualities come from everyday manners deeply rooted in culture. For many Asian travelers, these customs might feel familiar. But for Western visitors, some habits—like removing shoes indoors or staying silent on public transport—can take a little getting used to. In this post, I’ll walk through the unspoken rules and small gestures that make a big difference in Japan, so you can blend in more easily and show respect in every interaction.
Everyday Courtesy
- Greetings & Bowing: A slight bow replaces handshakes. The degree of the bow shows the level of respect.
- Politeness in speech: “Sumimasen” (excuse me) and “arigatou gozaimasu” (thank you) go a long way. I literally learn simple greetings like “Hello”, “Good-bye”, “Thank you”, “Excuse me”, “Sorry” in the local language everywhere I go! It shows your effort in trying to learn the language, and a great ice-breaker!
- Shoes Off: Remove your shoes when entering homes, traditional inns (ryokan), temples, and even some fitting rooms. Cleanliness is a form of respect, so always step out of your shoes neatly and into the provided slippers if there are any. Make sure your socks are clean and hole-free—not just for appearance, but for hygiene too, since they’ll be on display once the shoes come off.
- Don’t go barefoot. Going barefoot indoors is generally seen as impolite and unhygienic. If you’re wearing sandals or slip-ons during warmer months, bring along a fresh pair of socks.
- Receiving and accepting things with both hands. The way you give is as important as what you give.
- Queueing: Always line up neatly—whether it’s for the train, bus, or even an escalator.
- Personal space: Avoid physical contact and keep voices soft in public.
- Follow rules: In Japan, rules are followed because they make life smoother for everyone. Follow signs, arrows, and quiet hours—even when no one’s watching. Don’t assume flexibility; punctuality and order are valued.
Dining Etiquette
- Chopstick don’ts:
- Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice (it resembles a funeral offering).
- Don’t pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another.
- Don’t spear food with your chopsticks.
- Don’t point with your chopsticks.
- Don’t wave your chopsticks around in the air or play with them.
- Don’t use the same end of your chopsticks in a shared plate: If you have already eaten with your chopsticks, use the opposite end to take food from a shared plate.
- Say “Itadakimasu” (literally translated to “I humbly receive” to express gratitude) before eating and “Gochisousama deshita” (“thank you for the meal”) after.
- Slurping noodles? Perfectly okay—it is considered polite in Japan as a way to show appreciation for the meal, especially with dishes like ramen, soba, or udon. This is the opposite of the Western dining etiquette when slurping is considered rude and unappetizing. However, audible munching, chewing loudly, burping, or other eating noises are still considered rude.
- It is considered good style to empty your dishes to the last grain of rice; it shows that the food is good.
- As expected, blowing your nose at the table is deemed a bad manner in Japan.
Escalator Etiquette
- In the Tokyo area (Kanto), people stand on the left to let others walk on the right.
- In the Osaka area (Kansai), it is the opposite, with people standing on the right.
This is an unspoken rule for efficiency. Local variations exist, so it’s OK if you don’t know. Best practice is to follow the lead of the people around you. Basically, you don’t want to be blocking people’s way.
In Public Spaces
- On trains:
- Talking: Keep phones on silent; and you should avoid making loud noises or taking phone calls. Maintain a quiet atmosphere by keeping conversations to a minimum and turning your phone to silent mode, and leave priority seats to those who need them. It is acceptable to talk in decks between cars.
- Eating: Eating is generally not permitted on local trains (but it’s acceptable at your seat on a shinkansen or other long distance trains)
- In restaurants/stores:
- Be on time! Japanese people are very punctual. If you are late to a reservation, there’s a high chance you will be denied admission.
- No tipping; it’s actually offensive to tip!
- Payment: when paying, don’t hand the money/card directly to the cashier. You will be provided with a tray where you can put your form of payment; the cashier will also give you change in the tray as well. As previously noted, use 2 hands when giving or receiving the tray.
- Trash: Bins are rare—carry your garbage until you find one. Obviously, don’t randomly drop your trash on the street, regardless how small.
- Eating on the street:
- Avoid eating while walking; it’s considered impolite.
- You can eat in front or on the side next to the convenient store, if you must.
- Smoking: No smoking while walking or on the street. There are designated area for smoking. Hotels have smoking and non-smoking rooms. Some restaurants also have a smoking section.
- PDA: While the sight of couples holdings hands has become increasingly common over recent decades, kissing in public remains highly inappropriate.
Temples & Shrines
- Purify your hands and mouth before entering (at the chozuya).
- Don’t take photos in sacred areas unless signs say it’s allowed.
- Bow lightly before and after praying.
- Dress appropriately: avoid too much skin exposure. Even in warmer weather, avoid wearing shorts and tank tops. Tip: bring a scarf so you can wrap yourself before entering temples and shrines.
Posture
This was the most surprising one for me—apparently, crossing your legs while sitting is considered disrespectful! Why?
- Disrespectful posture: Crossing your legs can be seen as self-important (like I’m the boss) or disrespectful (have an attitude) in formal situations. It is especially offensive if a younger person sits cross-legged in the presence of an elderly person.
In fact, it doesn’t even have to be in a formal setting. I once saw a video of an elderly man who became very upset when seeing a young woman sitting cross-legged next to him! - Showing the soles of your feet: The bottom of your feet can carry dirt and is considered impure, so showing the soles to others is a major taboo.
Instead, you should sit with your feet flat on the floor or with your knees together. In casual situations, it may be acceptable, and there are different etiquette rules for men and women in certain contexts.
Public and casual settings
- On public transport: Avoid crossing your legs, especially on crowded trains, to be mindful of those around you.
- Casual social settings: While crossing legs is generally impolite, the rules can be more relaxed. However, it is safer to keep your legs together or sit with both legs to one side.
I feel that, in addition to researching for places to visit and activities to do, it is more important to learn about the culture of a country before visiting. Without the basic knowledge of their culture and beliefs, Japanese may appear unfriendly and cold, while in fact, for example, they maintain the quiet atmosphere or keeping personal space as a way of showing respect.
Traveling in Japan isn’t just about seeing beautiful places—it’s about understanding the culture and respect that shape their daily life. Once you start noticing it, you realize it’s the small, quiet gestures that make Japan feel so special.
The Japan Tourism Agency shared a few short videos to educate tourists on expected etiquette in Japan. You can view below:
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