Japan guide

What Are Japanese Etiquette Rules Every Visitor Should Know?

That Time I Bowed to a Vending Machine

Japan is a wonderland of beauty, order, and shocking silence on public transport. It's also a place where one false move — like sticking chopsticks in rice — can make the sweet old lady at the next table audibly gasp.

I came to Japan thinking I was polite. I said “please,” held doors open, and even once waited my turn at IKEA. But Japan? Japan has levels.

Allow me to guide you through the unspoken code of Japanese etiquette — via the mistakes I made so you don’t have to.

1. The Bowing Olympics

People bow. You bow back. They bow again. Soon, you’re in a polite loop with no exit.
🤝 Rule: Bow as a greeting, a thank you, and sometimes when your soul feels it’s right.
💡 My Fail: I once bowed to a robot greeter in a store. It bowed back. We’re married now.

2. Chopsticks Are Not Lightsabers

Waving them, pointing them, stabbing things — all forbidden.
🥢 Rule: Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice — it’s for funerals. Don’t pass food chopstick-to-chopstick either — also funeral. Basically, avoid funeral behavior.
💡 My Fail: I once used chopsticks to scratch my back. The waiter looked like he aged 10 years.

3. Slurp Like You Mean It

In Japan, slurping is music. It's respect. It’s... oddly satisfying.
🍜 Rule: Slurp noodles (especially ramen and soba). But only noodles.
💡 My Fail: I tried slurping rice. No one joined me.

4. Shoes Off, Socks On (No Holes!)

Japan takes its floors seriously.
👟 Rule: Remove shoes when entering homes, some restaurants, temples, and fitting rooms. Indoor slippers are often provided — don’t wear them into the toilet! Toilet slippers exist for a reason.
💡 My Fail: I wore the toilet slippers into the dining room. Grandma gasped. The dog left the room.

5. Silence Is Golden (Especially on Trains)

Loud talking, phone calls, or blasting music = social felony.
🚆 Rule: On trains, speak softly or not at all. Phones stay on silent (“manner mode”).
💡 My Fail: I laughed out loud watching cat videos on the Shinkansen. Three people disowned me.

6. Don’t Tip. Seriously. Don’t.

Tipping in Japan is like handing someone a used tissue with money inside — it’s confusing and a bit gross.
💴 Rule: Exceptional service is expected, not rewarded with tips.
💡 My Fail: I left a tip on the table. The waiter chased me outside and gave it back like I had dropped a baby.

7. Public Baths = Naked Diplomacy

If you visit an onsen (hot spring), prepare to strip, scrub, and soak — all while pretending this is totally normal.
🛁 Rule: Wash thoroughly before entering the bath. No swimsuits allowed. Tattoos may be an issue (ask first).
💡 My Fail: I entered the bath before washing. The shame followed me for weeks.

8. Don’t Eat While Walking

You’ll see vending machines on every corner, but eating while walking is usually frowned upon — unless it's a festival.
🌭 Rule: Stand aside to eat street food. It’s about cleanliness and grace, not multitasking.
💡 My Fail: I walked while devouring a crepe. A child pointed and whispered, “Yabai…”

9. Say “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisousama”

They mean “I humbly receive” and “thank you for the meal.” Saying them makes you sound like an angel.
🙏 Rule: Say before and after eating, even alone.
💡 My Fail: I once shouted itadakimasu in a silent café. A monk turned around.

10. Respect the Space

No feet on seats. No littering. No personal space invasion. Be a ghost, but a friendly one.
🎎 Rule: Respect shared spaces. Blend in like tofu in miso soup.
💡 My Fail: I stretched my legs out on a train. A grandma gently tapped me with her umbrella. I will never recover.

Final Thoughts: Be Polite, Stay Curious, and Don’t Panic

You don’t have to master it all — locals are kind and forgiving. But learning just a bit of etiquette will earn you smiles, nods, and maybe even a free mochi.

And if in doubt… just bow. But maybe not to the vending machines. Unless they bow first.

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