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Expect a knock images

Expect a knock

My experiences at Japanese inns have all been very pleasant. However, to a certain extent, you have to remember the close quarters you are in. You will be getting somewhat familiar with the owners and employees of the inn as you will pass them by on the way to the bath, dinner, restroom, etc.Al…(134 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Etiquette Japanese inn
Keep the beach clean! images

Keep the beach clean!

Although beaches do not have many strict rules, one that is implied is to keep the beach clean. Similar to other manners, Japanese tend to think about other people who may use the space later. Therefore it is important to not leave trash around when you leave. This may be difficult, because there a…(97 words)

RieS image

RieS

Etiquette Beaches
Don't litter! images

Don't litter!

When walking around in Tokyo, you should prevent littering. Many Japanese people hold on to their trash and try to keep the city clean. Japanese also tend to recycle their garbage, which makes it harder to sometimes find the right garbage can. If you have garbage that you really want to throw out, …(68 words)

RieS image

RieS

Tokyo City Etiquette Convenience store
Find Out Why Family-Run Hotels are So Comfortable in Japan! images

Find Out Why Family-Run Hotels are So Comfortable in Japan!

There aren't any strict manners that you wouldn't have to follow at a regular hotel but do at a Japanese bed and breakfast or minshuku. However, the unique aspects of a minshuku create some space for extra things you could be mindful about. First of all, minshuku are almost always family run. They …(173 words)

GenS image

GenS

Hotel Japan Etiquette Minshuku Gym Eat Pool
Packed Train Boarding Tips in Japan images

Packed Train Boarding Tips in Japan

Although a packed train in Japan seems like total chaos, there are a few rules that people follow to keep everyone safe and orderly. First of all, you need to line up properly on the platform before boarding. On the platform, there will be signs showing you how you should line up. Everyone follows …(246 words)

GenS image

GenS

Train Japan Etiquette Railway platform
Aways Stand to Left in Japan on the Escalatr images

Aways Stand to Left in Japan on the Escalatr

One basic manner you have to know on your trip to Japan is to always stand on the left side of escalators. Only stand on the right side if you are walking up. This is a rule that everyone follows and you will naturally follow it when you see people doing it. In escalators, there aren’t any rules in…(158 words)

GenS image

GenS

Etiquette Japan escalators Trip Walk Business
Turn the slippers around! images

Turn the slippers around!

It is usually polite to use slippers instead of walk in bare feet or with socks on. When you take your slippers off, to enter a room, you should slip them off quietly and carefully and turn them around so that you (or someone else) can slip it on later with ease.(52 words)

RieS image

RieS

Etiquette Slippers
Left hand side in Tokyo and Nagoya & Right hand side in Kyoto and Osaka when you are taking escalators. images

Left hand side in Tokyo and Nagoya & Right hand side in Kyoto and Osaka when you are taking escalators.

It's funny because people in Tokyo and Nagoya are stopping on the left hand side when they are walking up/going down in hurry while people in Kyoto and Osaka are stopping on the right hand side of the escalators. There is no regulation, but almost all people follow this kind of rule without notific…(55 words)

Shinji image

Shinji

Tokyo Etiquette Kyoto Osaka Nagoya
Be efficient. images

Be efficient.

If there is a long line at the cashier, while you are waiting, you may want to get your change ready (if you know the price). This will reduce the waiting time for the people behind you. This comes from the Japanese attitude of wanting to please other people or not wanting to bother others. In orde…(95 words)

RieS image

RieS

Etiquette
Always check your sound images

Always check your sound

Personally, when I use headphones in a crowded train, I triple check that the sound is not audible outside the headphones. Noise leakage from people's headphones can be a real pain in the morning on a crowded train, and for some reason, people are just oblivious to their own noise (and no one will …(97 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Train Etiquette
Be Conscientious! images

Be Conscientious!

It is very important to be conscientious of others if you happen to go with Japanese friends. Although nobody will directly tell you this rule, people usually take turns singing at karaoke. No one will probably say anything but you may get some cold looks from your friends if you dominate the mike …(140 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Etiquette Karaoke
Not a must but ... images

Not a must but ...

Not a must but whenever I have a big note to buy something small, I would always state, "Sumimasen, ookii no shika motte imasen.", which literally means that, "I'm sorry that I only have a big note."For me, it is just a small way to show our gratitude for the pain/trouble we are causing. Small …(69 words)

Andrew Soh Chih Jen image

Andrew Soh Chih Jen

Etiquette
To the little tray.... images

To the little tray....

In Japan, you should not hand in the cash directly to the casher's hands. Always leave the cash into the little tray at the casher or if they do not have the tray, you should leave it to the casher-desk. This is to avoid any direct conflicts with the person in charge of the casher in case of los…(87 words)

Mido image

Mido

Shopping Etiquette
Kon-nichiwa !! images

Kon-nichiwa !!

Greetings are a kind of manner as well as a way of communication to open up for each other. As you may know, Japanese hospitality is highly valued by other countries. Our hospitality always starts with greetings and ends with greetings. Through greetings, we can feel closer to each other. I think …(82 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

Etiquette Communication
What are the toy machines "Gacha Gacha" I see around town? images

What are the toy machines "Gacha Gacha" I see around town?

They are one-coin operating gadget vending machines! I would say they were developed based on Japanese people's two characteristics - 1. Like to test one's luck. 2. Love the action of devising an unusual plan on tiny items. Japanese people love to test their luck based on every little things ar…(245 words)

totowatanabe image

totowatanabe

Toy Etiquette
bowing is showing your respects at a temple or shrine images

bowing is showing your respects at a temple or shrine

I was asked my friend from Europe what are manners at Shrine and Temple. Shrine is Shinto(Japanese original religion) and temple is Buddhist.I was taught from my grandmother when I go to Shinto shrine, crap my hands and call god , bow and you pray your wishes.When I go to Temple, I don't cra…(65 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

Etiquette Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Bowing
escalator mannar images

escalator mannar

When you take an escalator, which side do you stand if you are not in a hurry? To stand right may be the good manner in most parts of the world but it's not in Tokyo. Japanese people stand left when they are not in a rush so the people who are in a hurry can go up on right side!(But when I we…(77 words)

misa image

misa

Tokyo Etiquette Osaka Transportation
Great Tip to Avoid the Rush Hour in Japan images

Great Tip to Avoid the Rush Hour in Japan

On a longer (30 minute plus) train ride, I will often splurge on a Green car ticket. These temperate cars have a nice train attendant who comes by to sell snacks and drinks and when it is not rush hour you can get a window seat with a table to tap on your computer while enjoying the sites. During r…(279 words)

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Japan Rush hour Train Etiquette Ticket Shoes Computer Business
Change slippers for the toilet! images

Change slippers for the toilet!

Do not wear your room slippers into the toilet area, this will really annoy people. Use the provided toilet slippers.(20 words)

Ray_Proper image

Ray_Proper

Etiquette Slippers
Japanese Bed and Breakfast Manners images

Japanese Bed and Breakfast Manners

Japanese bed and breakfast facilities resemble their British bread and breakfast lodgings, but often with several differences. Many Japanese establishments offer both dinner and breakfast. Before arrival, make sure which meals are offered. More often than not, "breakfast" will beJapanese st…(177 words)

TimN image

TimN

Etiquette Hotel Miso Miso soup Shoes Yukata (Light kimono) Slippers Shizuoka Furo (Japanese bath)
Keep a seat for someone later! images

Keep a seat for someone later!

You will notice that when you enter a train, in most of the train cars there will be a reserved area for people who need the seat: these are called "priority seats". Of course, you can just leave it up to logic in regard to who actually needs the seat, but there will be some symbols on the window n…(196 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Train Etiquette
When Shopping in Japan Live as the Japanese Do images

When Shopping in Japan Live as the Japanese Do

Shopping in Japan can be a dream. The stores are beautiful and the shopkeepers are very civilized and unaggressive. One thing to remember is that when the staff say "Irashaimase" it basically means welcome and is a set phrase at every establishment. They are just welcoming you and not being pushy i…(113 words)

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Shopping Japan Shoes Etiquette Phrase Clothes
Eating at a Japanese restaurant images

Eating at a Japanese restaurant

Before entering, understand if non-smoking seats are available and credit cards can be used. When eating, do not pour soy sauce on white rice! When paying, no tip is required; just say "Gochiso Sama!"(34 words)

Shoken image

Shoken

Restaurant Etiquette Soy sauce
breaking Waribashi so quietly images

breaking Waribashi so quietly

Waribashi (割り箸) are those wooden chopsticks that you need to break apart.Some people rub Waribashi together when they break them apart, but this is considered as a bad manner. Please use them without doing so. Also, in Japan, "Waru (break apart)" is considered as bad luck. So, when you break …(67 words)

ErinoO image

ErinoO

Etiquette
ABC Cooking Studio images

ABC Cooking Studio

ABC Cooking Studio is a place where people come to cook a variety of foods in a casual manner. There are 124 studios currently operating in Japan, and as a member, you will be allowed to take classes at any studio of your choice. The classes are done in a small group, ensuring you maximum suppo…(121 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Tokyo Etiquette Computer
Getting a seat on a crowded train & Offering your seat images

Getting a seat on a crowded train & Offering your seat

Generally speaking, Japanese are very oriented on getting a seat on the train, as this is an opportunity to get some much-needed sleep! So, what will more often than not happen is people will generally try to avoid giving up a seat for someone who needs it. Offering a seat although it is done b…(148 words)

Steve image

Steve

Train Etiquette Transportation
Keep to the left when standing on the escalators images

Keep to the left when standing on the escalators

You're expected to keep to the left when you are standing on the escalators. And to the right when you are climbing.I say this because I am not good at it when I am in Osaka, where people do the opposite: to the right when standing, to the left when climbing. I end up finding myself standing on…(70 words)

ToshiA image

ToshiA

Tokyo Etiquette Osaka
Spring for HANAMI (cherry blossom viewing) has come !! images

Spring for HANAMI (cherry blossom viewing) has come !!

In Japan, we have a custom of enjoying changes in nature which occurred as the seasons progresses such as hanami (cherry blossom viewing), Tsukimi (moon viewing) and Yukimi (snow viewing). Hanami is a kind of party to celebrate the upcoming spring and it will be seen throughout the country from aro…(621 words)

fujimorison image

fujimorison

Spring Cherry blossom Tokyo Park Etiquette Event Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) City Japan
I did it! I have found the proof of the existance of incivility in Japan! images

I did it! I have found the proof of the existance of incivility in Japan!

Have you ever wondered how they do it to keep their cities and public space so spic and span clean? I do. Every day I walk the streets of the city, and I am amazed by its welcoming cleanliness. - There is no paper, not gums littering the streets. No nothing. They even do not have rubbish bins! …(387 words)

Claire image

Claire

City Bicycle Train Etiquette
How to Be Prepared for Rain in Japan images

How to Be Prepared for Rain in Japan

In my Hawaiian home, we get some type of rain in the morning or evening, the wind gusts strong and a Typhoon comes by every once-in-a-while, but the temperature is pretty much paradise year-round. I was 12 before I realized how each and every day’s weather can be such an exciting experience!My …(889 words)

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Rain Tokyo Train Yokohama Hotel Etiquette Art Sea Train station
One-day tour ? "Discover The Historic Kamakura together with Japanese locals! “ images

One-day tour ? "Discover The Historic Kamakura together with Japanese locals! “

Why do you join our one-day tour? Some infomation here .10:00 am Gather at JR Kamakura Station. ▶Walk to Sugimotodera temple. ▶Have lunch at Kofuku Restaurant. ▶Explore Hokokuji Banboo temple. …(65 words)

sushiyanotsuma image

sushiyanotsuma

Kamakura Sushi Tera (Temple) Restaurant Etiquette Walk Dinner Lunch Dining Enoden
Do you like Ukiyoe ? A day tour with Ukiyoe prints with a Japanese bilingual guid! images

Do you like Ukiyoe ? A day tour with Ukiyoe prints with a Japanese bilingual guid!

10:00 am Gather at KataseEnoshima Station of the Odakyu Enoshima Line. ▶Walk to Enoshima Shrine. ▶Have Japanese Sweet then lunch at Restaurant. ▶Explore …(62 words)

sushiyanotsuma image

sushiyanotsuma

Ukiyoe Etiquette Sushi Restaurant Visit Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Walk Dinner Lunch
Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 3) images

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 3)

A quick read-up on the story of the 47 Ronin who avenged their Lord will give the pertinent details on how the plan was executed and how the Ronin successfully found and exacted revenge on Kira Yoshinaka one snowy morning in Tokyo. He desperately begged for mercy from the Ako Clan members and was u…(1225 words)

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Ronin 47 Ronin Japan Tokyo Event Etiquette Kyoto Tera (Temple) Samurai Sengakuji Temple
Basic Etiquette for Visiting Temples and Shrines images

Basic Etiquette for Visiting Temples and Shrines

One of the best ways to experience the rich culture of Japan is to visit some of its countless temples (tera) and shrines (jinjya). Whether Buddhist or Shinto, these holy sites each have their own unique story and architectural details and are fascinating places to spend some time.Like any plac…(496 words)

Petra image

Petra

Etiquette Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Tokyo Visit History Japan Shoes Camera comfort
Discover the Japanese Tea Ceremony at Chazen images

Discover the Japanese Tea Ceremony at Chazen

The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is one of the best examples of "omotenashi," or Japanese hospitality. It's a beautiful demonstration of welcoming and a truly signature Japanese experience. At Ginza Chazen, visitors can learn all about the traditional tea ceremony and how matcha tea is prepare…(292 words)

Petra image

Petra

Ginza Tea Japanese Tourism Tokyo Shopping Art Etiquette Walk