Japan Taboo
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Japan Taboo
Japanese Etiquette 101: Essential Tips & Taboos
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If you’re traveling to Japan, it can be quite helpful to learn at least a few key points when it comes to Japanese etiquette and taboos.
Japanese people are extremely polite and welcoming (one of the best things about visiting Japan ), but many travelers worry about accidentally offending them by saying or doing the wrong thing.
While it’s natural to have this concern, an important thing to keep in mind is that Japanese people don’t expect you, as a traveler, to know all of their customs and manners. As long as you act kindly and with respect, you’ll fit right in – even if you do make an etiquette mistake (or two) once in a while!
That being said, making a little effort can go a long way, and Japanese people are very appreciative when travelers make the effort to learn their customs.
We hope the Japanese etiquette tips below help you get more out of your trip, and by following them you’ll be sure to impress Japanese people along the way:
Originally written in 2014, this post was updated and republished on August 13, 2020.
Bowing is one of Japan’s most well-known customs, and most travelers are aware that Japanese people bow when greeting one another.
If you’re used to shaking hands when meeting people, it may be difficult to get used to bowing instead of shaking hands. But don’t worry: many Japanese people are accustomed to shaking hands when meeting non-Japanese, so whether you bow or put out your hand to shake, in most cases you’ll be fine either way.
Bowing is also used when thanking someone (or apologizing), and as a traveler in Japan you can expect to be on the receiving end of plenty of respectful bows of thanks. At hotels, ryokans, shops, and restaurants (particularly at higher-end establishments) it’s common for staff to bow deeply to customers.
Keep in mind that, as a customer, you’re not expected to bow back. Still, most first-time visitors to Japan can’t help it. While it may seem slightly odd to a Japanese person, these days Japanese people are not surprised (and are often amused) when visitors make small etiquette “mistakes” of this nature – so don’t sweat it!
Tip: For a fascinating up-close look at Japanese manners in action, we recommend Terrace House: Boys & Girls in the City , a Japanese television show on Netflix.
When traveling through Japan, you’ll find yourself having to take off your shoes often. For this reason, one of our top basic packing tips for a trip to Japan is to bring shoes that slip on and off easily. Bring nice socks, too, as they’ll be on display often!
In Japan, it’s most common to remove one’s shoes before entering a tatami room. Rooms with tatami matting abound in Japan, and you can expect to encounter tatami rooms at ryokans (Japanese-style inns) , temples, and at traditional restaurants.
There are also other times when you’ll need to remove your shoes. For example, if you are lucky enough to be invited to visit a Japanese home, you’ll remove your shoes in the genkan (entryway).
Most visitors to Japan mess up the shoes rule at least once. While it’s definitely not the end of the world, it’s best to avoid this faux pas by simply being observant. If you notice a pile of shoes (or see others removing their shoes), you know what to do!
At places such as traditional ryokans, old-fashioned restaurants, and even at some casual izakayas , you may encounter bathroom slippers.
Typically when you come across bathroom slippers, it means you’ve already removed your shoes elsewhere, and are already wearing slippers or geta (wooden clogs). You’ll leave your slippers or geta outside the bathroom, exchanging them for the bathroom slippers. Then, upon exiting the bathroom, switch back to your other slippers.
It’s extremely common for non-Japanese people to accidentally wear bathroom slippers all the way back to the table. If this happens to you, just remember you weren’t the first and you certainly won’t be the last!
Japan is rightly renowned for its technology and efficiency, so it’s no surprise that taxi doors in Japan open automatically! When you hail a taxi, the driver will pull up, and the door will automatically open for you.
Part of the beauty of this innovation is its simple brilliance: far from being high-tech, the driver opens and closes the door manually by means of a low-tech lever system. It takes a little patience and getting used to. Wait for the door to open, hop in, and then wait for the driver to close the door for you.
Japan’s incredible rail system is truly outstanding, but its clean, safe taxis (typically chauffeured by white-gloved taxi drivers) are also a highlight of traveling around Japan.
Speaking of taxis, it’s possible you may need to pay in cash, and if so this next etiquette tip will come in handy. In cities such as Tokyo, most taxis accept credit cards nowadays, but in smaller towns and in the Japanese countryside, many taxis only accept cash (read more about using cash and credit cards in Japan ).
In Japan, money is rarely passed directly from hand to hand. This means that when you purchase an item or service, you won’t hand money directly to the cashier. Instead, you’ll place your payment (whether cash or credit) on the small tray provided. If change is due, your change will be placed here for you as well.
This practice is prevalent in Japan, and you can expect to encounter this common system in hotels , restaurants, taxis, conbini (convenience stores) , and elsewhere.
What if there is no money tray? For example, say you would like to tip your private guide after a wonderful tour. This brings up a couple of questions: Should you tip? If so, how much (and how to hand over the money)?
Tipping is not nearly as common in Japan as it is in many other parts of the world. This means you truly don’t need to — and in fact should not — even think about tipping at restaurants or bars, or in taxis, for example.
For travelers from countries where tipping is prevalent, it may feel slightly uncomfortable to receive such gracious service and not leave a tip. Just keep in mind that tipping is truly not expected in most situations, and trying to leave a tip will likely lead to unnecessary confusion. So unlike in most countries, when in doubt, the general rule of thumb in Japan is to avoid leaving a tip.
However, there are a few scenarios where a tip may be appreciated, though not expected. A common such scenario for travelers is following an excellent tour. While guides in Japan (particularly top private guides) tend to be very well compensated for their services — and don’t generally expect or earn their living from tips — it is definitely acceptable to tip for outstanding service.
See our guide to tipping in Japan for more on this topic. Just remember to place the money into an envelope (or even fold it into a piece of paper) before politely handing it to your guide with two hands.
Perhaps nothing is more enjoyable, and potentially perplexing, to Japan visitors than bathing in onsen (hot springs), or a traditional neighborhood sento (bath house).
Onsen and sento offer a very authentic cultural experience, and when visiting there are a few key guidelines to keep in mind:
Read more about onsen in our guide to staying at a ryokan .
We live and breathe Japan, and want you to experience the Japan we know and love. If you’re as obsessed with the details as we are, chances are we will be a good fit.
Street food is not as common in Japan as it is in some other countries in Asia, although cities like Osaka and Fukuoka are notable exceptions with lively street food scenes.
In most Japanese cities, eating and drinking on the street (or on local trains, such as the Tokyo Metro for example), is generally frowned upon. Even so, these days it’s not terribly uncommon to see even locals scarfing down a quick snack en route to or from work. However, while this traditional rule of etiquette may be increasingly old-fashioned, it’s still a good one to keep in mind.
As for eating on trains: while it would be slightly uncouth to eat or drink on a commuter train, the shinkansen (bullet train) and other long-distance trains are a different story. Not only is it culturally acceptable to eat and drink on long-distance trains – it’s an integral part of the experience, and Japanese train stations are brimming with beautiful bentos and sake for the journey.
Bonus: If you have more questions about Japan, we put together a complete list of answers to the most common questions about Japan .
Even if you consider yourself a chopsticks expert, you might not be aware of some important ohashi etiquette. While much of this is common sense, some might surprise you:
When you go to a restaurant or izakaya you’ll be given a refreshing towel, which will be hot or cold depending on the season. Use the towel to gently clean your hands, then fold it and place it on the table in front of you. Even though you will occasionally see people use this towel to wipe the sweat off their faces, this is generally considered slightly uncouth!
Don’t worry if you can’t remember all of these etiquette tips. Japanese people are extremely understanding, and realize that most travelers are simply not aware of all of their customs.
If you only remember one thing, the golden rule is to simply be respectful. As long as you you mind your surroundings and always act with respect, you’ll do great!
Andres founded Boutique Japan to share his passion and enthusiasm for Japan, and over the years he has had the opportunity to help countless wonderful travelers from around the world experience Japan in a truly personal and immersive way.
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Culture 7 Japanese Taboo Topics
By Guidable Writers Jan 28, 2022
Have you ever wondered what the Japanese sense of “private” or “personal information” is? How about Japanese taboo topics? Some foreigners complain that the most common questions the Japanese ask them are “How old are you?” and “Are you married?”.
This does not mean that Japanese people ask each other freely their ages and marital status, especially to strangers. In fact, they do not. But phrases like “How old are you?” are probably high on their list of well-known English expressions, which makes them want to practice the question so as to “break the ice”.
Once you try talking about other things, you might find yourself confused about certain topics Japanese people avoid or give vague answers to. A lot of information is included in the “personal information” realm which many don’t want to be asked about and feel shouldn’t be talked about unless they volunteer the information.
Different cultures have different ideas about what is taboo in conversations. Take care to avoid talking or asking about the following topics in Japan if you don’t want to be greeted with an uncomfortable silence!
I personally have never been asked this question. One or two times someone has volunteered the information but no one dares to ask this question of anyone. There is a book somewhere that reveals the “secret” general salaries of different types of careers, but most Japanese people only know what they themselves earn.
Some may feel that a person’s salary reveals too much so that person may not be comfortable sharing. This is because often, in Japan, salary does not necessarily depend on the work being done but rather reflects a person’s status in a company, how much she is trusted, or the amount of responsibility being shouldered.
If anyone in your workplace gets word of how much you earn, you might become a target of either jealousy or disdain. Talk of income should be avoided to maintain peace.
Some people might be surprised at the rate of continuation from high school to higher education in Japan. In Japan, some opt to go to Junior college (shorter-term colleges aimed at specializing in a specific career) and a few opt to work right after college in jobs that do not require college degrees.
And although graduation in one of the top universities provides a special status that separates one from others, most Japanese do not attach any special relevance to a person’s character by their college education.
Like in many other countries, praising a woman’s outfit, hairstyle or makeup is okay but negative comments about makeup are hardly voiced.
A woman who wears too thin or no makeup might get a sharp reprimand though, because not wearing makeup in Japanese society, especially in conservative circles, is considered unhygienic, which might strike non-Japanese people as odd. Thick makeup is relatively seen as much better than no makeup.
Be careful, also, of praising someone for being skilled at makeup for, depending on how the other person may take it, you could be mistaken for veiling an insult that the other person is hiding an ugly face behind her “skilled makeup”.
Every Mother’s and Father’s Day people greet each other on the internet but in Japan, it is considered strange to greet someone who is not your own mother or father with a “Happy Mother’s/Father’s Day”. Furthermore, Japanese family situations are have becoming more complex in the last decade with more and more children growing up with only one parent.
Talking about Father’s or Mother’s Day might make you look like someone who hasn’t thought about what they are saying before they’ve said it. Also, “Happy Thanksgiving” or “Happy St. Patrick’s” might similarly induce a puzzled look, as the Japanese do not think such holidays concern them. Christmas, Halloween and recently, Easter, are exceptions as they have also begun being celebrated in Japan.
Politics is a topic that experts and media leaders talk endlessly and tirelessly about on tv before election time, but most people not involved in politics does not talk among themselves about the topic.
What you might hear are generalized exasperated complaints like “What is the government DOING?” but you will hardly hear a politician’s names from someone. You are entitled to your opinions, but you are expected to keep them to yourself.
The Japanese may make an ironic comment about their own emperor or how strange they themselves might think of their own politics but no foreigner can make a negative comment about the emperor without possibly earning the ire of a Japanese. This is fair enough because it is thought that it is not the position of a foreigner to criticize the foundations of Japanese politics if they do not know enough about the history and cultural significance behind it.
Just as politics is an avoided topic, religion is also a topic to be steered clear of. Japan is officially a Buddhist country but not in the strictest sense. The Japanese do not have a Bible or Koran that they devote themselves to reading and putting their faith in.
In fact, you might have a hard time finding a Japanese person who has satisfactory knowledge of Buddhist deities and religious practices. What the Japanese will wholeheartedly talk about is TRADITION, such as going to a temple or shrine on New Year’s or getting blessings from temple monks for certain celebrations in a person’s life like the 3-5-7 Festival or Coming-of-Age Day.
Like politics, however, religion is seen as something you should keep for yourself. A few people who ascribe to certain faiths do try to invite others into their religious institutes though.
Avoiding the above topics might be hard to do if you are used to talking freely about them at home, but choosing your conversation topics carefully is very important for keeping smooth relationships with Japanese friends.
As you stay longer in Japan it’ll be easier to read the room and to know if you have brushed a sensitive topic, however, in the end, it depends on each person and how they feel about certain topics. If your Japanese friends feel uncomfortable engaging in conversation with you too many times, you may lose a great friendship.
Treasure your friendships, as it often takes time to earn the label of “trusted friend” in Japan.
Religion and politics might be taboo topics for Japanese but we constantly cover these topics for you to understand Japan better. Follow us on Facebook to join the community of people interested in Japan.
This article was originally published on Nov 10th, 2017, but was edited and republished on Jan 28th, 2022.
Guidable Japan is a platform that offers guidance to Non-Japanese people who want to visit or are living in the Land of the Rising Sun. Whether you are just a tourist or an actual resident, living in Japan can be challenging if you are not familiar with it and don’t speak the lang
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