If you're from another country than Japan there will probably be a lot of things that surprise you when you go to Japan for the first time. In fact there might still be things that surprise you about Japan. :) A lot of things are different there and the things that might be okay to do in other countries might not be okay to do in Japan. SO before you go to Japan or if you're already in Japan, there's a couple of DOs and DON'Ts you should know about.
This list was given to my by my Japanese teacher at the university, so it is not just stuff that I make up :) I have only been in Japan once, but I agree on most things on this list. Basically, you should just not bother others, be polite, and drop disgusting habits.
Here is the list of DOs and DON'T in Japan:
Here is the list of DOs and DON'T in Japan:
Eating
- It is impolite to eat or drink something while walking down the street.
- Do not bite or clean your fingernails, gnaw on pencils, or lick your fingers in front of others.
- Don't use the "oshibori" (a small, moist rolled-up towel) at restaurants to wipe your face and neck.
- It is impolite to pour your own drink when eating with others - you pour other's drinks.
- If you don't want anymore to drink, leave your glass half full.
- Before eating you say "itadakimasu" and after eating "gochisosama deshita". If you're being treated you say "kampai" (means "cheers").
- When sharing a dish, put what you take on your own plate before eating it.
- Do not use your chopsticks to skewer food, move dishes around, and NEVER dish out food to another using the same ends you just ate from (use the top ends).
- Don't point at somebody with your chopsticks.
- Do not stick your chopsticks in the food and leave them standing out of your food.
- Traditional Japanese food is served on several small plates, and it is normal to alternate between dishes instead of fully eating one dish after another.
- Don't put soy sauce on your rice - it isn't meant for that.
- Do not put sugar or cream in Japanese tea.
- There isn't really any "help yourself" custom in Japan, so wait until the host offers something.
- If you must use a toothpick, cover your mouth with your other hand.
- It is considered rude to count your changes after paying the bill in a store or restaurant, but the Japanese themselves do give it a cursory lookover.
Everyday living
- Like in all other cultures, don't be late.
- There is no custom of "ladies first".
- Don't smoke on the streets (you won't see people do this very often, because smoke bothers others).
- Don't smoke on the streets (you won't see people do this very often, because smoke bothers others).
- Avoid excessive physical and eye contact (like don't point at someone with your finger).
- It is considered rude to use your phone on trains and buses.
- Don't chew gum when working or in formal situations.
- For white collar workers, even though business hours are over it doesn't mean that they can go home. Sometimes you have to visit bars with your boss.
- When exchanging business cards, use both hands to give and receive the card and give the card so that it is the right side up to them.
- It is polite to put "san" after someone's name. If it's a person with a higher ranking than you use "sama" to be very polite. "Kun" is used after a young boy's name and "chan" is after a young girl's name.
- If you need to blow your nose, leave the room or try to face away from other people.
- Try not to wear clothes with holes in public or when visiting someone.
- In the Kanto area (Tokyo ect.) you should stand on the left side of the escalator. In Kansai (Kyoto ect.) you should stand in the right side.
- When saying "Who me?" in Japanese, point at your nose not your chest.
- When you want to wave someone over to you, don't do the Western gesture where you close your hand palm, but put your hand palm out and fingers out and raise and lower your fingers a few times. The Western gesture is only used for small animals.
- If you ask a Japanese person to do something for you and they tilt their head away from you, it is a sign of strong reluctance or a polite refusal.
- When Japanese people fan their hand sideways in front of their face it means "no".
- Don't wear slippers into a tatami (straw) mat room.
- Don't wear the toilet slippers outside the toilet room.
- When wearing a kimono or yukata, put the left side over the right (the opposite is used for the dead person at a funeral).
- It is polite to refuse offers in Japan even if you really want something. Traditionally an offer is made 3 times.
- Sometimes when Japanese women laugh they cover their mouth with their hand.
- It is polite to bring gifts (like drink, food ect.) when visiting someone.
- Giving cash is normal for ceremonies like weddings and funerals, but they are normally given in special envelopes.
- After a vacation, it is polite to bring a small gift for all the people you work with.
- In formal circumstances don't unwrap a present you've just received, but wait till you get home. In more casual circumstances you can ask if you can open it.
- It is polite to see a guest to the door (or front building).
- It is polite to deny compliments (like skills, looks ect.).
- An old custom when dining is that the guest should sit facing the room entrance and the highest ranking host sits across from the guest.
There were a couple of DOs and DON'Ts that I thought was too obvious, so I didn't include them. If you want to know more about what not to do in Japan, there are many videos about this like the YouTubers Rachel and Jun's video.
Hope you enjoyed it! :)
Hope you enjoyed it! :)
