What To Know About Japan

Japan is very known for its heritage sites and many religious temples and shrines.  When you are visiting these religious sites it is expected that you are to speak quietly in a low tone manner in the main halls, do not enter into places that are blocked of and definitely do not disrespect the statues and gods that are inside the religious sites and be mindful of what you are wearing when visiting these religious sites, nothing that is revealing or clothing like you are heading off to a club or beach.

Another ritual that must be done when entering shrines is the water cleansing source of any shrine. Some shrines would have instructions for you to be aware and follow but others do not. Use the ladles provided to pour water over your hands to rinse them, and pour water into your hand to use to rinse your mouth (please spit the water out on the ground, not back into the water source) this is believed to cleanse your body before entering the sacred place.

Japan is a futuristic country built around convenience, sustainability, and state-of-the-art technology. Giving excellent service is important in Japan. And what better way to provide impeccable service than innovative technology to match? 

 7-Elevens are the recommended place to use ATMs. As an added bonus they (and many of the convenience stores) sell some decent pre-prepared meals. The Lawson chain of stores have a huge selection of pre-packaged pastries that were replenished on a daily basis and we kept those on hand for a quick breakfast before a day of wandering.

Vending machines are located literally every 100 metres, serving all kinds of drinks

Parking is vertical. Space is a luxury in Japan and over 540,000 car parks have gone vertical

Bowing is a sign of respect. This gesture is used to greet (hello or goodbye), apologise, and display gratitude. A simple bow to your waist will do, or even just a bow of your head, but the real observation is the depth of the bow between one person to another as it’s reflective of the status of that person. Generally speaking, bow when someone else bows to you and you'll pick up this custom fast, or at least learn to do a polite head nod.

Japan has a very strict ‘no shoes’ policy which applies to a lot of places you’ll visit across the country. This stems from Japan’s culture of cleanliness and respect. While you’re out and about in the streets, popping into shops, you’ll be fine. However, when visiting homes, traditional restaurants, temples, and shrines, you will most likely be asked to remove your shoes. Don’t worry, these places will provide spare slippers for you to wear instead! One rule to remember especially is: no shoes on tatami!

Crossing chopsticks symbolises death. Food is an important element of Japanese culture, and there are lots of etiquette rules to keep in mind. You may or may not be surprised to learn that there are several rules reserved just for chopsticks! One such rule is that you should never cross your chopsticks as this symbolises death. Why? It’s because the gesture resembles a funeral rite where bones are picked out of the ashes with chopsticks and passed to another – crossing the chopsticks in the process. Additionally, sticking your chopsticks into food vertically is also considered a bad omen as it resembles the incense sticks used during funerals.

Other bits of foodie etiquette you should be aware of:
At most restaurants you will be served with a wet towel and chopsticks
It’s polite to say ‘Itadakimasu’ before eating, and ‘Kampai’ when cheers-ing your drink (nifty Japanese phrases for you!)
It’s considered rude to not finish everything on your plate
Slurping noodles is seen as a sign of enjoyment – so slurp away!

 Ometanashi isn’t just a word, it’s a way of life. Familiarise yourself with “O-me-te-na-shi”, short for, “Japanese service and hospitality.” It’s derived from the practice of politeness with intent to create harmony and avoid conflict. You will experience customer service to a whole new level, that goes above and beyond anything that you’re used to. From traditional ryokans to shop assistants running out the door to return your 1yen coins – you’ll be showered with kindness and amazed at their attention to detail to keep you smiling.

There’s a zero tolerance policy on rubbish. If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ll soon realise that rubbish bins are scarce. Most sites and public spaces are immaculate and clean. It’s basic etiquette to take your rubbish home with you and word on the street – all local residents receive a garbage guide with rules for trash collection broken down from plastic, paper, cans, newspapers, etc.

Don’t walk while eating. Leave that big city hustle mentality behind you and stop to appreciate the food you're putting inside your body. Walking with food and drink in hand can be seen as disrespectful in Japan. Japanese take pride in keeping their streets clean.. So have a seat, slow down, and don’t treat walking from one attraction to another as the perfect time for a snack.

Don’t count your change. Often w hen you purchase something, your change will be returned on a little tray. Try your best to not count this in front of them as this shows you distrust them and being honest is a big thing that is expected of everyone there. By harmlessly counting your change you could be insinuating that you do not trust them. On the topic of little trays, its also good to get into the habit of not handing people cash directly, these little trays are there for you to place your money on to pay and receive change.

As amazing as it is to see the graceful geishas IRL in the streets of … and how epic it would be to catch a selfie with them for your friends and family back home… just remember that this is extremely disrespectful!. As beautiful as they may look, these ladies are not celebrities or tourist attractions. They are working women and to stop them in the streets will potentially make them late for their next engagement, which is a big Japan travel faux pas. Instead, how about hiring a kimono or Yukata yourself to wander the ancient streets. Locals love to see tourists fully embracing their culture and what better way than to wear their traditional clothes. If dressing up isn’t for you there will most likely be “fake” geisha scattered around the streets who are always more than happy to take a photo with you! They will probably be walking at a slower pace and will be on the more busy streets. 

8. Don’t blow your nose in public. This should already be ingrained in your everyday post-covid etiquette but in Japan it was looked down upon even before covid hit. Sniffling and blowing your nose loudly can result in you standing out and people looking at you in disgust, unless that's something you're into. Regardless It's best to wear a mask in public if you're feeling even the faintest bit under the weather.

9. Know your way around the escalator. If you're observant or coming from a large city you're probably aware of this rule already, but when using the escalator in Japan, the left side is for standing and the right is for continuous walking. So if you feel like your step count is capped for the day stay to the left, but if you wanna add a couple more flights of stairs walk on the right.

Be quiet on public transport. Looping back to being considerate of others and your surroundings, you'll have people staring in disbelief if you're having a big ole chinwag with your mates, or if you're blasting music loudly through your headphones. Commuters like to keep communal spaces quiet for people that work long hours. Trains are often used as a place to relax, take a nap or play a few games on silent mode.