Japanese etiquette is mostly common courtesy. Get these basics right and you’ll fit in comfortably.
Do
- Take off your shoes where you see a step up or slippers (homes, ryokan, some restaurants, temples).
- Be quiet on trains — no calls; keep conversations low.
- Queue neatly and let people off before boarding.
- Wash thoroughly before getting into an onsen bath; the bath is for soaking, not washing.
- Carry your trash — public bins are scarce; bins sit near convenience stores and vending machines.
Don’t
- Don’t tip — it isn’t expected anywhere.
- Don’t eat or drink while walking in crowded areas; step aside.
- Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick-to-chopstick (funeral symbolism).
- Don’t be loud in temples, ryokan and traditional districts.
A few extras
- Cash is handed over on the small tray at registers, not directly.
- Stand on the left of escalators in Tokyo (right in Osaka).
- A small bow or nod goes a long way.
Ready to plan? Start with the 7-day itinerary and what to pack.