Essential Japanese Etiquette Every Traveler Should Know

Whether you're visiting Japan for the first time or planning a long-term stay, understanding local etiquette is essential to ensuring a respectful and enriching experience. This guide covers important cultural norms related to transport, shrines, homes, and traditional hotels, offering valuable tips for travelers to navigate Japan's unique customs.

Why is it important? 

Japan is renowned for its rich culture, politeness, and deep respect for traditions. As a visitor, understanding and adhering to Japanese etiquette can greatly enhance your travel experience, ensuring that you connect with locals and navigate the country with ease. While Japan is generally welcoming to foreigners, showing that you’ve made an effort to understand and respect local customs goes a long way.

In this blog post, we’ll focus on key areas of Japanese etiquette: transport, shrines, homes, and traditional hotels (ryokan). These are places where travelers often find themselves, and understanding the expected behavior in each setting can help you avoid any awkward situations and fully enjoy your time in Japan.

1. Transport Etiquette: Getting Around Japan the Right Way

Japan boasts one of the most efficient and punctual transportation systems in the world. Whether you're taking the famous Shinkansen (bullet train) or the local metro, there are certain etiquettes to follow to make your journey smooth and respectful to fellow passengers.

Quiet and Respectful Behavior

Japanese trains, buses, and subways are known for their quiet atmosphere. Talking loudly or on the phone is considered rude. Most people use their time to read, sleep, or quietly listen to music using headphones. If you must take a call, it’s best to step off the train and find a designated phone booth.

Priority Seats

In trains and buses, there are priority seats for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. These seats are often marked with symbols and should be left vacant unless absolutely necessary. If you are sitting in one of these seats and someone who needs it boards, it's expected that you immediately vacate the seat.

Queueing Etiquette

Japan places great emphasis on orderly behavior, and this is especially evident in its transportation systems. Always queue up for trains and buses, standing in a line and waiting your turn. On platforms, there are clearly marked lines where passengers wait to board the train. In Tokyo and other major cities, you’ll notice designated spaces for passengers to wait for trains to ensure smooth boarding and disembarking.

2. Shrines and Temples: Show Respect to Sacred Spaces

Japan is home to numerous shrines (Shinto) and temples (Buddhist), which are places of deep spiritual significance. Visitors are always welcome to explore these serene spaces, but there are a few key rules of etiquette to keep in mind.

Purification Rituals

Before entering most shrines or temples, you’ll encounter a purification station called temizuya. This is where visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify themselves before approaching the sacred site. To properly use the purification station:

• Take the bamboo ladle and pour water over your left hand, then your right.

• Use the remaining water to rinse your mouth (spit it out beside the basin).

• Finally, rinse the ladle and place it back in its original position.

Praying at the Shrine

When visiting a Shinto shrine, there is a prescribed ritual for offering prayers:

• Bow twice before the shrine.

• Clap your hands twice to attract the attention of the gods.

• Make your wish or offer your prayer silently, followed by a final bow.

At Buddhist temples, the practice is slightly different. Here, you often make an offering at the altar and silently pray or reflect. Respectful silence is expected when in these sacred spaces.

Shoes and Silence

Shoes should be removed before entering temple halls or some indoor shrine areas. Inside, be sure to maintain a respectful tone and refrain from speaking loudly or disturbing others who may be meditating or praying.

3. Japanese Homes: How to Show Respect in Private Spaces

Japanese homes are considered private sanctuaries, and it’s important to respect the space when visiting. Whether you’re staying with a host family or invited for a meal, these customs will help ensure that you make a good impression.

Removing Your Shoes

One of the first things you’ll notice when entering a Japanese home is the shoe etiquette. Shoes are always removed before entering the main living areas of the house. There will usually be a designated area, called the genkan, where you leave your shoes and change into indoor slippers. The slippers are typically provided by your hosts.

Be aware that in some areas of the house, such as tatami mat rooms or futon sleeping areas, you’ll be asked to remove slippers as well, so always keep an eye out for such requests.

Offering and Receiving Gifts

Gift-giving is a common practice in Japan, especially when visiting someone’s home. When you bring a gift, it is often considered polite to present it with both hands, as a sign of respect. Similarly, when receiving a gift, accept it with both hands and show gratitude. Don’t immediately open the gift in front of the giver; it’s customary to wait until you are alone to open it.

Respectful Behavior During Meals

Japanese dining etiquette emphasizes respect for food and the people you are dining with. When eating, remember to:

• Hold your bowl close to your mouth, especially for rice or soup.

• Avoid sticking chopsticks upright in rice or pointing with them, as this resembles funeral rites.

• When you’ve finished your meal, say “gochisousama deshita” (thank you for the meal) as a polite gesture of appreciation.

4. Traditional Hotels (Ryokan): The Art of Staying in a Japanese Inn

Staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) is a wonderful way to experience Japanese culture, but it requires some understanding of the associated etiquette. These inns are known for their distinctive customs, often involving meals, baths, and sleeping arrangements.

Check-In and Check-Out Etiquette

Upon checking in, you’ll often be given slippers to wear inside the ryokan. Leave your shoes in the genkan area and wear the provided slippers throughout the inn. At check-out, make sure to return your slippers to the designated area and clean up after yourself, leaving your room neat and tidy.

Onsen Etiquette

Many ryokans come equipped with onsen (hot spring baths), which is a common feature of Japanese hotels. When visiting an onsen, it’s important to follow proper bathing etiquette:

• Clean yourself thoroughly before entering the communal bath. Use the small stools and handheld showers provided to wash and rinse off any soap or shampoo.

• Don’t bring towels into the onsen. Towels are typically left on the edge of the bath or in a designated area outside the hot springs.

• Keep noise to a minimum, as onsen environments are meant to be relaxing and tranquil.

Conclusion: Respecting Japan's Traditions for a Memorable Experience

Japan’s etiquette can seem overwhelming at first, but understanding and practicing these customs can significantly enrich your travel experience. Whether you’re navigating the busy trains of Tokyo, praying at a tranquil shrine, visiting a Japanese home, or staying in a ryokan, following local traditions will help you build respect and gain a deeper understanding of Japan’s unique culture.

By adhering to these etiquettes, you’ll not only avoid awkward situations but also show appreciation for the country’s time-honored customs, making your time in Japan all the more rewarding.