1. Bow in greeting
Instead of shaking hands like many countries, Japanese people often bow to greet, this is also a way to express gratitude and apology. They will bow about 15 degrees when greeting people in daily life, about 30 degrees when greeting more formally and bow 45 degrees to thank someone. So, don't forget to bow back when a Japanese person greets you.
2. Notes when eating
If you attend a dinner party, after getting your drinks, wait until the host has finished speaking before raising your glasses and shouting Kanpai (like "cheers"). When eating, do not stand your chopsticks upright in your rice bowl, do not put your chopsticks in your mouth, and do not use your chopsticks to pass food. In particular, if you rest your chopsticks across the bowl, it means you think the food is bad or that you don't need it anymore.
Unlike other countries that use chopsticks, Japanese chopsticks when placed on the dining table are not placed straight to the right, on the side of the chopstick holder, but are placed in front of the diner, the tips of the chopsticks must be placed on a chopstick rest called hashioki facing the left.
3. Don't tip
When traveling in Japan, in some places, you will be considered disrespectful if you give extra money to taxi drivers, restaurant staff or when being taken care of by others. You do not need to feel guilty because the service you requested includes this amount. Therefore, do not be surprised if you "accidentally" leave a few coins on the table and the waiter chases after you to return them because he thinks you forgot your change.
4. Always keep left
Japan is one of the few countries in Asia that maintains left-hand traffic rules. Therefore, when traveling in Japan, you must always walk on the left side of the road. This also applies to escalators in Japan. People will usually stand on the right side, leaving the rest of the way open for those in a hurry or in an emergency.
5. Queuing culture
While most places in the world consider waiting in line to be an unpleasant thing, for Japanese people, the habit of waiting in line is instilled from a young age. They also believe that if there is a line, there is something worth seeing. Queuing during festivals is also an opportunity to get close to relatives and tell endless stories. Therefore, be patient and wait in line when you want to attend an event where there are many people waiting.
6. Take off your shoes before entering the house
Before entering any Japanese home, you must take off your shoes and leave them outside the door. Indoors, families usually have slippers, but in rooms with tatami floors, you have to walk on the tatami floor. This also applies in restaurants and hotels.
7. How to pay
In Tokyo, it is not customary to hand money directly to staff in restaurants or clothing stores, but to drop it on a small tray next to them. If you still want to hand it directly to them for fear of losing it, especially if you are using a credit card, give it with both hands and give a slight nod to show respect.
8. Bathhouse culture
Public bathhouses are still prevalent in Japan. Sento (residential bathhouses) can be found from the big cities of Shinjuku to the small towns of Shikoku. Onsen (hot springs) are popular at weekend resorts.
A small note is that you can only enter the Japanese bath after cleaning your body, then immerse yourself in the communal hot water tub for 10 - 30 minutes.
9. Maintain public order and hygiene
At public places such as train stations, docks or on trains, you should not make phone calls or talk too loudly. This will annoy people around you. Normally, Japanese people will put their phones on silent mode when using public transportation.
In addition, in the Japanese concept, everyone must be responsible for maintaining hygiene and diligently throwing garbage in the right place. Therefore, although there are very few trash cans along the road, when you want to throw away an empty can, please be patient until you find a trash can.
10. Be on time
When meeting, going to work, going to school, Japanese people always pay attention to time. When you want to visit someone, you must call to ask permission in advance and keep the appointment time. Being late is very rude and makes others lose trust. In case you are late, you must call to contact in advance. Therefore, when attending parties or participating in tours in Japan, you must pay close attention to this rule.
