Tokyo is home to world-renowned sites like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shibuya Crossing, and the Tokyo Skytree. It’s a place where tourists can participate in sado, the traditional “way of tea,” and kintsugi, the art of mending broken dishes with lacquer and gold. The city also boasts opportunities to see sumo tournaments and cherry blossoms, walk through countless museums, and dine at Michelin-rated restaurants and vending machines. In just one city, Tokyo offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the full breadth of Japanese culture, from traditional practices to modern experiences.
Before arriving in the city, travelers must familiarize themselves with the many laws and social etiquette rules that dictate what they can and can’t do while there. Some of these laws and rules aren’t unheard of or unfamiliar. For instance, gambling in person and online, including the sites available through Casinos.com, is prohibited. And like many countries, drinking in public spaces, unless they are licensed, is strictly prohibited.
However, many etiquette practices may differ significantly from those we’re familiar with, and these ten dos and don’ts are perhaps the most surprising for Americans.
1. Don’t Wear Your Shoes Indoors
Removing shoes before entering homes, schools, and some workplaces or restaurants is an expected practice. Doing so helps keep the space clean and respects others using it. The custom is linked to both the country’s emphasis on cleanliness and traditional practices. Tatami mats have been common in Japanese homes since ancient times, and their delicate materiality requires users to remove shoes that might damage or make the mat unclean. There’s also evidence to suggest that ancient footwear, which was made of wood, wasn’t suitable for indoor environments, leading to people removing their shoes before going indoors, and the practice grew from this practical need.
2. Don’t Tip at Restaurants
While tipping is commonplace in the US and many other countries, in Japan, it’s an uncommon practice that can be perceived as rude. It’s best to verbally express appreciation to servers and to accompany your thanks with a slight bow.
3. Do Use Cash
Although it may be surprising, cash is still commonly used in Tokyo. You’ll want to have yen on hand when touring the city and keep cash handling practices in mind. Cash isn’t handed from one person to another when paying for something. It’s placed on a tray to pass payment and change between the customer, cashier, or server.
4. Don’t Pour Your Own Drinks
In group or formal settings, it’s expected that someone else will pour your drink for you rather than you pouring it for yourself. This is seen as a sign of respect and hospitality in the culture. To receive the drink, lift your glass slightly off the table. In group settings, you should also watch the glasses of those around you and refill their glass if you notice it’s getting low or empty. If you’ve had your fill of a drink, simply leaving your glass filled or covering your glass with your hand signals that you don’t need more.
5. Do Bare It All at Hot Springs
The practice of using public hot springs isn’t new to most cultures, but many have different rules and expectations around nudity in these facilities. At hot springs in Japan, which are called Onsen, it’s expected that bathers go nude. The springs are separated by gender, and you can enter the pools with a towel. Before entering a hot spring, you must thoroughly clean yourself to maintain cleanliness and respect for fellow Onsen users. If you have tattoos, check the hot spring’s policy, as some places may require you cover your tattoos or find a different place to bathe.
6. Don’t Engage in PDA
Public displays of affection, often referred to as PDA, are something that many cultures frown upon, and this is the case in Japan. Limit affection to holding hands when in public and keep everything else private. It’s not illegal, but it is disrespectful of social etiquette norms.
7. Don’t Litter
Tokyo is a spotless and well-maintained city, which can be attributed to the culture’s high value of cleanliness. In Tokyo and many regions of Japan, it is illegal to litter, and those found doing so can face significant fines. Tokyo does not have public garbage cans on city streets, so everyone, including tourists, is responsible for holding onto their garbage until they can dispose of it.
8. Do Be Quiet and Considerate on the Train
Taking public transit in Tokyo is met with a very different attitude from the one you’d find in the US. It’s expected that you remain quiet and avoid disruptions while on the train or subway, showing consideration for fellow passengers. Your phone should be silenced, and you shouldn’t answer it while on the train. Additionally, you shouldn’t eat or drink on the train, and following the no littering law, you shouldn’t leave behind any garbage.
9. Don’t Walk While Drinking, Eating, or Smoking
While many areas of the world have restrictions regarding smoking, few go to the same extreme as those in Japan. To discourage citizens from smoking, Japan has set out laws that only allow smoking in designated places and do not allow smokers to walk with their cigarettes lit. Designated smoking areas are clearly signed and found inside and outside many public spaces. It’s also uncommon to find people eating and drinking while on the go, and not just on public transit, though this isn’t a law as much as it is a social norm.
10. Don’t Blow Your Nose in Public
When exploring Tokyo, be aware that it’s considered rude and unhygienic to blow your nose in public. Instead, you should wait until you’re in private to do so. This may mean sniffling a fair bit before you get the opportunity, but this isn’t uncommon to hear or see in public.
