Is it bad to stand chopsticks in rice?
Avoid sticking chopsticks upright in your rice. When you pause, rest them on a chopstick rest or across the edge of a dish.
Manners guide
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60 manners
Can you eat sushi with your hands?
Yes. Nigiri sushi can be eaten with your fingers or with chopsticks; both are normal.
Is it OK to slurp ramen?
Slurping noodles is generally accepted, but you do not have to slurp. Eating quietly is fine too.
Is it bad to pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks?
Avoid passing food directly from your chopsticks to someone else’s. Put it on a plate first and let them take it.
Do you always have to say "itadakimasu"?
"Itadakimasu" before eating and "gochisosama" afterwards are widespread customs, not laws or rules. Saying them is a nice way to show appreciation.
How do you share dishes served on a big plate?
Do not eat straight from the shared plate: take a portion onto your own small plate first. Use the serving chopsticks if there are any.
Can you make phone calls on trains?
Phone calls on trains and buses are generally avoided. Keep your phone on silent ("manner mode").
Do passengers get off before others board?
Yes. Wait to the sides of the door and board only after people have finished getting off.
Who can use priority seats?
Priority seats are for older people, people with disabilities, pregnant people, those with small children and others who need them. Give them up when someone needs one.
Where do you put large luggage on trains?
Keep luggage where it does not get in others’ way. On the Tokaido Shinkansen and some other lines, bags over 160 cm in total dimensions need a reservation.
Can you eat on trains in Japan?
Eating ekiben (station bento) is common on the Shinkansen and limited express trains. On commuter, local and subway trains, people generally avoid eating.
How loudly can you talk on trains?
Talking on trains and buses is fine, but people usually keep their voices low so others are not disturbed.
Do you wash before getting into an onsen?
Yes. Wash at the washing area and rinse off all the soap before getting into the bath.
Can your towel go in the onsen water?
Keep your towel out of the bathwater. Rest it on your head or put it outside the bath.
Can you enter an onsen with tattoos?
It depends on the facility. Some turn tattooed guests away and some welcome them, so check in advance.
Do you wear a swimsuit in an onsen?
At typical onsen and public baths you bathe naked, without a swimsuit. Some facilities, however, require a swimsuit or a special bathing garment.
Can you take photos in changing rooms and baths?
No. Taking photos in changing rooms and bathing areas is strictly prohibited to protect other people’s privacy. Keep your phone in the locker.
What should you watch out for with hair and behaviour in the bath?
Tie up long hair so it stays out of the water. Do not swim or splash; enjoy the bath quietly.
Do you pray the same way at shrines and temples?
No. At shrines the basic form is two bows, two claps and one bow; at temples you put your hands together quietly without clapping.
Can you take photos at shrines and temples?
It depends on the spot. Most grounds allow photos, but inside main halls and of Buddhist statues it is often prohibited.
What do you do at a temizuya?
It is where you purify your hands and mouth before praying. Never touch the ladle with your lips; rinse your mouth with water poured into your palm.
What do people do when passing through a torii?
Many people bow lightly before a torii gate and walk slightly to the side of the path’s centre. It is a gesture of respect, not a rule.
Is "two bows, two claps, one bow" the same everywhere?
"Two bows, two claps, one bow" is the basic form at many shrines, but some shrines have their own style. At Buddhist temples, people do not clap.
Is there a set amount for a shrine offering?
There is no set amount for an offering (osaisen). Any amount is fine; it is given as a gesture of your feelings.
Do you take your shoes off in Japanese homes?
Yes. In most Japanese homes you take off your shoes at the entrance (genkan) before stepping inside.
Can you wear slippers on tatami?
Take off your slippers before entering a tatami room. Walk on tatami in socks or bare feet.
Can you keep wearing the toilet slippers?
Toilet slippers are only for inside the toilet. Take them off when you leave and switch back to your own slippers.
What do you say when visiting a Japanese home?
When stepping inside, people usually say "ojamashimasu", and when leaving, "ojamashimashita".
Do you need to bring a gift when visiting?
It is not required, but many people bring a small gift such as sweets when visiting someone’s home.
Is it OK to arrive early when visiting someone’s home?
Punctuality is valued, but when visiting a home many people avoid arriving too early and aim to arrive around the agreed time.
Do people bow in Japan?
Yes, when greeting or thanking someone. For visitors, a light nod or slight bow (eshaku) is almost always enough.
Is "sumimasen" only for apologising?
No. "Sumimasen" is also used to get someone’s attention, to ask people to let you pass and to say thank you.
Do people hug or shake hands when they first meet?
Everyday greetings in Japan usually involve little physical contact such as hugs or handshakes. A light bow is the safe choice.
When is keigo (polite Japanese) used?
Keigo is polite language used towards customers, superiors and people you meet for the first time. As a visitor, plain polite forms ("desu/masu") or English convey your intentions perfectly well.
Why do people add "-san" to names?
"-san" is a polite suffix added to another person’s name, regardless of gender or age. You never add it to your own name.
What is the etiquette for exchanging business cards?
Receive a business card with both hands, look at it carefully, and keep it on the table during the meeting.
What do you do when there are few trash bins?
Public bins are scarce in Japan, so carry your trash with you and throw it away when you find a suitable bin, or take it back to where you are staying.
What are the rules for smoking in town?
Indoor places used by many people are generally non-smoking by law. Outdoors, local ordinances ban street smoking in many areas, sometimes with fines. Use designated smoking areas.
Can you photograph strangers?
Ask first before taking a clear photo of someone you do not know. In particular, avoid following children or people in kimono to photograph them.
Is it OK to eat while walking?
It is not banned nationwide by law, but in crowded places people are expected to stop and eat, out of consideration for others. Some tourist areas ask visitors to refrain.
How do people queue in Japan?
At stations, popular shops and events, join the end of the line following signs or floor markers. Cutting in line is not done.
What should you keep in mind at museums and galleries?
In exhibition rooms, view quietly and never touch the works. Photography and note-taking rules vary by facility, so follow the signs.
Do you tip in Japan?
Tipping is generally not customary in Japan at restaurants, in taxis, at hotels and so on. A word of thanks is enough.
How do you cancel a restaurant reservation?
If you cannot go, contact the restaurant and cancel as early as possible. Let them know if you are running late, too.
How do you queue in shops?
Line up in one row along the footprints on the floor or the "please line up here" signs, and go to the register in turn.
What is the etiquette for fitting rooms?
Ask a staff member when you want to try something on. In many fitting rooms you take your shoes off before stepping in.
What about noise and shared spaces in hotels?
Keep quiet in corridors, lobbies and other shared spaces, especially at night. Whether you may leave your room in a yukata or slippers depends on the facility.
Do you have to use the cash tray?
If there is a tray at the register, people usually put their money on it. It is not a rule, though, and staff sometimes take money by hand.
What do you wear to a Japanese wedding?
Guests usually dress formally. Women avoid white, the bride’s colour, and men often wear a dark suit with a white or light-coloured tie.
What do people wear to funerals in Japan?
Black or other subdued colours are usual. Avoid shiny decorations, flashy accessories, fur and animal prints.
How do you give gift money at celebrations?
Never hand over bare cash: put it in a special gift envelope and offer it with both hands. For weddings, new banknotes are usually used.
Is the incense offering done the same way by everyone?
How many times you offer incense and the exact steps differ by Buddhist school. If unsure, simply follow the person ahead of you, the priest or the chief mourner.
Are there rules for celebration gifts?
There are no legal rules, but some people avoid items linked to bad luck, such as sets of 4 or 9, or knives as wedding gifts. Attitudes are changing.
How do you reply to wedding or funeral notices?
Reply to wedding invitations as early as possible before the deadline. Funerals usually have no invitation; if you cannot attend, offer condolences in a way that does not burden the family.
What are the manners for cherry blossom viewing?
Spots are first come, first served, and taking more space than you need is bad manners. Take your trash home, and never break branches or pick blossoms.
How do you visit a shrine for New Year (hatsumode)?
Hatsumode is the first visit of the year to a shrine or temple. You pray as usual: at shrines two bows, two claps and one bow; at temples, palms together quietly.
Can you take photos at festivals?
At most festivals you can take photos while watching, but do not get in the way of processions or rituals, and follow the organisers’ guidance.
What should you watch out for in festival crowds?
At crowded festivals, follow the directions of staff and security guards, and do not stop suddenly or walk against the flow.
Can you save any spot you like for fireworks?
Spot-saving rules differ by event. Some have paid seating or ban or limit saving spots, so check the official information.
What are the customs of Obon?
Obon is an event to welcome ancestors’ spirits home and honour them. Most areas observe it in mid-August, some in mid-July.