How do you queue in shops?
In short
Good to knowLine up in one row along the footprints on the floor or the "please line up here" signs, and go to the register in turn.
When does this apply?
More and more convenience stores, supermarkets and drugstores use a single line for several registers: the person at the front goes to whichever register frees up next. Use the marks and arrows on the floor as a guide.
Why?
Keeping to the order you arrived in lets everyone wait fairly. With one line, nobody has to guess which register will be quickest.
What to do
- Find the end of the line using the floor marks or signs
- Go to the free register when you hear "tsugi no kata dozo" (next, please)
- Leave a little space between you and the person ahead
Better to avoid
- Cut into the line
- Dash sideways into a register that has just opened
Exceptions and differences
Some shops have a separate line at each register. If unsure, watch how other customers line up or ask the staff.
Manners can differ by region, facility and generation. Local signs and staff instructions come first.
Check with a quiz
The shop checkout is busy. What do you do?
Choose an answer
Sources
- Japanese Customs and Etiquette(opens in a new tab)
- Travel Etiquette for the Future (Promoting sustainable tourism)(opens in a new tab)
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This text was written with AI assistance and has not yet been proofread by a person.