Do...
- Always remove your footwear when entering a house, inn, restaurant or office. In general, if a building has a genkan , you must exchange your shoes for house slippers before stepping into the living areas. You’ll know this is expected of you when you notice perfect rows of footwear by the door, or your host ushers you anxiously toward a pair of slippers.
- Bow politely when you meet someone, thank them, or say goodbye. The art of ojigi (bowing) is a complex custom non-Japanese aren’t expected to understand. As a general rule, men should place their hands by their hips as they tilt their upper body slowly forward to no more than 45 degrees. Their back should remain perfectly straight. Women should place their hands in the fig leaf posture (hands folded upon the nap of their pelvis), as they bow. One bow is sufficient. For Japanese, the depth, duration and number of bows offered is a complex equation depending on who’s who – but as a visitor, your humble attempt will be appreciated.
- Bring small gifts from your home country. Gift exchanging is another complex Japanese custom. Giving a gift inappropriate to the occasion - or not giving one at all - can be a source of embarrassment. As a visitor, the simple gesture of sharing a small aspect of your home culture will bring your hosts delight. It’s also a great way to break the ice when language is not on your side. Think Hershey bars, tower of London key-rings and mini-flags: anything from your country unavailable in Japan will be a big hit. Avoid expensive or flamboyant offerings –simple gestures often carry the most weight.
- Bring small gifts from your home country. Gift exchanging is another complex Japanese custom. Giving a gift inappropriate to the occasion - or not giving one at all - can be a source of embarrassment. As a visitor, the simple gesture of sharing a small aspect of your home culture will bring your hosts delight. It’s also a great way to break the ice when language is not on your side. Think Hershey bars, tower of London key-rings and mini-flags: anything from your country unavailable in Japan will be a big hit. Avoid expensive or flamboyant offerings –simple gestures often carry the most weight.
- Have gratitude and humility in the face of kindness and generosity. You’re bound to meet someone, somewhere who’ll want to buy you a meal or to drink with you. Even if you can’t stomach the food, do your best to try! Japanese manners dictate you match your hosts in terms of alcohol consumption, especially if you’re a guy. Say ‘kanpai!’ (cheers!), before you sip your beer or sake, and never pour your own glass!
- Visit temples frequently: there are many temples and each has a history. Even if you’re not a religious or spiritual person, be open to experiencing a different way of thinking about life that most Japanese don’t even question. Learn to tell the difference between a Buddhist temple (o-tera) and a Shintō shrine (jinja). Generally, if the name of the complex ends in “-dera”, “-tera”, or “-ji”, it’s a Buddhist temple. Shintō shrines will often have the suffix, “-jingu” in their name. Purify yourself as you enter by dousing your hands using the ladles provided at the flowing water source found in front of all shrines. Both temples and shrines usually have a wooden box before the altar in which to throw a coin as an offering. At shrines only, the correct method of approaching the altar is to bow twice, clap your hands in front of your body twice, bow a third time, and then make your prayer in silence. If there’s a gong, you’re allowed to bang it once or twice to attract the god’s attention. (I am not trying to offend anyone but I believe its alright to pay respect to others cultures but you don't have to bow to their God's or Deities if you have you own religion and belief.)
- Visit temples frequently: there are many temples and each has a history. Even if you’re not a religious or spiritual person, be open to experiencing a different way of thinking about life that most Japanese don’t even question. Learn to tell the difference between a Buddhist temple (o-tera) and a Shintō shrine (jinja). Generally, if the name of the complex ends in “-dera”, “-tera”, or “-ji”, it’s a Buddhist temple. Shintō shrines will often have the suffix, “-jingu” in their name. Purify yourself as you enter by dousing your hands using the ladles provided at the flowing water source found in front of all shrines. Both temples and shrines usually have a wooden box before the altar in which to throw a coin as an offering. At shrines only, the correct method of approaching the altar is to bow twice, clap your hands in front of your body twice, bow a third time, and then make your prayer in silence. If there’s a gong, you’re allowed to bang it once or twice to attract the god’s attention. (I am not trying to offend anyone but I believe its alright to pay respect to others cultures but you don't have to bow to their God's or Deities if you have you own religion and belief.)
- Learn some phrases and try to use them – the locals will love you for it:
Yes / hai / はい
No / iie / いいえ
Please / o-negai-shimasu / お願いします
Thank you / arigatō gozaimasu / ありがとうございます
Excuse me / sumimasen / すみません
I’m sorry (lit: I’m being rude) / shitsurei-shimasu / 失礼します
I don’t speak Japanese / nihongo ga hanasemasen / 日本語が話せません
I don’t understand / wakarimasen / 分かりません
One more time (please) / mō ichi-do (kudasai) / もう一度下さい
Wonderful / subarashii / 素晴らしい
What a view! / keshiki ga ii ne! / 景色がいいね
It was really delicious / totemo oishi-katta desu / とても美味しかったです
Where is … (the toilet) ? / (toire) wa doko desu ka ? / （トイレ）はどこですか？
See you again / mata ne / またね
Goodbye / sayōnara / さようなら
Don'ts...
- Wear your slippers in a tatami (straw mat) room: remove them before stepping on the tatami and place them neatly at the entrance.
- Blow your nose in public. It’s considered more polite (and hygienic) to sniff! Preferable still is to wear a surgical mask, which you’ll be able to find just about everywhere.
- Be loud and obnoxious in public, even after a night on the sake. The Japanese are a respectful people and whilst they like to drink and have fun, they don’t like making other people uncomfortable. The same logic applies to talking loudly or on the phone, when riding the train or subway.
- Spear food with chopsticks or leave your chopsticks standing in a bowl of rice: this is the way a bowl of rice is presented as an offering to someone who has died. Both actions are considered offensive.
- Be afraid to slurp when eating noodles! It’s almost impossible to enjoy a bowl of ramen without making any noise. Slurping shows the chef you’re appreciating the food. (Not entirely true. Some people say that slurping causes a motion in your mouth that lets in air to cool the noodles down since the soup is usually served still boiling.)
- Be loud and obnoxious in public, even after a night on the sake. The Japanese are a respectful people and whilst they like to drink and have fun, they don’t like making other people uncomfortable. The same logic applies to talking loudly or on the phone, when riding the train or subway.
- Spear food with chopsticks or leave your chopsticks standing in a bowl of rice: this is the way a bowl of rice is presented as an offering to someone who has died. Both actions are considered offensive.
- Be afraid to slurp when eating noodles! It’s almost impossible to enjoy a bowl of ramen without making any noise. Slurping shows the chef you’re appreciating the food. (Not entirely true. Some people say that slurping causes a motion in your mouth that lets in air to cool the noodles down since the soup is usually served still boiling.)
- Eat or drink while you walk or are in transit. Nobody is really sure why this is so, but the Japanese just don’t do it. (It comes from the idea that the other person may dislike the food you are eating or how you eat and that doing so may cause digestive problems.)
-The more you know~
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