We've all heard about this beautiful, faraway land of the rising sun. Japan is known for its incredible culture, customs and rich traditions that are as old as history itself. So it's quite likely that if you’re a traveler there, you may run into stark cultural differences and get yourself some very weird looks on the way.
But thanks to Tina, a traveler and TikTok creator with a whopping 1.3M followers, we now have a very clear list of things you should never, ever do in Japan.
Shared in a series of fun and lighthearted TikTok videos, Tina warns that eating and drinking (yep, coffee counts too!) is a big no-go and that talking on your phone on public transport is disrespectful. Scroll down below to find out what other things you should not do in Japan!
This post may include affiliate links.
Don't try on clothes without a face cover. This prevents makeup from staining the material.
Don't pull open the taxi door. Japan's living in 3020, remember? They open automatically.
Previously, a Lithuania-based Japanese language expert Kotryna Kvietkauskaitė told Bored Panda in an interview that the Japanese are very welcoming of foreigners who put in the effort to speak their language and absorb their culture.
“In Japan, when a foreigner speaks Japanese, they can often get praise for their language skills, even if they simply introduced themselves which is one of the first things that students learn to do,” she said that you’ll often get points for trying, even if what you’re saying isn’t at native-level standards yet.
No talking on the phone on public transport. You will get judgy stares.
Yes, if you talk into a banana in public, the world will judge you. Face it, the world is cruel.
Don't stand on the wrong side of the escalator. Keep left if you're not in a hurry.
Don't leave your backpack on inside public transport. No one wants a backpack in the face.
Kotryna also said that learning any language, including Japanese, is a personal experience. Everyone moves at their own pace and we shouldn’t be in a rush to compare ourselves to others in our own journeys. “One person might take 5 years until they learn to read Japanese fiction without any problems while another person might take 10 years. In other words, there isn’t a clearly-defined point that can be reached after which a person can confidently state that they know Japanese as well as the average native,” she said.
Don't blow your nose in public. It's bad manners and just kinda gross. Sniffle it back in or go to the bathroom to let those boogers out.
This is such a cultural difference to where I live. Growing up, sniffling was considered so rude that even now as an adult, I gag when I hear it. Here, it's considered much less rude to blow your nose than to repeatedly sniff.
I think it's considered rude or at least annoying in a lot of western countries.
Load More Replies...
I knew about this and I know it's cultural but I still think that sniffling it back is much more gross than making your nose clean.
yeah... I had an allergy attack while visiting Tokyo, there was not way I could keep that goo inside... sorry population of Tokyo for grossing you out that summer.
I hate it when people are constantly sniffing. Especially when they're particularly bunged up and you can tell it's thick and gloopy from the sound. Yuck! Blowing your nose to end that awful assault on my ears if far better imo. Guess I'd just be rude in Japan then?
But, what is a person supposed to do when/ IF your nose "decides" to "run" w/o warning? *(As in, allergies, or just because???)
In Brazil they do in public, without tissue and still throw it anywhere
Considering the pandemic, I think people would be fearful of one sniffling.
To be fair, foreigners get a lot of free passes to their faux-pas. Japanese people are very very polite, the most you'd get is a dirty look, and you wouldn't even notice that it is a dirty look :)
Simply put, that stuff needs to go out of your system. Sniffing sound is also super annoying
its bogies and you pick them.....snot you just blow out one nostril onto the pavement...
Meanwhile in Italy, people almost trumpet as they blow their noses. I was brought up with the idea that this was rude and you have to excuse yourself before doing so in public. But when I lived in Italy, they would blow their noses in churches, in a mc Donalds and even next to you in the supermarket aisle.
It's really a cultural thing. Yeah, in Italy it's absolutely acceptable to blow your nose in public and if you sniff to much people are going to offer you a tissue, which is a polite way of telling you you're being annoying. Other things are absolutely off limits. For example, burping loudly. Yes, if you are a teenager and you start a burping contest with your pals, it' not exactly polite but it's for a good laugh. But other than that burping is considered rude. I once had a customer from India and they burped several times, like literally 30 cm away from my face. I didn't say a thing of course, but I wasn't pleased.
Load More Replies...
Don't bargain the price. It's not like the other Asian countries. In Japan most things are legit.
Don't expect everyone to know English. Try to learn some Japanese.
That should be the rule for visiting any country! It’s good manners to learn at least the basics.
Don't walk into fitting rooms with shoes on. Take them off before entering to keep everything clean.
Don't poke or squeeze fresh produce at supermarkets. Trust me, they only put out the best ones, just grab and go.
Don't place money directly into the cashier's hands. Put it on a tray.
I always think the opposite, it’s rude to make the cashier pick it up!
Don't eat or drink while walking. Drinking coffee counts too. You will get judgy stares.
Don't go barefoot or wear house slippers into the toilet. Use toilet slippers.
Does a family share toilet slippers or does each family member have their own pair stored by the bathroom door?
Don't get into PDA. Just save it for the hotel room, okay?
These "Hey look this" list misses context ---- there's a few reasons behind all of these (hygiene being the dominant theme)... A line or two of explanation would make this a 10x more interesting post (and remove the constant "wow how weird" reactions) as it shows a world view tying them together.
Their country, they get to set the rules. It's a physically small country with a LOT of people, so when you're up to your armpits in armpits, courtesy/consideration get _real_ important.
One thing the poster doesnt share is her tatoos are also a bit taboo in Japan, most hot springs ( Onsen , ithink theyre called) will not let you in if you have tattoos.
Legit question, pls forgive my ignorance: is it palms together then a bow of the head/shoulders, or a bow without the 'prayer' hands, like arm across the torso and deeper bow? I like the idea of bowing being a part of everyday interaction ^-^
Load More Replies...
I'd be kinda interested to see odd social rules for other countries. It's been way overdone for Japan.
Also don't mention Japan's historical oppression of Korea, comfort women, generally being a hostile environment even for 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Japanese-Koreans, etc.
Also don't Bring up the Congo in Belgium, Algiers in France, Nazism in Germany, Gulags in Russia, The Great Famine in the UK, Slavery in the US. All countries have commited evil in the past.
Load More Replies...
In a perfect world, everyone would have such high standards of hygiene and respect for others.
Wow this is really interesting. I live in the USA and people are doing all these things that are wrong in other countries. Not all are appropriate but US citizens do them. It's just the norm here I guess.
I'm really hoping the internet-destroying solar flare they're predicting does hit if for nothing else than forcing these TikTok "stars" to get real jobs.
Already?! I just packed my tinfoil hat away, and now I have to get it back out again? Bloody lizard people and that 'sun' of theirs!
Load More Replies... These "Hey look this" list misses context ---- there's a few reasons behind all of these (hygiene being the dominant theme)... A line or two of explanation would make this a 10x more interesting post (and remove the constant "wow how weird" reactions) as it shows a world view tying them together.
Their country, they get to set the rules. It's a physically small country with a LOT of people, so when you're up to your armpits in armpits, courtesy/consideration get _real_ important.
One thing the poster doesnt share is her tatoos are also a bit taboo in Japan, most hot springs ( Onsen , ithink theyre called) will not let you in if you have tattoos.
Legit question, pls forgive my ignorance: is it palms together then a bow of the head/shoulders, or a bow without the 'prayer' hands, like arm across the torso and deeper bow? I like the idea of bowing being a part of everyday interaction ^-^
Load More Replies... I'd be kinda interested to see odd social rules for other countries. It's been way overdone for Japan.
Also don't mention Japan's historical oppression of Korea, comfort women, generally being a hostile environment even for 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Japanese-Koreans, etc.
Also don't Bring up the Congo in Belgium, Algiers in France, Nazism in Germany, Gulags in Russia, The Great Famine in the UK, Slavery in the US. All countries have commited evil in the past.
Load More Replies... In a perfect world, everyone would have such high standards of hygiene and respect for others.
Wow this is really interesting. I live in the USA and people are doing all these things that are wrong in other countries. Not all are appropriate but US citizens do them. It's just the norm here I guess.
I'm really hoping the internet-destroying solar flare they're predicting does hit if for nothing else than forcing these TikTok "stars" to get real jobs.
Already?! I just packed my tinfoil hat away, and now I have to get it back out again? Bloody lizard people and that 'sun' of theirs!
Load More Replies...