ADVERTISEMENT

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!

#1

Don't put your bag on a free train seat. That should be a universal thing.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
f_h_ avatar
F. H.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is an universal thing, but some people just don't care.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Don't try on clothes without a face cover. This prevents makeup from staining the material.

hangrybynature Report

#3

Don't pull open the taxi door. Japan's living in 3020, remember? They open automatically.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
umereid avatar
ume reid
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not all of them. when i went a couple of years ago every single one i went in was an older kind :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

#4

No talking on the phone on public transport. You will get judgy stares.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, if you talk into a banana in public, the world will judge you. Face it, the world is cruel.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Don't stand on the wrong side of the escalator. Keep left if you're not in a hurry.

hangrybynature Report

#6

Don't leave your backpack on inside public transport. No one wants a backpack in the face.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
satu-portimojarvi avatar
victormarlinpot1 avatar
Victor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually take the aisle seat on flights and have lost count of the number of times someone has whacked me in the face with their carry-on and not even noticed. Almost everything that is a rule in Japan should be a rule in other countries. Japan = think of others first. Western countries = think of yourself first (and there is no second, either).

Load More Replies...
amunetbarrywood avatar
Kristal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The exception is wearing the backpack on your front, many people do that on public transportation there

jeffrequier_1 avatar
Requiem
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

still making you the size of two people and hitting people with it

Load More Replies...
vickyz avatar
Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In many countries its a safety thing too! Someone could open your backpack without you noticing

kathywolosiewicz avatar
Fulsome Kitten
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a backpack wearer or a public transport user soooo - how do most people handle it? Do they put it on the floor? Do they hold the pole with one arm and hold the back pack with the other?

fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I was wondering, but now I think of it, when I was catching the train into uni If I had a big shoulder bag I would take it off and kind of hold it over my feet to make me as small as possible. If I had a backpack I'm not sure what I would do.

Load More Replies...
saderman avatar
Shelli Aderman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s common courtesy everywhere, it again, some folks don’t care, alas…

lindawrightgranger avatar
TheGirlWhoWoreGlasses
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are you supposed to do with it? I don't want it touching the gross floor and holding it in front of me is probably just as bad.

katie4309 avatar
Muff_Fluff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can’t put it in a seat, can’t keep it on your back, where do you put it?

myrddinfyre avatar
boredkoala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Between your feet 🙂. People are bulkiest at the torso and thinnest at the ankles, so putting bags there, whether sitting or standing, doesn't take any additional space on a crowded train. It makes a huge difference!

Load More Replies...
urszulat avatar
urszulat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be a universal law with a heavy penalty for breaking it.

violetsunderfoot avatar
Violet Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But I'm not gonna put it on a dirty floor, and I may need both hands free for balance/hanging on.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

#7

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.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

Don't bargain the price. It's not like the other Asian countries. In Japan most things are legit.

hangrybynature Report

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Don't expect everyone to know English. Try to learn some Japanese.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
stevensedwards avatar
Hannah Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That should be the rule for visiting any country! It’s good manners to learn at least the basics.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Don't walk into fitting rooms with shoes on. Take them off before entering to keep everything clean.

hangrybynature Report

#11

Don't poke or squeeze fresh produce at supermarkets. Trust me, they only put out the best ones, just grab and go.

hangrybynature Report

#12

Don't place money directly into the cashier's hands. Put it on a tray.

hangrybynature Report

#13

Don't eat or drink while walking. Drinking coffee counts too. You will get judgy stares.

hangrybynature Report

#14

Don't go barefoot or wear house slippers into the toilet. Use toilet slippers.

hangrybynature Report

Add photo comments
POST
queeronabike avatar
Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does a family share toilet slippers or does each family member have their own pair stored by the bathroom door?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#15

Don't get into PDA. Just save it for the hotel room, okay?

hangrybynature Report