Do's, Don'ts, and Dealing with Cultural Differences
Traveling to a new country for the first time can be a lot of things. Exciting, scary, intriguing, and more. This guide will help you with some general guidelines on navigating Japan and understanding the differences between it and your home country.
Do’s
Interact with locals at any place. Go stroll for long and short distances.
Don’t be afraid to go into a restaurant even if you can’t read the signs or speak the language because that is the fun of being in Japan and a good way to learn.
Knowledge of the native language as much as possible will be very helpful. Things will be difficult if you have little to no knowledge of the language. (However, this is the value of learning – it might not be easy but it will be valuable in the end.)
Learn about the area by exploring on your own. You also learn more about Japan that way too.
Carry a handkerchief or hand towel for the bathrooms where often there may not be hand dryers.
Keep good manners and politeness. Consider others before yourself.
Always stand to the right on escalators.
Don’ts:
Do not get into a person’s personal space. Avoid touching strangers. (There is a sort of etiquette that excuses this for packed rush hour train travel.)
Do not litter. Always throw garbage out correctly. There are not many garbage cans in public places and people usually take their trash home with them by carrying a small plastic bag with them.
Do not be loud or talk too loud while on trains.
Never talk on your cell phone while on trains or in restaurants (unless it is an emergency).
Men, avoid Women-only train cars during times noted.
Do not wear shoes in someone’s house, apartment, etc.
Avoid showing tattoos in certain formal situations. (Mostly it’s ok.)
Do not abuse alcohol and get sloppy while drunk. Avoid fighting, conflict, and arguments.
Avoid taking things too far sexually if they could be unwanted – avoid any sexual harassment.
Never call the first name of elders.
Please attach Mr. Ms. (-さん -san), Dr. Prof. ( 先生、せんせい - sensei or 博士、はかせ - hakase) with the last name. For example: Hamade san, Kanda sensei.
Once you are allowed to call them by their first name or in a casual way, it’s okay.
Japanese applies very strict honorifics for communication.
Please don’t say ‘Hey’ to elders.
Waving a hand saying ‘Hi’ can be impolite to elders, and remember to bow and greet elders first when in a group of people.