What You Need to Know About Japanese Etiquette

Orsolya Kako

Asia-Pacific | Japan

Japanese-Etiquette-intro We’ve all been there. It’s your first time in a new country and you know little, if anything, about the people, their culture or their customs. Bow or shake? Shoes on or off? Smile or frown? (Just kidding—always smile.)

Consider this your cheat sheet to mastering Japanese etiquette and culture.

The Japanese Bow

The bow is the handshake of Japan. However, unlike a handshake, where eye contact is important, a well-delivered bow leaves you inspecting your shoes. Practice makes perfect: stand with your back to the wall and bend from the hips, keeping your backside in contact with the wall.

Language and Speech

Hai means yes, but in Japanese it is also used as conversation filler, such as “I see,” or “hmm.” As a result, Japanese speakers of English often say “yes,” giving the impression they understand or agree, when perhaps they don’t.

Additionally, the Japanese rarely raise their voices unless they’re singing karaoke. If you have a problem or complaint, it is best to discuss it in a calm voice using carefully chosen words.

Experience Japan With B&R

Scheduled Group Biking Trip

The wonderful riddle of contemporary Japan is how wholeheartedly it has embraced all things modern—all the while retaining the customs of times past. See history come to life on two wheels on our Japan Biking adventure.

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Scheduled Group Walking Trip

Immerse yourself in Japanese culture, history and nature on our Japan Walking trip, where you’ll stroll through rice fields, ancient bamboo groves, and centuries-old temples as you get a taste of authentic rural Japan.

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Shoes

Shoes are constantly being put on and taken off in Japan.

Japanese-Etiquette-shoes It is polite to arrange your shoes side-by-side, toes facing out so you can step into them as you leave. The general rule is that any place you must step up onto is a shoe-free territory. Shoes are not worn in rooms with tatami (woven mats). Slippers are not worn on tatami either, except at some historic sites.

And remember: bathroom slippers are only worn in the bathroom.

Decor and Space

Paper sliding doors are used to divide tatami rooms, and the paper is easy to rip, but hard to fix. Do yourself a favour: be careful! You should also be aware that traditional hotel rooms have an alcove in the wall for a scroll and flower arrangement. Do not leave luggage or items in this nook.

Sake

As wine is to Italy and scotch is to Scotland, sake is to Japan. But as with many elements of Japanese culture, there is a longstanding tradition associated with how it’s served. Check out this great YouTube clip for a primer on how to properly serve and drink sake.

Orsolya Kako

Trip Designer Orsolya Kako plans experiential and in-depth excursions to locales as varied as Japan, Morocco and Iceland from her home base in Toronto. Her name gets butchered a lot, but she’ll usually respond to “Ursula.”