Beginner's Guide to Japan Travel: Manners and Japanese Phrases You Should Know

Knowing the manners and rules when traveling in Japan is extremely important for enriching your local experience and avoiding troubles. Understanding customs such as removing shoes, maintaining quiet behavior in public places, and dining etiquette makes interactions with local people smoother and enables deeper cultural experiences. Additionally, memorizing basic Japanese phrases will help you when you get lost or while shopping. Japanese people greatly appreciate when foreigners respect their country's customs. By observing proper manners, your travel experience will become more comfortable and memorable. By understanding Japanese cultural nuances and approaching with respect, you can experience Japan not just as a traveler but as a temporary "resident."

Basic Manners and Customs You Should Know for Traveling in Japan

General Manners

• Taking off shoes: In Japanese homes, ryokans (traditional inns), some restaurants, and temples, it is necessary to take off your shoes before entering. Place your shoes neatly at the entrance (genkan).

  
  

• Bowing (ojigi): Bowing your head is common when greeting, expressing gratitude, or apologizing. A slight bow is usually sufficient.

  
  

• Stay quiet in public places: In public places such as trains and buses, avoid talking loudly or having long phone conversations.

  
  

• Queuing: Japanese people have a culture of standing in orderly lines. At stations and stores, line up and wait your turn without cutting in line.

  
  

• Trash disposal rules: In public places, avoid throwing trash anywhere except in designated trash bins. While many tourist spots have trash bins installed, they are limited in number. It is good manners to either take your trash home with you or use the trash bins available at convenience stores or fast food restaurants.

  
  

• Wi-Fi situation: Free Wi-Fi is often available at major tourist spots, cafes, hotels, and stations, but there may be restrictions on connection methods or usage time. Services for travelers such as "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" or "Free Wi-Fi Passport" are also convenient. It's also worth considering renting a pocket Wi-Fi.

Dining Etiquette

• "Itadakimasu" and "Gochisousama": It is polite to say "itadakimasu" before eating and "gochisousama (deshita)" after finishing a meal.

  
  

• How to use chopsticks: Avoid stabbing food with chopsticks, passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another (chopstick-to-chopstick transfer), or rummaging through dishes with your chopsticks.

  
  

• Lifting dishes while eating: It is common to lift items that can be held in your hand, such as rice bowls and soup bowls, when eating from them.

  
  

• Don't leave food uneaten:Try to finish all of your food as much as possible to show appreciation for the ingredients and the person who prepared the meal.

Basic Japanese Phrases

When you come to Japan, you'd like to try speaking Japanese with locals at least once, right?

Next, I'll share some essential Japanese phrases that you should know.

They're easy to use, so please try speaking them when you're in Japan.

• Hello - こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

Situation: When entering a store during the day, when meeting an acquaintance

• Thank you! - ありがとう (Arigatō)

Situation: When a store clerk carries your luggage, when someone gives you directions

• Excuse me/Sorry - すみません (Sumimasen)

Situation: When addressing someone, when apologizing, when calling a store clerk

Both "sorry" and "excuse me" are expressed as "すみません" in Japanese.

At tourist spots

• Can I take a picture? - 写真を撮ってもいいですか？ (Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?)

Situation: When you want to take photos at tourist sites or inside stores

• Where is the station? - 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?)

Situation: When you're lost, when you want to find the nearest station

In shops and restaurants

• Please give me 〇〇- 〇〇をください (〇〇 o kudasai)

Situation: When ordering at a restaurant, when asking for something

• How much? - いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)

Situation: When you want to ask the price while shopping, when you want to confirm a fee

• Can I use a credit card? - カードは使えますか？ (Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka?)

Situation: When you want to check if card payment is possible at the time of payment

At tourist spots

Other Important Notes

• Limited trash bins: There are few trash bins in Japanese streets, so it's best to take your garbage with you.

• No tipping culture: There is no custom of tipping in Japan. It might even be considered rude.