15 More Things You Shouldn't Do in Japan (Part 3)
Nonetheless in the spring, summer, autumn or winter, Japan is the ideal location for a vacation where you can enjoy and have fun at. Aside from the seasons, their food is delicious, the people there are great, and their sceneries are amazing. But if you are planning to visit Japan on your next trip, here are a few things you need to be careful of to have your fun times there while remaining respectful.
1. Eating on the train.
If you had been in a Japanese subway before, you would know it is oftentimes really crowded, which means that it would be inconvenient for someone to eat there. As the Japanese are very concerned about being hygienic, you never know if you will spill anything on the floor while eating. There are restaurants in the subway stations, so just make sure to finish your meals before entering the train.
2. Touching everything in a shop.
When you are in a shop, just make sure not to touch the items, instead, just use your eyes to look at the items. Tying back to hygiene, touching the items sold in the shops (for example, the clothes) means that you might contaminate them. Another thing is that you might even break them, such as glass plates or ceramic decorations.
3. Taking pictures in shrines when it's not allowed.
Shrines are popular places to visit in Japan and to see how different they look from other places in the world, it is tempting to take pictures of them for memories. However, not all shrines are open for photography. If they are signs showing that you are not allowed to take pictures, just be respectful and obey the rules.
4. Whistling or snapping your finger at the waiters.
The gestures of whistling and snapping your finger at people for Japanese are equivalent to trying to capture the attention of animals, which is very disrespectful for the locals. If you do need to get the attention of the waiter/waitress, just raise your hand for them to notice, and if possible, do add on the phrase “すみません sumimasen” (meaning: excuse me) to get their attention.
5. Dirtying the public washroom.
Japanese washrooms are known to be extremely clean, it is almost impossible to find one washroom in Japan that is dirty. To keep things the way it is, just make sure you flush the toilet after using it and also try not to throw toilet papers or anything on the ground, or even wetting the washroom.
6. Not washing clean before going to hot springs.
Still on the hygiene topic, if you are planning to go to the hot springs, it is crucial to wash clean before entering one. There are always bathing areas near the hot springs. This does not only help keep the hot springs clean but also prevent any diseases from spreading.
7. Chewing with your mouth open.
Japanese restaurants are often very small, which means you’ll most likely be sitting close to the people beside you. So to not be disrespectful to others, just be sure you are chewing your food with your mouth close, as this also prevents having food from spitting out of your mouth while chewing.
8. Using public elevators.
Just like any other country, most public places in Japan, such as subway stations or shopping malls, have both elevators and escalators in them. But, unless you are disabled or a pregnant woman or elderly, you should be taking the escalators or the stairs and not the elevator. This is why you see more people using the escalators than the lifts.
9. Not speaking basic Japanese.
Just like visiting any other country, the locals would really appreciate it if you communicated with them in their native language. You don’t need to excel in it, simply learning just the basics would work just as fine, such as:
ありがとう ございます arigatou gozaimasu– Thank you, for when you are buying things or eating in a restaurant.
ください kudasai – Please, for when you are ordering something in a restaurant.
すみません sumimasen – Excuse me, for when you need the get the waiter’s attention.
おはよう ございます ohayo gozaimasu – Good morning, to greet the people in the hotel or apartment.
ごめんなさい gomennasai – Sorry, for when you accidentally pushed or stepped on someone.
10. Throwing all rubbish into the same bin.
There aren’t many rubbish bins in Japan, but whenever you see one it would be separated into different types. As Japanese care a lot for the environment, you should learn to place your rubbish in the right bins. You are also helping the trash collector to have an easier job.
11. Leaving a lot of food when you’re done eating.
If you do not finish your food in a restaurant, the Japanese would take it the offensive way that the food does not taste good, because you don’t even want to finish it. If you really couldn’t finish the food or whatever reason you did not finish, at least have it take away and throw it out elsewhere.
12. Taking pictures in the subway.
The people who commute by subway in Japan are usually employees, students, or other kinds of workers. To them, the subway is not a place to have fun, but rather a place for them to commute back and forth every day. So it is best not to take a picture while you are in the subway just to not embarrass yourself as a tourist.
13. Showing physical affection to your partner in public.
Japanese are very reserved, and they do not display physical affection in public, such as kissing or passionately hugging or anything along the line. Just save the affectional act to when you are alone with your partner.
14. Blowing your nose in public.
Japanese take cleanliness very seriously, which explains why you see people who are sick in public wearing face masks. They do not want to pass their sickness to others. So for health and hygienic purposes, just don’t blow your nose in public.
15. Eating sushi separately.
Sushi is a traditional Japanese food from the past, and they are meant to be eaten together as a whole. If you eat sushi separately, it is kind of showing that you do not enjoy the traditional Japanese food and can seem quite offensive to the locals. Since you are visiting Japan, just enjoy the sushi the traditional way.
These are the 15 things you need to be aware of when visiting Japan. Just remember to stay respectful and your trip would be a breeze.
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