What you should know about Japanese Etiquette
Few countries make first-time visitors as anxious about “getting it wrong” as Japan. Its reputation for elaborate manners can make a trip feel like an exam you haven’t revised for. Here’s the reassuring truth: **you are not expected to get everything right, and you are very unlikely to cause real offence.** Japanese people know you’re a visitor, they appreciate any genuine effort, and the customs that actually matter come down to a small handful of things.
This guide covers those customs by situation — what to do, what to avoid, and which few rules are worth remembering above the rest. Learn the big ones, relax about the rest, and a little courtesy will carry you a long way.
If you only remember Six things
Dont tip
It isn’t done, and can cause confusion.
Take your shoes off
When entering homes, ryokan, temples and many restaurants
Washing
In an onsen, wash thoroughly before you get in
Chopsticks
Never stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice
Keep quiet on trains
no phone calls, phone on silent mode
A small bow
and a “arigatō gozaimasu” cover almost every interaction
Get those right and everything below is refinement.
Money and Tipping
Japan has no tipping culture, and this surprises almost everyone.
- Don’t tip in restaurants, taxis or hotels. Service is included and considered a matter of professional pride — leaving money behind can cause genuine confusion, and staff may even chase after you to return it.
- Do carry cash. Cards are increasingly accepted in cities, but cash is still king in smaller shops and rural areas. Keep notes reasonably crisp.
- Do use the little tray. At shop and restaurant counters, place your money on the small tray provided rather than handing it directly to the cashier.
Dining and Chopsticks
Eating is one of the great joys of Japan, and the etiquette is easier than it looks. Two chopstick taboos genuinely matter; the rest is gentle good manners.
- Never stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice — this echoes a funeral rite and is the one to avoid above all.
- Never pass food chopstick-to-chopstick with another person — it mirrors a separate funeral ritual. Put the food on a plate instead.
- Don’t stab food with your chopsticks or wave them around; rest them on the holder, or across your bowl, when not in use.
- Do feel free to slurp noodles — far from rude, it’s normal and even a sign you’re enjoying them.
- Do say “itadakimasu” before eating and “gochisōsama” after — a small courtesy that’s always well received.
- Don’t worry if you struggle with chopsticks — asking for a fork is completely fine, and the effort is what counts.
Shoes, homes and ryokan
The shoes-off custom is one you’ll meet constantly.
- Do take your shoes off when entering a home, a traditional ryokan inn, a temple, and many restaurants — look for a raised step (the *genkan*) and a row of shoes by the door.
- Do wear easily removable footwear and decent socks, since you may take your shoes off several times a day.
Do swap into the indoor slippers provided — but take them off again before stepping onto tatami-mat flooring, where socks or bare feet are the rule. - Don’t forget that toilet slippers are separate: change into them in the bathroom, and — a classic visitor mistake — remember to change *back out* of them when you leave.
Onsen and public baths
A soak in an onsen is one of Japan’s great experiences, and the source of most visitors’ nerves. The rules are simple once you know them.
- Do wash and rinse thoroughly at the shower stations before getting into the bath — the bath is for soaking, not cleaning.
- Do bathe naked. Swimwear isn’t permitted; a small modesty towel can be carried, but keep it out of the water (most people rest it on their head).
- Don’t let long hair touch the water — tie it up — and don’t take photos.
- Tattoos can still bar entry to some traditional onsen. If you have them, look for tattoo-friendly baths, book a private (kashikiri) onsen, or use a cover patch for small ones. Onsen with good English websites are usually the more relaxed about it.
Temples and shrines
Sacred sites are welcoming to visitors who show a little respect.
- Do bow slightly as you pass through a shrine’s *torii* gate, and purify your hands and mouth at the water pavilion near the entrance.
- Do keep your voice low and your phone silent inside temple halls.
- Don’t assume photography is allowed everywhere — many halls prohibit it, so look for signs.
- At shrines, the prayer ritual is bow twice, clap twice, make your wish, bow once — and traditionally you keep to the *side* of the main path, as the centre is reserved for the gods.
Trains and public spaces
Public quiet is a deeply held value, and the easiest way to blend in.
- Do keep your phone on silent (“manner mode”) and don’t take calls on trains.
- Do queue neatly on the marked lines on station platforms and let passengers off before boarding.
- Don’t eat on local commuter trains (long-distance Shinkansen are the accepted exception), and avoid eating while walking in busy areas — pause near the shop or a bench instead.
- Don’t blow your nose loudly in public; step away or use a restroom if you must
Greetings and everyday manners
- Do offer a small bow (a slight nod of around 15 degrees is plenty) when greeting, thanking or saying goodbye. You’re not expected to master the depths and durations — the effort alone reads as polite.
- Don’t force a handshake or a hug; Japanese greetings tend to involve less physical contact.
- Do learn a few words — *konnichiwa* (hello), *arigatō gozaimasu* (thank you), sumimasen (excuse me/sorry). They go a remarkably long way.
A final word
The single most important thing to know about Japanese etiquette is that you don’t need to be perfect at it. Visitors are met with warmth and patience, and a sincere attempt to do the right thing matters far more than flawless execution. Avoid the few genuine taboos — chopsticks upright in rice, shoes indoors, swimming-pool behaviour in the onsen, tipping — keep your voice down on the train, and meet people with a small bow and a thank-you. Do that, and you’ll travel Japan not just smoothly, but as a guest its people are glad to have.
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Visiting Japan — the full country guide
Tokyo — where most first trips begin
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Japan Etiquette: FAQs
Do you tip in Japan?
No. Tipping isn't customary and can cause confusion or even discomfort — good service is already included in the price. If you leave money, staff may chase after you to return it. A sincere "thank you" and a small bow are the right way to show appreciation.
Do I have to take my shoes off in Japan?
Often, yes — when entering homes, traditional ryokan, temples and many restaurants. Look for a raised entrance step and a row of shoes, slip into the slippers provided, and remove those again on tatami flooring. Wear easily removable shoes and decent socks.
Can I go to an onsen if I have tattoos?
Sometimes. Many traditional onsen still restrict visible tattoos, but more tattoo-friendly venues now exist, and you can book a private bath or use a cover patch for small tattoos. Onsen with English-language websites tend to be the most relaxed about it.
What chopstick etiquette should I know in Japan?
Two rules matter most: never stand chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, and never pass food directly from chopsticks to chopsticks — both echo funeral rituals. Otherwise, rest them on the holder when not in use, don't stab food, and feel free to slurp your noodles.
Is it rude to eat while walking in Japan?
Generally, yes, in towns and cities — food is meant to be enjoyed in one place rather than on the move. Eating at festivals and street-food markets is fine, but otherwise pause near the stall or find a bench. Eating on local commuter trains is also best avoided.
Do I need to bow in Japan?
A small bow is polite when greeting, thanking or saying goodbye, but you're not expected to master its subtleties — a slight nod is plenty, and visitors are unlikely to offend by getting it imperfect. Handshakes aren't usual outside business settings.