A foreigner may do something truly unforgivable: use soap in a public bath, walk on a tatami floor with shoes on, and these actions can irritate Japanese (the Japanese do not expect foreigners to be fully "civilized"). On the other hand, if you follow their customs, they are surprised and delighted.

General Behavior

Punctuality is expected. Arrive on time for all social and business events.

Japanese people value implicit emotions, so avoid speaking loudly or showing emotions.

Excessive compliments will make Japanese people uncomfortable, and they don’t like to stand out from the crowd. Don't comment on other people's appearance. If someone compliments you, politely deny it (never say "thank you").

When walking on streets and stairs, keep to the left. However, on the stairs and corridors of subway stations, signs ask you to keep to the right.

In a Japanese garden, a boulder tied with a straw rope means that the area behind it is off-limits.

When you enter a hotel or other building, put your wet umbrella on an umbrella stand (some umbrella stands charge a storage fee).

If you are invited to a Japanese wedding, be prepared to give impromptu speeches to advise the newlyweds on their union. Only say positive and helpful things and avoid mentioning breakup, divorce or remarriage.

At the climax or end of the ceremony, Japanese people often raise their arms above their heads and shout "Banzai!" (literally meaning 10,000 years, that is, long live) three times. This is similar to the "Three Cheers" of Westerners. Please do as the Japanese do. Shouting at the wrong time is extremely embarrassing.

It is uncivilized to eat and drink on the street. Keep your nose down in front of others.

Older Japanese rarely give anniversary or birthday cards (although such cards are increasingly common among younger people). They only give away seasonal cards during the summer solstice and new year. To find the right cards, ask a stationery dealer or a Japanese friend for advice.

Body Language

The Japanese prefer to keep a certain distance between people rather than North Americans. This distance is twice the distance between you and others in the west. Don't touch, pat or even hold your arms with any Japanese, don't kiss anyone in public or do any other act of intimacy (however, it's not unusual to see Japanese people of the same sex walking hand in hand).

Japanese people not only smile or laugh when they are happy, they also do the same when they are apologetic, embarrassed, sad or angry. A smile often masks nervousness, but that doesn't necessarily mean it shouldn't be taken seriously.

Yawning in public is impolite. If you can't help it, cover your mouth with one hand (yawning often causes Japanese women to reveal their teeth inappropriately, so many older Japanese women also cover their mouths with their hands when they laugh).

Waving your hands back and forth in front of your face is a negative response ("I don't understand," "I don't know," or just "no"). When you receive a compliment of some kind, respond politely with this gesture.

When a man walks in front of someone or between two people, his waist should be slightly bent and his right hand should be clenched in front of his face, as if he is blocking the air (this posture Go up as if pressing your thumb against your nose).

When you sit down in a chair, sit upright with your feet on the floor. You can also cross your legs at the ankle joint or place one knee on top of the other. When women sit down on the floor, they should sit with their legs bent under them, not crossed.

To attract the attention of service personnel and attract their eyes, you can nod quickly and gently and look at them expectantly. If they don't see you, you may need to make a formal bow.

To summon someone, extend your right arm forward, lower your wrist, palm down, and wiggle your fingers. Never use this gesture with an elderly person or a person of high status, and never use your index finger to summon someone.

It is an insulting gesture to point at someone with four fingers stretched out and the thumb held tightly. It is often used to express eta - the Japanese people.

When Japanese acquaintances extend their crooked little fingers to you, they are asking you to go paddle boating with them. It is a gesture of commitment.

The Japanese count using only the fingers of one hand. They start from the thumb and bend the fingers one by one towards the palm, and then open them one by one starting from the little finger.

Clothing

Japanese dress neatly, even in informal settings. If you want to feel comfortable, don't dress too casually. Adults, especially businessmen, rarely wear bright colors or exotic clothing. Wear overalls (unless specially made), suit shorts or T-shirts only in crowded places.

In winter, Japanese homes and small hotels are cold and drafty. Indoor clothing should include long underwear, thick socks and a sweater.

If you are wearing a coat, take it off and put it over your arm before you enter the room for a business meeting. Don't put it on until you leave the room.

Men's attire: A dark suit and tie should be worn for business meetings. In higher-end clubs and restaurants (especially at night), you can wear a jacket and tie. There are very few people wearing evening gowns. When attending a wedding, you can wear a dark formal suit and a black bow tie, or a white or silver tie. To attend a funeral, wear a black suit and black tie.

Women’s clothing: Wear a dark coat or dark suit for office work. If you're going to an upper-class club or restaurant for an evening date, wear a semi-formal dress (traditional Japanese formal dinners require sitting on the floor, so don't wear a tight skirt). When attending a wedding, you can wear any color except white. White is reserved for brides. When attending a funeral, black clothes and trousers are worn, and no gemstones are worn (pearls are acceptable).

National Costume: Japanese women often wear traditional kimonos on special days or festivals. Colorful kimonos are only worn by young girls. If you stay at a Japanese inn, you may be given a cotton kimono (yukata) to wear when bathing or walking around the inn.

Temples and Holy Sites

Japan’s two major religions are Shinto and Buddhism. In Shintoism, the place of worship is a holy place; in Buddhism, the place of worship is a temple.

Before you enter a temple or any house in a holy place, take off your shoes, hat and turban. Some temples provide plastic bags so you can bring your shoes inside. Place your umbrella in an umbrella stand (some charge a storage fee).

Temple welcome visitors, but most temples charge admission fee.

In Buddhist ceremonies, visitors are asked to sit on the tatami mats with concentration.

Shinto sacred sites also welcome visitors. There is no admission fee when entering. The distinction between a holy place and a temple can be indicated by the tall Torii at the entrance of the holy place. Torii are large pillars that support one or two cross beams. Do not drink the water from the container next to Torii. This water is used by visitors to wash their hands and rinse their mouths before entering the holy place. Do not walk through the main building of the Holy Land (Honden, the main temple).

If you attend a Shinto ceremony at a sacred site, you will either sit on one of the benches used by visitors, or you will stand. After the ceremony, donations are placed in the water tank next to the exit.

Personal gifts

Western-style gifts are particularly common in Japan, including Native American art, local food, Western belt buckles, and T-shirts with foreign university logos ( for teenagers).

Japanese people will be embarrassed by giving equal gifts in return, so don’t give expensive gifts. Do not give gifts in even numbers, especially in units of 4 (the pronunciation of 4 in Japanese is the same as the word for death). Sending flowers is not a good option because flowers are mostly given during courtships and funerals. The shirt and tie are equally inappropriate.

In Japan, gift wrapping is a precise art, so gifts are packaged according to local methods. You have to ask the salesperson to use the correct wrapping paper and tell them what occasion it is for.

To give and receive gifts, use both hands and bow slightly. The gift is not opened in front of the giver (this delay shows concern, regardless of the size of the gift. It also saves the giver's face if the gift is not pleasing to the recipient).

When someone offers you a gift, you should be polite once or twice before accepting it. The next time you meet the gift giver, be sure to mention that courtesy.

Tipping

Tipping in Japan is not as common as in many other countries. If you can't get it on time, you won't pay.

Hotels: Hotels often add a 10-20% service charge to your bill, so there is no need to leave a tip unless you receive special service.