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Japan is a fascinating, ancient country with a culture steeped in history. It’s no wonder that it’s such a popular travel destination and gets millions of visitors every year. However, many of these tourists forget the traditions and etiquette that are important to the Japanese people. Here are 10 things tourists should never do in Japan:
1. Do Not Tip
Tipping is not common in Japan, even less so with service workers. Tipping is considered rude and unnecessary, especially when you’re paying for the service of someone who works hard to provide you with a product or service (like cleaning your room).
Asking for tips can also be awkward if the person working at your hotel or restaurant has been paid a salary and doesn’t expect any extra money from you. If you have to tip somebody anyway because they helped you out—for example, if they served food at an event or took time out of their day to show some local sights—you may want to offer them something small like 1 dollar bill wrapped up into little packages labeled “thank-you” so that there’s no confusion about whether this was meant as an actual gift (it wasn’t).
2. Do Not Smoke Indoors
Smoking is banned in public places, including train stations, restaurants, and bars. Additionally, smoking is banned on beaches and parks where people can be seen from afar.
Even if you don’t see anyone around you, it’s best to avoid lighting up because the smell of tobacco lingers long after a person has left their smoke to dissipate.
3. Do Not Blare Music in Public
When you’re visiting amazing places in Japan, it’s important to remember that there are some things tourists shouldn’t do. You know what we’re talking about—the ones that get you into trouble or make other people frown at you.
One of these things is blaring music in public. This is considered rude and can result in fines or even arrest, depending on the severity of your offense (and whether or not your loudness was intentional). If caught doing this, don’t say we didn’t warn you!
4. Do Not Give a Thumbs-Up Sign
A thumbs-up sign is popular in the United States and other countries. In Japan, however, it’s much more than simply an expression of approval—it can be offensive!
The gesture means that someone is a loser and not worth your time or money. It’s used as an insult by saying something like “Okay?” to someone who may not be worth talking to anyway (or worse: trying out some new food). If you want to say something nice instead of rudely telling someone else that they’re doing something wrong without actually saying anything (which could make them think you’re rude), then use another hand gesture instead of giving them the thumbs-up sign!
5. Do Not Talk About the War
- Do not mention the war.
- Do not mention the atomic bomb.
- Do not mention Pearl Harbor.
- Do not mention Korea or Vietnam, or Iraq.
6. Do Not Wear Shoes Indoors
Japanese people are very clean and neat, and you will be asked to take off your shoes at the entrance of most buildings. There are a few exceptions: temples, shrines, and some hotels allow visitors to wear slippers in their sanctuaries; ryokans sometimes have an open-air bath or hot springs room where it’s fine to leave your shoes outside your room on the tatami mat flooring (if this is allowed).
7. Ask for Help If You Need
Japanese people are known for being very helpful. Just ask if you want to go to a certain place or see a specific sight. They’ll be glad to help you out!
If you get lost, ask for directions from anyone who looks like they might know where you’re going. Most people will understand your question and point out their direction without hesitation, even if they don’t speak English.
If someone offers to carry something heavy for you (like luggage), take them up—it’s always better than carrying something
8. Do Not Pack Your Schedule with Too Much
Having a well-planned trip is the best way to see all of Japan. However, if you plan your trip too much in advance, you might miss out on some fun traveling parts.
Tourists must see many places in Japan and things they should take advantage of during their visit. The country has a lot of history, culture, and beauty. Hence, it’s important for tourists not only to experience these things but also learn about them as well because then they will be able to appreciate them more deeply when they return home again later down the road after visiting another country like Australia or New Zealand, which are similar but with different landscapes than those found here at home!
9. Do Not Complain About the Weather
Japanese people are used to the weather. So they don’t complain because they know you can do nothing about it.
It’s not just that Japanese people are stoic and realistic—they also understand that complaining about the weather is a sign of rudeness in Japan. It shows you don’t respect their culture or traditions, and they will take offense if they’ve been nice enough already!
So instead of complaining about how hot it is (or how cold), try asking questions like: “What kind of tea would go well with this?” or “How can we make sure our kids stay cool when we go out?”
10 . Refrain from running with the crowds.
When you are crossing the street, always look both ways before crossing. The Japanese are very polite and often wait until you have finished crossing to walk across. However, the Japanese are not used to large crowds of people, so you must watch for pedestrians and cars and other vehicles trying to get around them. Many Japanese people will not even bother looking at their phones or talking on their cell phones while walking across busy streets!
Final Thoughts
Remember that the people of Japan are friendly and welcoming, but they also have their customs and traditions. By respecting these local customs, you’ll help to create a better relationship with them. We hope this guide helps you avoid some of the most common mistakes tourists make while visiting Japan!
