Manners

Nobody expects you to be perfect — but a few missteps can leave a lasting impression you didn’t intend. Japanese etiquette isn’t complicated once you know the logic behind it. Here are the rules that actually matter in daily life. Public Spaces On Trains and Subways Silence your phone — calls on trains are considered rude Don’t eat on local trains — shinkansen and long-distance trains are fine Give up priority seats — marked seats near doors for elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers Don’t stand in doorways blocking exit Keep voices low — trains are generally quiet No strong perfume or food smells — considerate of others in enclosed spaces On Escalators In Tokyo: stand on the left, walk on the right In Osaka: the opposite — stand on the right, walk on the left Never block the walking side Shoes Off Remove shoes when entering: ...

Japan has a dense set of unwritten public behavior rules that nobody tells you about when you arrive. Breaking them won’t get you arrested, but it will earn you looks — and it matters if you want to actually fit in. Here’s what foreigners most often get wrong. On the Train The rules of Japanese train etiquette are semi-legendary, and for good reason — 40+ million people use Tokyo’s train system every day. The system only works because everyone follows the rules. ...