Customs- Do's and Don'ts
Here are a few of the more obvious customs that you will probably encounter during your time in Japan. You can learn many more customs by simply observing the people around you. If you are unfamiliar with, or unsure about how to do something, please ask. You may feel childish, but you will not be seen as such. You will be viewed as someone who is interested in the Japanese culture and their way of doing things.
1. Shoe and Slipper Etiquette
In Japanese homes, and some places such as temples, small hotels and some restaurants there are rituals attached to the wearing of shoes that need to be observed. On entering a home you leave your shoes in the entranceway called the genkan which is at a lower level than the house. You then step up into the house and into a pair of slippers that will be placed out for your use. Do not insist on going barefoot. Wear the slippers provided. As you become more familiar with your setting you might find that it is okay to walk barefooted or in stockings. If so, great! However, please be sensitive to your particular situation. Tatami rooms- A "tatami" room is a room in which the floor is made of tightly woven straw mats. Never wear shoes or slippers on the tatami. Leave your slippers outside the doorway before entering the room. Carpeted Floors- Floors with a carpet covering are becoming more and more popular in Japan. It is difficult to give you proper slipper etiquette because it tends to vary from area to area and even from house to house. The best rule of thumb is to simply ask what is proper. Your host will be glad to show you what you should do. Toilet Slippers- In most homes and churches, there is a special pair of slippers to be worn only in the toilet area. Spare yourself embarrassment by remembering to change back into your regular slippers, rather than wearing the toilet slippers in church or other parts of the home.
2. Bowing and Handshakes
The Japanese bow to each other on meeting or departing. The depth and frequency of the bows depends on the status of the people involved. As a foreigner you will automatically be accorded high status, but to be on the safe side imitate any bows you receive and you will then be sure of not offending anyone. To bow you leave both arms straight and bow with the upper body. Women may want to put their hands together in front of their body and then bow. Either way is an acceptable way of bowing. Shaking hands is an alternative way of introducing yourself and a novelty to the Japanese. Many Japanese young people will want to shake hands with you on introduction. However, it is probably better to wait for the Japanese to put out their hand rather than initiating a hand shake. Certainly you would not normally initiate a hand shake with a person of the opposite sex or someone older than yourself. A strong handshake is not needed and could be painful for the unexpecting Japanese. The best rule of thumb for bowing or shaking hands is simply to be observant.