I think what always shocks me is the etiquette on the subway. I used to live in NYC for 7 years and holy cow it is a dog eat dog world and everyone is so jaded. When I first went to east-Asia, I couldn't believe that people were so courteous and actually let people off the train first. So logical and simple but not every populous actually follows it.
One thing I noticed on my last trip was that Osaka had a lot more people (locals not foreigners) who did not wait in the queue for the train but would cut and push in while people were coming out. It happened almost every time I was at a station. Tokyo was surprisingly a lot more orderly.
Could you do a video on the first things you should do when you get to Japan for the first time as a traveler? Like how to get a train pass, money, and SIM card, etc?
Thank you for this. The taxi door one made me sit up and go 'huh?!' But, yeah, that sorta makes sense. So thank you for saving me some embarrassment at the airport XD (I'm pretty sure Tokyo is still talking about my Salad Incident of 1986, so need all the help I can get).
I thought of a few: on the train, do NOT talk on your phone. I am convinced that texting was invented in Japan because train passengers do need to contact others, but they're not allowed (well, you know) to actually talk on their phones while on a train. Also don't put on makeup, brush your hair, spray perfume, etc on a train. You can do that in the restroom I guess, but not at your seat. Also, if you speak Japanese at all, people will not say "no" or contradict you. For example, if you ask, "Does this train go to Kyoto?" they won't say, "No, that's the wrong train." However, if you said, "I'm trying to get to Kyoto and I'm not sure which train..." Then they'd say, "Oh, it's that one over there."
Text messaging was not invented in Japan. It was introduced to general public rather later than the rest of the world. However, it became a huge hit in Japan in late 1990s, people finding it matching well with their way of life.
@@Pinkkermit17 there was a theory for this in someone else’s video (don’t remember who it was), but it actually makes sense. When two people are talking quietly to each other you may perceive it as some kind of background noise that it’s not disturbing at all. But if there’s only a single person’s voice around your brain will think it’s weird and this will draw more attention.
I've never been to Japan, but I taught English to lots of Japanese students at a Berlitz school when I was young, and it was a chore to get them to say negative statements beginning with "no." In one exercise, I'd hold up a red pen and ask "Is the pen black?" with the expected answer of "No, the pen is not black, the pen is red" but instead they'd try to talk around it, usually with something like "Um... maybe the pen is red." They were clearly very uncomfortable with the idea of contradicting me directly.
Spot on. It gets tired if you live there. Also they don't say "must" they say "must not not do". They also have a recent (post WW2) culture of lying ie saying what you want to hear (tatemae). Avoid unless paid super expat deal
My husband is Japanese and absolutely hates when I answer questions like this 😂 he wants a yes or no answer and apparently I don’t know how to do that. 😅 I will say, “no” is never the correct answer unless it makes the question a positive outcome. Like “is the food bad?” Answer no. But if you didn’t like the food you have to answer as if you did. Basically lie your face off to make everyone feel better
When in Japan three years ago, I learned that pedestrians always obey walk lights even in very small towns. I was in a town so small that it had only one stop light and witnessed a pedestrian waiting for the light to change even though there was no traffic in either direction for at least a 1/2 mile. Conform and blend in.
I lived in a big city, Nagoya. I saw very little rigid following of pedestrian rules, though people did use common sense. And if you're around bars between 10 and 12 at night, you'll see all kinds of slightly unsafe walking.
I am visiting for the first time in a couple of weeks and I am bringing my 10-year-old daughter with me. Your videos have been invaluable in my prep, so thank you for all these videos 😁
You're so awesome. My wife and I have been watching your videos for a few months now leading up to our big trip in April for Sakura season and I feel a lot better prepared (and excited!) thanks to videos like this. Your editing is also really entertaining 😊 The rule that surprised me the most is the taxi handles. That seems so easy to accidently do, so thanks for the emphasis on it.
I feel like touching the handle is not as egregious as pulling or pushing the door. So if you inadvertently put your hand of the door handle and feel it opening on its own, you can jump back, like, Sorry!
Thanks, Allison. I love your videos! I’m so excited to go to Japan! Weird question but what’s the name of the cute plushie in the background of your video? Right behind your head…the larger one. I want to get that for my step daughter ❤️
@@joelyisdoingherbest if you are talking about the pink and white one that is a Sylveon and the pink one next to that is a Ditto. Both are pokemon. Sorry no one was answering so I thought I chime in.
We visited about 2 months ago, and the very first one about leaving belongings to reserve is spot on. We noticed it right away. It’s also a cool commentary on the Japanese people, that you can leave belongings like that, with basically zero fear that anyone will steal them. We did see a lot of people walking with drinks in their hands, but not really drinking them. We actually saw people kind of stop & find a little cove type area, then take a few drinks & continue on their way.
This was absolutely fantastic and so useful. As a Londoner who is about to travel there and stay for three months, this has been so useful. Nicely done.
I just came back and I don't know if this is a tip or not but just going around Tokyo (walking at least 6 to 8 miles a day), besides getting good walking shoes I noticed that it isn't easy to find places to sit at least what I found in malls/public places that are not parks etc. My tip for my friends is really not to go cheap and you literally should "pay" to sit down in places if that makes sense? I found more success buying small cafe foods and sitting in those places taking interval rests then trying to actively find a place to sit in public lol
I needed to see this. I had ankle surgery in December and still not completely healed so I'm anticipating being uncomfortable with all the walking. Goin in April. Can't wait.
Lots of cities have "smoking parks" I don't know the proper name for them. They are cordoned off sections with seats and pleasant smelling plants where smokers can sit and enjoy a cigarette without annoying anybody. Because they're outside you don't really smell the smoke, I think they're also WiFi hotshots.
The thing that annoys me the most is that you have to carry your trash around. But usually there are small trash cans in front of Lawsons / Family Mart / 7-11 where you can discreetly throw it away. And normally, at least in large cities, you are never more than maybe 2 blocks from a convenience store.
it is annoying if you're not used to it but the reason i think that they don't do it is because it can still cause a mess. where i live there are trash cans on some corners but it's always overflowing with trash. yes everyone uses it but it's never cleaned up fast enough and there's trash on the floor. enough to fit another trash can.
Wow!! So much has changed since the 70s. I lived in Kansai (Osaka and Kobe) and I saw a lot of small items being tossed on the ground: cigarette packages, film canisters & boxes. As for entering and exiting the train it was every man/women for themselves. I actually remember someone running to catch another train with her head down. She crashed smack into my abdomen, spun around and then continued on. The foreigners often remarked about how the Japanese can queue up in places like bakeries. Didn't know about socks in temples.
The local culture in Kansai is significantly less reserved than it is in the Kantou area. Osakans in particular are famous for actually saying what they think and letting it all hang out (there's a reason lots of Japanese comedians have or affect Kansai accents), so these rules could very well have been true for Tokyo in the '70s, and they may still not be true for Osaka. 😅
I usually bring little souvenirs from my country (eg individually wrapped chocolates) and give them to people if they help me or if people in the service industry give good service.
Respect that is what it comes down to. we were in Tokyo and this american family at a resturant was so loud and their kids were outof control jumping off furniture breaking the food displays and then cos they spoke no Japanese the just yelled louder and louder at the staff.
absolutely right, Jennifer. i remember having similar experiences feeling embarassed by loud and ignorant people from several other countries from around the world... so, it definitely exclusively apply to USA citizens abroad.
Do: Slurp noodles at Ramen and Soba restaurants Don't: Drink anything in local trains and subways. Especially alcohol. Do: Say "Itadakimasu" before you eat and "Gochisousama" at the end. Don't: Talk indiscriminately at any restaurant with a volume higher than any other patron there. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Thank you for the sharing, the video is good altought I think it might be less cut up and a bit slow. I sense nervousness, you can relax a bit you're doing great 😉
I spent 3 month in Japan in 1966. No doubt much has changed. One thing I do remember is that the Japanese have a lot of patience. Do NOT ever, and I mean EVER, do anything that goes against the Japanese grain. Although they are endowed with an abundance of patience, once they lose their patience you can bet it's not going to be a good moment for you. Japan is the only country in the world to have experienced atomic bombs. This is a very tender spot, and they remember it well. NEVER be disrespectful if you are in Japan on the anniversary of these important days. Keep in mind that Japan could have been blockaded even for months, if necessary, rather than bombed. Don't believe the American version of these events without some very close examination and skepticism. A good understanding and different perspective may be hard to find, but it is available. A blockade and siege would have effectively brought the Japanese to their knees. The bottom line is that the U. S. wanted to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to the other powers involved in World War II , that we were now the dominant world nation. The atom bombs made that VERY clear to all nations world- wide. Those ideas were carefully cloaked in terms that became aceptable to Americans...that it would save thousands of lives if Japan was invaded. Japan, at that point, didn't need invasion. I know this opinion may rankle some people, maybe a lot of people, but it is an issue that warrants close examination. Remember, PROPAGANDA is not only the realm of other world powers. America is very good at it!
I agree! Train manners in most or all countries are absolutely atrocious! Just use basic manners and basic common sense! For example, when someone has 5 bags, DO NOT demand to sit on the space that someone is clearly already using and needs to actually rest for once instead of demanding the person to stand or destroying the things they own! DO NOT play ghetto music! DO NOT use fabric softener and then also get into a train or enter any building! DO NOT attempt to look at anyone's vagina unless it is not covered! DO NOT physically touch another human being for any reason! Simple manners and basic daily non-abusiveness that you are obligated to!
About the letting people disembark before embarking. Absolutely yes! Have the same thing in UK and I found that there are other similarities with Japan here. Please let other people off before getting on anything. Even an elevator. Once had about ten foreign students crowd me when I was trying to get off an elevator as they were getting on. I was not happy and literally ordered them out of my way before I let them on. They looked so confused but it's important to allow people to get off first. It's polite, more efficient and safer.
1:16 so apparently i knew about this when i went to starbucks to kill time, i thought i can just walk in, order and go sit in one of the seats, apparently not bahahha
I’ve always had Japan on my wish list. It’s my ONLY Asian country I WANT to visit. I’m glad for your tips so I’m thankful. But I’m not sure some videos are serving to push Japan more down my list. Still on the list but not up there.
Make sure to thank the shop owner of the Eatery when you leave. It's a cultural custom. This is not required but I like to think the server host I'm just about to leave an eatery. They're often not used to it, and maybe embarrassed because they're doing their job. But I see them smile afterwards when they think you're not watching.
I have a large group coming to Japan in July, we’re having a traditional tea party, can we wear kimonos or Yakata’s. Is there a different with the long and short ones?
This video was super helpful for my upcoming trip to Japan in May! If you happen to see my comment, I was wondering if you have any advice about tattoos being visible. I’ve watched a lot of Japan culture and advice videos (many of them yours!) and the tattoo taboo-ness comes up every now and then but not as often as many of the rules you mentioned in this video. Do you feel like tattoos are still pretty taboo in Japan? I have lots of tattoos on my arms and from what I’ve read, I plan to always keep a sweater with me in case I need to cover my arms somewhere like a shrine or temple. Do you have any extra advice? Thank you!! ❤
We don't care about tattoos if you're a foreigner. You will look more appropriate to hide them with your sweater when visiting shrines and temples though. You have to be careful only when you want to go to hot springs or public baths because they have their own rules.
She's not exaggerating. It is so quiet in the train even when full. McDonalds in Japan feels like a library because of the absence of chatter. She's spot on in all 16. I should know. I am a muliple Japan visitor..... And there have been a few anecdotes about people leaving their IPhones and Wallets to reserve a table in Starbucks or restaurants. I would'nt do it but it's also true.
Hi, nice videos! From what I understand tippins is against "omotenashi", right? About no.9: in those restaurants who gives/requires You to have a paper note of your order, do You need to pay at the caschier before or after having eaten? it is something in "teishoku" restaurants or something alike? About taking pictures in restaurants: You can almost always take pics of your own food, right?
if you sit down at a restaurant with table service, order from the staff at the table, and they leave a paper (sometimes on a little clipboard at some casual places) at the table / on the side of the table, etc. then you will eat your meal. When you're done and ready to leave, you take the paper and bring it to the cash register (usually at the front near the entrance), give it to the staff, they will tell you how much it is and you can proceed to pay. if you go to a place with counter service and not table service - where you go to a counter and order things from the counter. You will probably need to pay at the counter before you can do anything else. You may get a receipt at this time. You may get a paper with an order number - if that's the case, they'll call out the number when it's ready for you to pick up at the pick-up counter. of course there may be case that do not follow the typical pattern. you can take pictures of your own food. people do it all the time. The main point for that mentioned in the video is that you should not take pictures of strangers in the restaurant. So your own party and your own food is okay.
I’m American, but it will always baffle me how some Americans will get absolutely furious that they can’t tip in Japan and many other countries. Like why are you mad that the waiters get paid an actual good wage and you don’t have to pay their salary basically? The tipping culture in the USA is absolutely ridiculous and it needs to go away.
My biggest shock when I moved to Tokyo in 1999 was the sheer rigidness of refusing to not put a pickle on the burger at McDonald's. I'm half Japanese so not my first time there, but first time living there and I actually said to the person 'what if I am allergic and you putting the pickle on my burger contaminates it and I die??'. She literally pulled out the BINDER and showed me where it said that the pickle had to be put on. GOT IT. hahahhhaah
Lol so they'd rather weed out everyone who has a food allergy... got it 😂😂😂 That's actually pretty bad, tbh. I don't have any food allergies thankfully, but do they just tell the person to order something else, or go somewhere else if they refuse to accommodate allergies? I'm actually being serious here.
@@roxazaloah Its a VERY rigid culture. When I lived there the only way you could be vegetarian is by making food yourself. I had a friend that figured out restaurants were giving her food without meat pieces in it, but cooked in meat stock etc. so she was actually being fed meat the entire time. She had to explain why being cooked with meat and having the pieces taken out wasn't vegetarian. Having said that, there are many accommodating places now but I wouldn't trust any restaurant fully if I had a bad allergy.
@@punkin314 It’s ridiculous how people just expect a whole culture to accommodate their persnickety nonsense. If you’re too fancy or sensitive to eat out, then stay your ass home. Vegetarians and vegans are the worst.
An addition: have the word “sumimasen” (“excuse me”) at the front of your lips all the time. Or: “Oh, sumimasen.” I traveled to Japan on business about six times over a two-year period, and I knew I was going to mess up in my behavior occasionally to the Japanese standards; and I found that my saying “sumimasen” was a quick way to recover grace from the people around you. Or then consider adding “gomen nasai” if you need to add an apology.
We did this, and it was as really helpful. The people were extremely forgiving, and knowing “excuse me” in Japanese helped at lot, especially when bumping into people on the trains.
Here's something I've often seen in the US that drives me bonkers. We put up with it here, but if you try to pull this in Japan, get ready for some stink eye. It's parents who give their small kids a phone or tablet and let them watch videos, listen to music, or play games in restaurants. The point is, that sh*t is LOUD and incredibly annoying. If you or your kids have a device that is making noise, USE EARBUDS. On a train, on a bus, in a restaurant, in any public place--it's rude if others can hear it. In America, restaurants are pretty loud anyway, so we can usually tune it out, but in Japan it'll come across as beyond rude.
Pretty sure many infants are not going to be interested in wearing ear buds..... Do you prefer the sound of screaming babies on the bus instead? I got far more stink eye for that over using tablet/phone.
@@a.s.1737 Interestingly enough, the music club in my community here in Tokyo, Japan often held mini concerts. And during such events the club always provides earphones for little children ( as the music can be loud ). So far I have never seen those little children scream and wail in agony for wearing earphones. 🤷♀️
When I experience that I politely ask they turn off the sound. They always do but I think if they refused I'd grab the thing and stick it in the toilet if I was in a mood. Stink eye? That hasn't worked since I was 10
@@a.s.1737 I would like to recommend that infants not need to self soothe by staring at a screen. Adults can entertain them at a quiet volume. Infants need to learn to absorb what is going on around them in their environment not stare at a screen.
Japanese society seems quite respectful (lining up in an orderly fashion, keeping quiet on public transport). Most of the rest of the world can learn a thing or two from the Japanese.
ROFL They blatantly refuse to accommodate anyone with food allergies, meaning that we will either never be able to eat at a restaurant or if we do, we die. This isn't nice! Hitler tried to ban Jews from German food! Japanese restaurant ban food allergic people for Japanese food in restaurants and cafes! This is evil! This is not nice! I would never want to be like them! People don't just wake up and say I'm going to be allergic to soy today!
There are so many videos about things not to do in Japan. More videos about rules, social norms, how to eat, how not to eat, even rules about social etiquette when catching a train, using an elevator or handling cash. All these videos could discourage people from visiting Japan. It is a case of information overload and inconsistent content quality. Having visited Japan a number of times, I find that some videos create the false impression that tourists are unwelcome in Japan. Allison makes a genuine effort to explain some things you would probably encounter daily. None of the rules surprised me. Of course there are many other social norms that could be the topic of more videos. A few I would mention are elevator etiquette and the lift captain ( yes it's a thing ), leaving a clear table after eating at a cafe and being aware of women only spaces like certain train carriages etc. I hope Allison does a part 2 of this video.😀😀😀
When I was in Tokyo I would sometimes forget about the reversed pedestrian traffic flow and gravitate to the right side of the side walk. The onslought of people trying to go opposite of me quickly reminded me to move back to the left side.
We just came back from our trip to Japan. I accidentally opened the driver's side of the taxi cab we got into. It was so embarrassing but the cabbie was super nice and chuckled. My husband accidentally got us all into the "women's only" train. Thankfully it was towards the end of rush hour. By the time we figured it out, there was only 1 stop left so he just dropped his head in shame. He'll never live that one down!
A women only train?! To me, as a Westerner/European, that's really weird, I wonder why. Is sexual harassment so common that women need to travel between themseleves?
I'm living in Japan long term, but my brother is getting ready to visit for the first time -- this video was a great reminder of things that might surprise him that I forgot about/got used to, so thank you! The socks one is a big one that I don't think people talk about enough!
1.) People reserved seats on restaurants 2.) train manners- be quiet on trains, yield seats for elderly and pregnant people 3.) Don’t draw too much attention on you by talking too loud 4.) Don’t be rude to people 5. If you cough or sneeze just cover your mouth 6.) Remove shoes on Japanese house or temples and some restaurants or historical places 7.) Bring socks with you in public cuz u never know 8.) Don’t tip in Japan 9.) Don’t eat or drink while walking in public 10.) Put your money on the tray don’t hand it to them directly unless they don’t have a tray 11.) Bring cash Japan uses cash a lot 12.) Don’t touch taxi doors 13.) Carry garbage with you because there’s no garbage cans in Japan 12.) Be careful about taking photos 13.) Menu are difficult to read and don’t ask for complicated dish 14.) Japan loves lines 15.) Stand on the left line of the escalator 16.) be aware
Sometimes I think it's very sad that some of these things have to be said out loud at all. That's partially why I love Japan so much. Just don't bother anyone with your business! No matter if that means to be mindful while talking or walking or whatever... just respect the space and peace of the people around you. Sadly this seems very hard. This Video really reminded me how much more of a culture shock it was to come back from Japan to my home country ._.
When travelling in Japan it is just a case of be courteous and aware of others, this is sadly a rule / way of life that is lost in a lot of places in the west. I will be in Japan in a weeks time with my wife for our 30th wedding anniversary, it will be my third visit but my wife's first time visiting the country and I am looking forward to showing her the sights. Love the videos Allison, you are a great source of Japanese information and you are highly entertaining. Oh...nothing surprises me anymore in Japan.
You will usually have to take your shoes off in change rooms as well. And a lot of stores will give you a cover to put on your head so that you don’t get makeup on the clothing item you are trying on (like sweaters etc).
I know it wasn't intented, but this video made me ponder reincarnation, because some of Japan's unspoken rules totally match what I full-on would like as "public courtesy rules" here in the US! Maybe I was Japanese in a past life?!?!🤔
I feel on the taxi door one. I've moved to Japan from the US 7 months ago and there was one time where I shut the door without even thinking by accident. It was after I shut the door that I was like "Oh crap, I shouldn't have done that". For those of us in the US, opening and closing taxi doors ourselves is second nature.
Thanks for another great video! I didn’t know the taxis have automatic doors. How cool! The 17th rule (sort of)- you will be greeted when you enter any store, business, hotel, restaurant… and you’re not expected to say anything in return. That’s a tough one for me. I keep wanting to respond, or say hello, or thank you.
I mean, you're not expected to respond and most Japanese people won't, but the staff doesn't seem to mind if you smile or nod in acknowledgement. It must get kind of demoralizing to keep saying "Welcome" for no reason, really, so it probably makes for a decent change of pace. It might be considered clueless, but no one seems to think it's rude. Just for the record.
I was in the Mont Bell store in Hiroshima and wanted to try on some hiking pants. I was terribly embarrassed because I didn't leave my shoes OUTSIDE the change room. I knew to take them off, but I though I could do it inside the booth. I spent the next 5 minutes bowing and apologising :) Japanese are beautiful people and if you're courteous and respectful I'm sure they'll forgive the occasional faux pas from tourists. I absolutely love their orderly nature - especially on the trains and escalators.
Thank you! I leave for Japan on a tour in a couple of days. I wish the rest of the world was as courteous and respectful as Japan ♥ P.S.- If perhaps you read this comment, or anyone else with knowledge, can answer a question regarding the removal of shoes: Would I be allowed to place my removed shoes in a backpack as opposed to leaving them at the entrance of a shrine, restaurant or museum? Thank you in advance!
When I visited Paris EVERYONE was rude and disgusting. Running into others, extremely inconsiderate, unsafe and disrespectful. The rules in Japan are basic human decency and common sense. Something I see very little of in my own country. (America)
I think what has thrown me off the most in my visits to Tokyo has been the bicyclists on the sidewalks, it seems like they just weave through everyone and trying the "walk on the left" doesn't always pan out like I hope lol
I’m shocked that my friend who’s been to Japan twice, still has an issue with tipping. We went to an Izakaya, and it was run by a Japanese family. I usually don’t tip (at Japanese establishments), and he looks at me and says “We aren’t in Japan. You tip here.” Like, yes, at other restaurants. I asked the wait staff if we should, and had to confirm it by asking again, they said “The quality of the food and service is included in the overall price. So…no tip, please.”
If you're in the US, it does tend to be more of a question, especially if you've ever had a friend who works in the service industry; many of them literally need those tips if they're going to pay their bills. That's definitely a thing that needs to be fixed, but until it is, lots of people will play it safe and tip unless they're specifically told not to. My local izakaya is fine with tipping, so even with Japanese restaurants, it does depend on the establishment.
People can eat on the shinkansen since food is also served and it is a long distance train. However, people do not eat on any other train, especiall NOT on a city train.
I've seen people eat on a local train, but it was an intercity. I waited to see what people would do and took out my lunch when I saw others do the same. Other things I wondered about was whether it was OK to apply makeup in public. I am talking about a quick touch up of lipstick. I did see a high school girl skillfully apply a full face of makeup on the train (eyeliner beautifully done, considering the jostling). But I thought that might be a rude thing she was doing. Another one that bothered me in Japan (all visits were during the cold season) was the train/public place etiquette when it comes to the use of a tissue. Is it better to blow one's nose, or is sniffling better? I couldn't figure that out, as apparently I was the only one who got a runny nose in cold weather.
Here’s one for Americans; Cut your speech volume by 75%. I just got back from a first time trip to Japan and met a few people from the states who were great and considerate but the rest could be heard blaring their way through the tourist spots and it was super obnoxious and annoying. Like whhhhyy? It’s so jarring to the Japanese people and other non-US travellers like myself.
I would LOVE to have the 1 hour video about unspoken rules for people living there 😍 (... Omg maybe I have to work on my priorities after this comment 😅)
It's funny how most of these rules should be inherently a part of human kindness and unfortunately it's not in most parts of the world, especially America where I live.
“arigatou gozaimasu” is the spelling you’re looking for. “thank you very much” is more polite than normal ‘thanks’ but it can be too formal for some things. 👍
Hi first time here--it may surprise yourself and other-say, under 40folks- that the good manners you describe were much, much more the norm- you know before everybody started to choose technology(including TV) over human interaction--getting worse by the year and totally skewing our and other cultures into absolutely STRANGE-thank you
Can anyone help me with this question? I want to take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. Is there an area where I can take my large luggage on the train? It is definitely too big to go overhead. Thanks!
Just got back from Japan but the one thing I found very difficult was waiting at traffic lights for up to 2 minutes even when traffic just simply wasn’t coming. I did my best, but often I was rushing between places due to a packed schedule, so I fear I may have been rude and breached what seemed to be a social norm many times…
Hi, that's one that would concern Me. I'm a Glaswegian, we're among the World leaders in jaywalking, and we don't care if it's at junctions or mid-block. 👍❤️🏴!
My OCD appreciates that the Japanese obey courteous line rules. My husband has told me that in Israel, it’s basically dog-eat-dog and people line jump all the time. That will drive me INSANE when I finally get to visit there. But Japan seems more my speed. 😂
I had a lovely experience in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and in a few settlements. I found most Israelis to be kindhearted and helpful. Tourist areas have the typical touts and rip offs but the rest of the areas are lovely. I would live there if I could. It helps to view lining up as a sport. 😂
The garbage can thing makes a lot of sense, really. Municipalities only spend money on things like garbage cans when there's a need for it, ie to try and get people to throw things away properly in places where a lot of litter collects. In a society that is as compulsively clean as Japan, there is zero pressure on the municipality to provide ad hoc garbage collection. And of course there's the advantage that the trash generally gets taken home to be properly sorted, rather than being added to the unsorted collection stream. I wonder how much tax money Japan saves on not providing trash cans, compared to other countries.
The reason why it is hard to find litter bins in public places in Japan is because they had to be removed, following the horrible incident in mid '90s in central Tokyo metro stations. Prior to that, it was easy to find a litter bin in public places.
Not a problem I had, but once I gave my seat to an older lady on the train and she was so cute and so grateful it honestly made my day. 10/10 would give up my train seat in Japan again.
The same thing happened to me when I went with my childhood friend back in late March/early April. These 2 older women came into the train one time while my friend and I were seated. One of them got a seat, but the other one didn't. So, I got up and lightly gestured to her to take it, and she thanked me. Then, I lightly nodded in return because I didn't know enough Japanese to respond appropriately 😅
As someone who live in Japan ( I live in Tokyo ), let me add : 1.Please dont insist paying something with credit card if the stores don't accept it. 2. Please dont insist paying something with your country's currency ! I had witnessed an american tourist literally enraged when the store staff do not accept his US$ and insisted that he used Jpn¥. 3. Please take your shoes off upon entering the change room when you're trying out clothes. And if the store staff gives you a scarf to cover your face for changing clothes ( to prevent the makeup smearing the clothes ), please USE IT !
Great info! I was just in Tokyo and absolutely loved. What is the expectation with bikes? It seemed like I had a lot close calls. I couldn’t identify a pattern with where people walk and where the bikes are expected to be. Thank you! I would like to hear more about what it takes to live there.
I feel like speaking obnoxiously loud is considered rude in the US, too. Thank you for specifying about food on the train, btw. I remember my first trip to Japan I was confused as to why there was a food cart on the train if we weren’t supposed to eat(it was the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto). Sometimes people giving travel tips think this is obvious but when I’m learning about a place I want to travel to I realize that cultures are so different I want everything at its most basic level
Years ago my friend and I were in London as tourists. We found the bus stop and got in line. People behind us seemed tense. Then the bus came and we realized our huge mistake. I loudly said to my friend, "Oh no, we apologize. This is not the end of the line!" Everyone laughed kindly with us as we ran for the end of the line.
So many of these things are just really good societal rules to reduce the spread of illness. It’s like: 1.Yes! Take your shoes off in peoples houses! 2. The taxi door opens on it’s own? Fabulous! 3. Putting the money in the dish instead of handing it directly to the cashier? Good idea! 4. Wear a mask when you’re sick even when it’s not the height of Covid times? Yes!
I visited Japan back in 2018 and went around various parts of the country. I think you mentioned some great tips, some I feel would be clear to anyone visiting and others are good to know before going as you wouldn't know like the taxi doors, rare to find a public bin etc I found on whole the people of Japan to be very warm and welcoming and always respectable of others around them. I love how any worker in a public facing role like a department store or on a train, they always bow before leaving the shop floor or moving onto the next carriage. I would love to see more of this happening in the Uk. Great video!
![Yailin La Mas Viral, @kreizyk.official - Dale 2 (Remix) [Video Oficial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JaYHBzgqz94/mqdefault.jpg)
What rule surprised you the most!? And you do know any others I didn't mention in this video? Let me know down below!!! ☺
I think what always shocks me is the etiquette on the subway. I used to live in NYC for 7 years and holy cow it is a dog eat dog world and everyone is so jaded. When I first went to east-Asia, I couldn't believe that people were so courteous and actually let people off the train first. So logical and simple but not every populous actually follows it.
I didn't know about the taxi doors and the seat reservation 😄
One thing I noticed on my last trip was that Osaka had a lot more people (locals not foreigners) who did not wait in the queue for the train but would cut and push in while people were coming out. It happened almost every time I was at a station. Tokyo was surprisingly a lot more orderly.
Could you do a video on the first things you should do when you get to Japan for the first time as a traveler? Like how to get a train pass, money, and SIM card, etc?
Thank you for this. The taxi door one made me sit up and go 'huh?!' But, yeah, that sorta makes sense. So thank you for saving me some embarrassment at the airport XD (I'm pretty sure Tokyo is still talking about my Salad Incident of 1986, so need all the help I can get).
I thought of a few: on the train, do NOT talk on your phone. I am convinced that texting was invented in Japan because train passengers do need to contact others, but they're not allowed (well, you know) to actually talk on their phones while on a train. Also don't put on makeup, brush your hair, spray perfume, etc on a train. You can do that in the restroom I guess, but not at your seat.
Also, if you speak Japanese at all, people will not say "no" or contradict you. For example, if you ask, "Does this train go to Kyoto?" they won't say, "No, that's the wrong train." However, if you said, "I'm trying to get to Kyoto and I'm not sure which train..." Then they'd say, "Oh, it's that one over there."
Oohhh!!! Good tip about asking for advice. Thank you!
Text messaging was not invented in Japan. It was introduced to general public rather later than the rest of the world. However, it became a huge hit in Japan in late 1990s, people finding it matching well with their way of life.
@@aldente2011 Yeah, I was just taking a shot in the dark, lol.
What’s the difference from talking to the person next to you and talking on the phone? Just because you cant hear what the other person is saying.😅
@@Pinkkermit17 there was a theory for this in someone else’s video (don’t remember who it was), but it actually makes sense. When two people are talking quietly to each other you may perceive it as some kind of background noise that it’s not disturbing at all. But if there’s only a single person’s voice around your brain will think it’s weird and this will draw more attention.
I've never been to Japan, but I taught English to lots of Japanese students at a Berlitz school when I was young, and it was a chore to get them to say negative statements beginning with "no." In one exercise, I'd hold up a red pen and ask "Is the pen black?" with the expected answer of "No, the pen is not black, the pen is red" but instead they'd try to talk around it, usually with something like "Um... maybe the pen is red." They were clearly very uncomfortable with the idea of contradicting me directly.
That is interesting. Duolingo commonly teaches statements like, "iie, kono boorupen wa kuroi desu" starting sentences with 'no', negative statements.
Spot on. It gets tired if you live there. Also they don't say "must" they say "must not not do". They also have a recent (post WW2) culture of lying ie saying what you want to hear (tatemae). Avoid unless paid super expat deal
My husband is Japanese and absolutely hates when I answer questions like this 😂 he wants a yes or no answer and apparently I don’t know how to do that. 😅
I will say, “no” is never the correct answer unless it makes the question a positive outcome. Like “is the food bad?” Answer no. But if you didn’t like the food you have to answer as if you did.
Basically lie your face off to make everyone feel better
@@aibao_eipariru_april As the British say when they really don't like something: "It was _quite_ good."
When in Japan three years ago, I learned that pedestrians always obey walk lights even in very small towns. I was in a town so small that it had only one stop light and witnessed a pedestrian waiting for the light to change even though there was no traffic in either direction for at least a 1/2 mile. Conform and blend in.
I lived in a big city, Nagoya. I saw very little rigid following of pedestrian rules, though people did use common sense. And if you're around bars between 10 and 12 at night, you'll see all kinds of slightly unsafe walking.
I am visiting for the first time in a couple of weeks and I am bringing my 10-year-old daughter with me. Your videos have been invaluable in my prep, so thank you for all these videos 😁
You're so awesome. My wife and I have been watching your videos for a few months now leading up to our big trip in April for Sakura season and I feel a lot better prepared (and excited!) thanks to videos like this. Your editing is also really entertaining 😊
The rule that surprised me the most is the taxi handles. That seems so easy to accidently do, so thanks for the emphasis on it.
Thanks 🥹🥹
I feel like touching the handle is not as egregious as pulling or pushing the door. So if you inadvertently put your hand of the door handle and feel it opening on its own, you can jump back, like, Sorry!
Thanks, Allison. I love your videos! I’m so excited to go to Japan! Weird question but what’s the name of the cute plushie in the background of your video? Right behind your head…the larger one. I want to get that for my step daughter ❤️
@@joelyisdoingherbest if you are talking about the pink and white one that is a Sylveon and the pink one next to that is a Ditto. Both are pokemon. Sorry no one was answering so I thought I chime in.
@@OneFoxTwoFox thank you so much!
We visited about 2 months ago, and the very first one about leaving belongings to reserve is spot on. We noticed it right away.
It’s also a cool commentary on the Japanese people, that you can leave belongings like that, with basically zero fear that anyone will steal them.
We did see a lot of people walking with drinks in their hands, but not really drinking them. We actually saw people kind of stop & find a little cove type area, then take a few drinks & continue on their way.
This was absolutely fantastic and so useful. As a Londoner who is about to travel there and stay for three months, this has been so useful. Nicely done.
I just came back and I don't know if this is a tip or not but just going around Tokyo (walking at least 6 to 8 miles a day), besides getting good walking shoes I noticed that it isn't easy to find places to sit at least what I found in malls/public places that are not parks etc. My tip for my friends is really not to go cheap and you literally should "pay" to sit down in places if that makes sense? I found more success buying small cafe foods and sitting in those places taking interval rests then trying to actively find a place to sit in public lol
I needed to see this. I had ankle surgery in December and still not completely healed so I'm anticipating being uncomfortable with all the walking. Goin in April. Can't wait.
I totally agree, I’m in Kyoto at the moment and we go to cafes and buy coffee if we need to sit.
I had this exact struggle today in Tokyo! We quickly bought some lunch items at 7/11, but then couldn’t find a place to sit and eat them 😅
Lots of cities have "smoking parks" I don't know the proper name for them. They are cordoned off sections with seats and pleasant smelling plants where smokers can sit and enjoy a cigarette without annoying anybody. Because they're outside you don't really smell the smoke, I think they're also WiFi hotshots.
The thing that annoys me the most is that you have to carry your trash around. But usually there are small trash cans in front of Lawsons / Family Mart / 7-11 where you can discreetly throw it away. And normally, at least in large cities, you are never more than maybe 2 blocks from a convenience store.
Don't put your trash to convenience store trash boxes. Bring it to your home or office.
it is annoying if you're not used to it but the reason i think that they don't do it is because it can still cause a mess. where i live there are trash cans on some corners but it's always overflowing with trash. yes everyone uses it but it's never cleaned up fast enough and there's trash on the floor. enough to fit another trash can.
No trash cans in public places dates from the sarin gas attacks in the subway in 1995. They threw the gas in trash cans. @@AccordGG1
Wow!! So much has changed since the 70s. I lived in Kansai (Osaka and Kobe) and I saw a lot of small items being tossed on the ground: cigarette packages, film canisters & boxes. As for entering and exiting the train it was every man/women for themselves. I actually remember someone running to catch another train with her head down. She crashed smack into my abdomen, spun around and then continued on. The foreigners often remarked about how the Japanese can queue up in places like bakeries.
Didn't know about socks in temples.
The local culture in Kansai is significantly less reserved than it is in the Kantou area. Osakans in particular are famous for actually saying what they think and letting it all hang out (there's a reason lots of Japanese comedians have or affect Kansai accents), so these rules could very well have been true for Tokyo in the '70s, and they may still not be true for Osaka. 😅
I usually bring little souvenirs from my country (eg individually wrapped chocolates) and give them to people if they help me or if people in the service industry give good service.
Maple candies from New England are always a hit.
Lol I’m from Central Asia and surprised to realize almost all of these rules are the same as in my homeland 😂 except taxi hehe
Respect that is what it comes down to. we were in Tokyo and this american family at a resturant was so loud and their kids were outof control jumping off furniture breaking the food displays and then cos they spoke no Japanese the just yelled louder and louder at the staff.
absolutely right, Jennifer. i remember having similar experiences feeling embarassed by loud and ignorant people from several other countries from around the world... so, it definitely exclusively apply to USA citizens abroad.
Do: Slurp noodles at Ramen and Soba restaurants
Don't: Drink anything in local trains and subways. Especially alcohol.
Do: Say "Itadakimasu" before you eat and "Gochisousama" at the end.
Don't: Talk indiscriminately at any restaurant with a volume higher than any other patron there.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
I feel like you making this guide especially for your fellow Americans hahaha. Cuz in Europe most of these things are also seen as good manner.
They sound like universal courtesies too often forgotten elsewhere.
Thankyou
Thank you for the sharing, the video is good altought I think it might be less cut up and a bit slow. I sense nervousness, you can relax a bit you're doing great 😉
a lot of these things are already in my culture so that’s great
Isn't it normal everywhere to cover the mouth or nose when coughing or snee zing?
Thank you!
Some rules we should adopt in America.
Ty Allison some people forgot the rules ❤
I spent 3 month in Japan in 1966. No doubt much has changed. One thing I do remember is that the Japanese have a lot of patience. Do NOT ever, and I mean EVER, do anything that goes against the Japanese grain. Although they are endowed with an abundance of patience, once they lose their patience you can bet it's not going to be a good moment for you. Japan is the only country in the world to have experienced atomic bombs. This is a very tender spot, and they remember it well. NEVER be disrespectful if you are in Japan on the anniversary of these important days. Keep in mind that Japan could have been blockaded even for months, if necessary, rather than bombed. Don't believe the American version of these events without some very close examination and skepticism. A good understanding and different perspective may be hard to find, but it is available. A blockade and siege would have effectively brought the Japanese to their knees. The bottom line is that the U. S. wanted to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to the other powers involved in World War II , that we were now the dominant world nation. The atom bombs made that VERY clear to all nations world- wide. Those ideas were carefully cloaked in terms that became aceptable to Americans...that it would save thousands of lives if Japan was invaded. Japan, at that point, didn't need invasion. I know this opinion may rankle some people, maybe a lot of people, but it is an issue that warrants close examination. Remember, PROPAGANDA is not only the realm of other world powers. America is very good at it!
When you speak Japanese do you also convert every sentence into question?
so basically most of these .. are use your manners..
good to know about the taxi doors though
I agree! Train manners in most or all countries are absolutely atrocious! Just use basic manners and basic common sense! For example, when someone has 5 bags, DO NOT demand to sit on the space that someone is clearly already using and needs to actually rest for once instead of demanding the person to stand or destroying the things they own! DO NOT play ghetto music! DO NOT use fabric softener and then also get into a train or enter any building! DO NOT attempt to look at anyone's vagina unless it is not covered! DO NOT physically touch another human being for any reason! Simple manners and basic daily non-abusiveness that you are obligated to!
About the letting people disembark before embarking. Absolutely yes! Have the same thing in UK and I found that there are other similarities with Japan here. Please let other people off before getting on anything. Even an elevator. Once had about ten foreign students crowd me when I was trying to get off an elevator as they were getting on. I was not happy and literally ordered them out of my way before I let them on. They looked so confused but it's important to allow people to get off first. It's polite, more efficient and safer.
1:16 so apparently i knew about this when i went to starbucks to kill time, i thought i can just walk in, order and go sit in one of the seats, apparently not bahahha
In Finland too! Don't be noisy. Headphones. No speakerphone.
I’ve always had Japan on my wish list. It’s my ONLY Asian country I WANT to visit. I’m glad for your tips so I’m thankful. But I’m not sure some videos are serving to push Japan more down my list. Still on the list but not up there.
Make sure to thank the shop owner of the Eatery when you leave. It's a cultural custom.
This is not required but I like to think the server host I'm just about to leave an eatery. They're often not used to it, and maybe embarrassed because they're doing their job. But I see them smile afterwards when they think you're not watching.
Thank you telling train manner.
The eating drinking i said to my husband so much but there were loads of Japanese people eating and drinking when walking 😅
Are you sure they are all Japanese?
@@Geomio cant be 100 percent but theu were speaking japanese and looked local but could of been from America or.else were yes
I have a large group coming to Japan in July, we’re having a traditional tea party, can we wear kimonos or Yakata’s. Is there a different with the long and short ones?
This video was super helpful for my upcoming trip to Japan in May! If you happen to see my comment, I was wondering if you have any advice about tattoos being visible. I’ve watched a lot of Japan culture and advice videos (many of them yours!) and the tattoo taboo-ness comes up every now and then but not as often as many of the rules you mentioned in this video. Do you feel like tattoos are still pretty taboo in Japan? I have lots of tattoos on my arms and from what I’ve read, I plan to always keep a sweater with me in case I need to cover my arms somewhere like a shrine or temple. Do you have any extra advice? Thank you!! ❤
Cover them as they are still strongly associated with criminals (Yakuza).
We don't care about tattoos if you're a foreigner. You will look more appropriate to hide them with your sweater when visiting shrines and temples though. You have to be careful only when you want to go to hot springs or public baths because they have their own rules.
She's not exaggerating. It is so quiet in the train even when full. McDonalds in Japan feels like a library because of the absence of chatter. She's spot on in all 16. I should know. I am a muliple Japan visitor..... And there have been a few anecdotes about people leaving their IPhones and Wallets to reserve a table in Starbucks or restaurants. I would'nt do it but it's also true.
Everyone should cover your sneeze, everywhere. Anywhere. Common courtesy.
Do we need to tip for hotel bellboy instead?
No, no tipping whatsoever and whosoever, except at a VERY EXPENSIVE, I mean really expensive, Japanese ryokan.
Hi, nice videos! From what I understand tippins is against "omotenashi", right?
About no.9: in those restaurants who gives/requires You to have a paper note of your order, do You need to pay at the caschier before or after having eaten? it is something in "teishoku" restaurants or something alike?
About taking pictures in restaurants: You can almost always take pics of your own food, right?
if you sit down at a restaurant with table service, order from the staff at the table, and they leave a paper (sometimes on a little clipboard at some casual places) at the table / on the side of the table, etc. then you will eat your meal. When you're done and ready to leave, you take the paper and bring it to the cash register (usually at the front near the entrance), give it to the staff, they will tell you how much it is and you can proceed to pay.
if you go to a place with counter service and not table service - where you go to a counter and order things from the counter. You will probably need to pay at the counter before you can do anything else. You may get a receipt at this time. You may get a paper with an order number - if that's the case, they'll call out the number when it's ready for you to pick up at the pick-up counter.
of course there may be case that do not follow the typical pattern.
you can take pictures of your own food. people do it all the time. The main point for that mentioned in the video is that you should not take pictures of strangers in the restaurant. So your own party and your own food is okay.
I prefer Japan to America or Europe.
The rule I’ve never heard before is not to touch taxi cab doors. 🫤 Also, I speak loudly, naturally. That would be a hard one for me.
UberEATS/rides I tipped
I’m American, but it will always baffle me how some Americans will get absolutely furious that they can’t tip in Japan and many other countries. Like why are you mad that the waiters get paid an actual good wage and you don’t have to pay their salary basically? The tipping culture in the USA is absolutely ridiculous and it needs to go away.
AYO facts but those same people won't tip in America 😂
@@VictorRodriguez-qn1kz The only reason I tip is because you’re literally looked down upon if you don’t here 😭😭
@@Reia_Shi like bro why should it be the consumers responsibility to pay their wages pay them a fair wage 😭😭
@@VictorRodriguez-qn1kz exactly
It's just to follow the good old saying, "When in Rome, do as Romans do". Regarding tipping in the US, it is sheer false economy.
My biggest shock when I moved to Tokyo in 1999 was the sheer rigidness of refusing to not put a pickle on the burger at McDonald's. I'm half Japanese so not my first time there, but first time living there and I actually said to the person 'what if I am allergic and you putting the pickle on my burger contaminates it and I die??'. She literally pulled out the BINDER and showed me where it said that the pickle had to be put on. GOT IT. hahahhhaah
Lol so they'd rather weed out everyone who has a food allergy... got it 😂😂😂 That's actually pretty bad, tbh. I don't have any food allergies thankfully, but do they just tell the person to order something else, or go somewhere else if they refuse to accommodate allergies? I'm actually being serious here.
@@roxazaloah Its a VERY rigid culture. When I lived there the only way you could be vegetarian is by making food yourself. I had a friend that figured out restaurants were giving her food without meat pieces in it, but cooked in meat stock etc. so she was actually being fed meat the entire time. She had to explain why being cooked with meat and having the pieces taken out wasn't vegetarian. Having said that, there are many accommodating places now but I wouldn't trust any restaurant fully if I had a bad allergy.
Typicl american, arguing just to feel like you won. Go home, Japan is not for you.
@@punkin314 It’s ridiculous how people just expect a whole culture to accommodate their persnickety nonsense. If you’re too fancy or sensitive to eat out, then stay your ass home. Vegetarians and vegans are the worst.
An addition: have the word “sumimasen” (“excuse me”) at the front of your lips all the time. Or: “Oh, sumimasen.” I traveled to Japan on business about six times over a two-year period, and I knew I was going to mess up in my behavior occasionally to the Japanese standards; and I found that my saying “sumimasen” was a quick way to recover grace from the people around you. Or then consider adding “gomen nasai” if you need to add an apology.
We did this, and it was as really helpful. The people were extremely forgiving, and knowing “excuse me” in Japanese helped at lot, especially when bumping into people on the trains.
Here's something I've often seen in the US that drives me bonkers. We put up with it here, but if you try to pull this in Japan, get ready for some stink eye. It's parents who give their small kids a phone or tablet and let them watch videos, listen to music, or play games in restaurants. The point is, that sh*t is LOUD and incredibly annoying. If you or your kids have a device that is making noise, USE EARBUDS. On a train, on a bus, in a restaurant, in any public place--it's rude if others can hear it. In America, restaurants are pretty loud anyway, so we can usually tune it out, but in Japan it'll come across as beyond rude.
This happened a lot in my country too.. 😣
Pretty sure many infants are not going to be interested in wearing ear buds.....
Do you prefer the sound of screaming babies on the bus instead? I got far more stink eye for that over using tablet/phone.
@@a.s.1737 Interestingly enough, the music club in my community here in Tokyo, Japan often held mini concerts. And during such events the club always provides earphones for little children ( as the music can be loud ). So far I have never seen those little children scream and wail in agony for wearing earphones. 🤷♀️
When I experience that I politely ask they turn off the sound. They always do but I think if they refused I'd grab the thing and stick it in the toilet if I was in a mood. Stink eye? That hasn't worked since I was 10
@@a.s.1737 I would like to recommend that infants not need to self soothe by staring at a screen. Adults can entertain them at a quiet volume. Infants need to learn to absorb what is going on around them in their environment not stare at a screen.
Japanese society seems quite respectful (lining up in an orderly fashion, keeping quiet on public transport). Most of the rest of the world can learn a thing or two from the Japanese.
ROFL They blatantly refuse to accommodate anyone with food allergies, meaning that we will either never be able to eat at a restaurant or if we do, we die. This isn't nice! Hitler tried to ban Jews from German food! Japanese restaurant ban food allergic people for Japanese food in restaurants and cafes! This is evil! This is not nice! I would never want to be like them! People don't just wake up and say I'm going to be allergic to soy today!
It's just asian culture
Asian culture? China is very different!
I agree 100% . I am American and I am often embarrassed by the behavior of many Americans!!
they can sense fear too.
There are so many videos about things not to do in Japan. More videos about rules, social norms, how to eat, how not to eat, even rules about social etiquette when catching a train, using an elevator or handling cash. All these videos could discourage people from visiting Japan. It is a case of information overload and inconsistent content quality. Having visited Japan a number of times, I find that some videos create the false impression that tourists are unwelcome in Japan. Allison makes a genuine effort to explain some things you would probably encounter daily. None of the rules surprised me. Of course there are many other social norms that could be the topic of more videos. A few I would mention are elevator etiquette and the lift captain ( yes it's a thing ), leaving a clear table after eating at a cafe and being aware of women only spaces like certain train carriages etc. I hope Allison does a part 2 of this video.😀😀😀
When I was in Tokyo I would sometimes forget about the reversed pedestrian traffic flow and gravitate to the right side of the side walk. The onslought of people trying to go opposite of me quickly reminded me to move back to the left side.
I just got done 3 weeks in Japan and in Tokyo they walk all over the damn sidewalk
We just came back from our trip to Japan. I accidentally opened the driver's side of the taxi cab we got into. It was so embarrassing but the cabbie was super nice and chuckled. My husband accidentally got us all into the "women's only" train. Thankfully it was towards the end of rush hour. By the time we figured it out, there was only 1 stop left so he just dropped his head in shame. He'll never live that one down!
Lol
A women only train?! To me, as a Westerner/European, that's really weird, I wonder why. Is sexual harassment so common that women need to travel between themseleves?
@@jfrancobelge Yes
Brazil also have these
I'm living in Japan long term, but my brother is getting ready to visit for the first time -- this video was a great reminder of things that might surprise him that I forgot about/got used to, so thank you! The socks one is a big one that I don't think people talk about enough!
1.) People reserved seats on restaurants
2.) train manners- be quiet on trains, yield seats for elderly and pregnant people
3.) Don’t draw too much attention on you by talking too loud
4.) Don’t be rude to people
5. If you cough or sneeze just cover your mouth
6.) Remove shoes on Japanese house or temples and some restaurants or historical places
7.) Bring socks with you in public cuz u never know
8.) Don’t tip in Japan
9.) Don’t eat or drink while walking in public
10.) Put your money on the tray don’t hand it to them directly unless they don’t have a tray
11.) Bring cash Japan uses cash a lot
12.) Don’t touch taxi doors
13.) Carry garbage with you because there’s no garbage cans in Japan
12.) Be careful about taking photos
13.) Menu are difficult to read and don’t ask for complicated dish
14.) Japan loves lines
15.) Stand on the left line of the escalator
16.) be aware
Sometimes I think it's very sad that some of these things have to be said out loud at all. That's partially why I love Japan so much. Just don't bother anyone with your business! No matter if that means to be mindful while talking or walking or whatever... just respect the space and peace of the people around you. Sadly this seems very hard. This Video really reminded me how much more of a culture shock it was to come back from Japan to my home country ._.
When travelling in Japan it is just a case of be courteous and aware of others, this is sadly a rule / way of life that is lost in a lot of places in the west.
I will be in Japan in a weeks time with my wife for our 30th wedding anniversary, it will be my third visit but my wife's first time visiting the country and I am looking forward to showing her the sights.
Love the videos Allison, you are a great source of Japanese information and you are highly entertaining.
Oh...nothing surprises me anymore in Japan.
So, basically, Common Sense Manners... or, all that is sadly lacking in the $tate$, OK, got it!
You will usually have to take your shoes off in change rooms as well. And a lot of stores will give you a cover to put on your head so that you don’t get makeup on the clothing item you are trying on (like sweaters etc).
I am moving to Japan in November! I accepted an English teaching job and I am super stoked!
I hope you are enjoying your experience here.
Hm... the more I hear about these rules, the more I suspect I was a Japanese in a previous life...
Fantastic advice. I have lived here since 1989, and really appreciate your video. I hope everyone who visits here watches this before arriving.
just spent a month in Japan and everyone is so respectful. It was culture shock coming back to US
I know it wasn't intented, but this video made me ponder reincarnation, because some of Japan's unspoken rules totally match what I full-on would like as "public courtesy rules" here in the US! Maybe I was Japanese in a past life?!?!🤔
I feel on the taxi door one. I've moved to Japan from the US 7 months ago and there was one time where I shut the door without even thinking by accident. It was after I shut the door that I was like "Oh crap, I shouldn't have done that". For those of us in the US, opening and closing taxi doors ourselves is second nature.
Esp if you are from New York
Thanks for another great video! I didn’t know the taxis have automatic doors. How cool!
The 17th rule (sort of)- you will be greeted when you enter any store, business, hotel, restaurant… and you’re not expected to say anything in return. That’s a tough one for me. I keep wanting to respond, or say hello, or thank you.
I mean, you're not expected to respond and most Japanese people won't, but the staff doesn't seem to mind if you smile or nod in acknowledgement. It must get kind of demoralizing to keep saying "Welcome" for no reason, really, so it probably makes for a decent change of pace. It might be considered clueless, but no one seems to think it's rude. Just for the record.
Oh no, this is going to be very difficult for me. How can I not answer?
@@francesca8907 I just smile.
You can always just say konnichiwa or hello and leave it at that. That's fine.
Whereas in France, you respond to 'Bonjour' with 'Bonjour'.
7:23 "if you litter I will personally find you and yell at you", this made me thumbs up the video right away!! 😂
For me a lot of stuff comes natural tbh. Even if someone can't remember all of it I think rule nr 16 will help you the most in daily life 😊
Exactly!! 😆
I was in the Mont Bell store in Hiroshima and wanted to try on some hiking pants. I was terribly embarrassed because I didn't leave my shoes OUTSIDE the change room. I knew to take them off, but I though I could do it inside the booth. I spent the next 5 minutes bowing and apologising :) Japanese are beautiful people and if you're courteous and respectful I'm sure they'll forgive the occasional faux pas from tourists. I absolutely love their orderly nature - especially on the trains and escalators.
Thank you! I leave for Japan on a tour in a couple of days. I wish the rest of the world was as courteous and respectful as Japan ♥
P.S.- If perhaps you read this comment, or anyone else with knowledge, can answer a question regarding the removal of shoes: Would I be allowed to place my removed shoes in a backpack as opposed to leaving them at the entrance of a shrine, restaurant or museum? Thank you in advance!
This is so helpful!! Thank you! I'll be traveling to Japan in about 4 weeks so this is perfect timing.
When I visited Paris EVERYONE was rude and disgusting. Running into others, extremely inconsiderate, unsafe and disrespectful. The rules in Japan are basic human decency and common sense. Something I see very little of in my own country. (America)
I think what has thrown me off the most in my visits to Tokyo has been the bicyclists on the sidewalks, it seems like they just weave through everyone and trying the "walk on the left" doesn't always pan out like I hope lol
Hint. Carry a bicycle bell with you to get through crowds faster.
I’m shocked that my friend who’s been to Japan twice, still has an issue with tipping. We went to an Izakaya, and it was run by a Japanese family. I usually don’t tip (at Japanese establishments), and he looks at me and says “We aren’t in Japan. You tip here.” Like, yes, at other restaurants. I asked the wait staff if we should, and had to confirm it by asking again, they said “The quality of the food and service is included in the overall price. So…no tip, please.”
If you're in the US, it does tend to be more of a question, especially if you've ever had a friend who works in the service industry; many of them literally need those tips if they're going to pay their bills. That's definitely a thing that needs to be fixed, but until it is, lots of people will play it safe and tip unless they're specifically told not to. My local izakaya is fine with tipping, so even with Japanese restaurants, it does depend on the establishment.
People can eat on the shinkansen since food is also served and it is a long distance train. However, people do not eat on any other train, especiall NOT on a city train.
I've seen people eat on a local train, but it was an intercity. I waited to see what people would do and took out my lunch when I saw others do the same. Other things I wondered about was whether it was OK to apply makeup in public. I am talking about a quick touch up of lipstick. I did see a high school girl skillfully apply a full face of makeup on the train (eyeliner beautifully done, considering the jostling). But I thought that might be a rude thing she was doing. Another one that bothered me in Japan (all visits were during the cold season) was the train/public place etiquette when it comes to the use of a tissue. Is it better to blow one's nose, or is sniffling better? I couldn't figure that out, as apparently I was the only one who got a runny nose in cold weather.
Here’s one for Americans; Cut your speech volume by 75%.
I just got back from a first time trip to Japan and met a few people from the states who were great and considerate but the rest could be heard blaring their way through the tourist spots and it was super obnoxious and annoying. Like whhhhyy? It’s so jarring to the Japanese people and other non-US travellers like myself.
Listening to this young girl baffles me. Most of what she is saying is just normal courtesy and behavior in most countries. Except the US I guess.
I would LOVE to have the 1 hour video about unspoken rules for people living there 😍 (... Omg maybe I have to work on my priorities after this comment 😅)
It's funny how most of these rules should be inherently a part of human kindness and unfortunately it's not in most parts of the world, especially America where I live.
Saying "arigato kozaimas" instead of just "arigato" to someone i do not know is more polite 😊
“arigatou gozaimasu” is the spelling you’re looking for. “thank you very much” is more polite than normal ‘thanks’ but it can be too formal for some things. 👍
Hi first time here--it may surprise yourself and other-say, under 40folks- that the good manners you describe were much, much more the norm- you know before everybody started to choose technology(including TV) over human interaction--getting worse by the year and totally skewing our and other cultures into absolutely STRANGE-thank you
you can drink and walk...no problem.the people dont say nothing
Do NOT tip!!! (Yes, I'm yelling.)
I want to yell it too 😂😂
Can anyone help me with this question? I want to take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. Is there an area where I can take my large luggage on the train? It is definitely too big to go overhead. Thanks!
Just got back from Japan but the one thing I found very difficult was waiting at traffic lights for up to 2 minutes even when traffic just simply wasn’t coming. I did my best, but often I was rushing between places due to a packed schedule, so I fear I may have been rude and breached what seemed to be a social norm many times…
Hi, that's one that would concern Me. I'm a Glaswegian, we're among the World leaders in jaywalking, and we don't care if it's at junctions or mid-block.
👍❤️🏴!
My OCD appreciates that the Japanese obey courteous line rules. My husband has told me that in Israel, it’s basically dog-eat-dog and people line jump all the time. That will drive me INSANE when I finally get to visit there. But Japan seems more my speed. 😂
Israel astounded me. You feel the aggression of people as they cut in lines for customs, etc.
@@lbazemore585 ooh, yikes! 😳 My husband says, “they are hurting.” He’s trying to say that the pain they suffer causes their selfishness. 🤷🏼♀️
I had a lovely experience in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and in a few settlements. I found most Israelis to be kindhearted and helpful. Tourist areas have the typical touts and rip offs but the rest of the areas are lovely. I would live there if I could. It helps to view lining up as a sport. 😂
The garbage can thing makes a lot of sense, really. Municipalities only spend money on things like garbage cans when there's a need for it, ie to try and get people to throw things away properly in places where a lot of litter collects.
In a society that is as compulsively clean as Japan, there is zero pressure on the municipality to provide ad hoc garbage collection. And of course there's the advantage that the trash generally gets taken home to be properly sorted, rather than being added to the unsorted collection stream.
I wonder how much tax money Japan saves on not providing trash cans, compared to other countries.
The reason why it is hard to find litter bins in public places in Japan is because they had to be removed, following the horrible incident in mid '90s in central Tokyo metro stations. Prior to that, it was easy to find a litter bin in public places.
Bloody hell, thats grim.
Not a problem I had, but once I gave my seat to an older lady on the train and she was so cute and so grateful it honestly made my day. 10/10 would give up my train seat in Japan again.
The same thing happened to me when I went with my childhood friend back in late March/early April. These 2 older women came into the train one time while my friend and I were seated. One of them got a seat, but the other one didn't. So, I got up and lightly gestured to her to take it, and she thanked me. Then, I lightly nodded in return because I didn't know enough Japanese to respond appropriately 😅
Everything Japan avoids is what I can't stand about America
Im from Rio, brazil, but I think I was born japanese, by default, since i love quiet, respectful people
As someone who live in Japan ( I live in Tokyo ), let me add :
1.Please dont insist paying something with credit card if the stores don't accept it.
2. Please dont insist paying something with your country's currency ! I had witnessed an american tourist literally enraged when the store staff do not accept his US$ and insisted that he used Jpn¥.
3. Please take your shoes off upon entering the change room when you're trying out clothes. And if the store staff gives you a scarf to cover your face for changing clothes ( to prevent the makeup smearing the clothes ), please USE IT !
One no one mentioned but I found on my trip: no shoes in changing rooms! I was very embarrassed and didn’t make that mistake again 😭😂
True. Luckily I saw other customers had taken off their shoes and realised I should do the same.
Great info! I was just in Tokyo and absolutely loved. What is the expectation with bikes? It seemed like I had a lot close calls. I couldn’t identify a pattern with where people walk and where the bikes are expected to be. Thank you! I would like to hear more about what it takes to live there.
In Tokyo on busy roads, bikes must go on the sidewalk. On small side streets bikes are on the edge of the road.
Tattoos are OK as long as you dont visit bath house, gym, public swimming pool.
I feel like speaking obnoxiously loud is considered rude in the US, too.
Thank you for specifying about food on the train, btw. I remember my first trip to Japan I was confused as to why there was a food cart on the train if we weren’t supposed to eat(it was the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto). Sometimes people giving travel tips think this is obvious but when I’m learning about a place I want to travel to I realize that cultures are so different I want everything at its most basic level
Absolutely agree!
新幹線は長距離、長時間(移動の旅)なので飲食できます。また、新幹線と同じくらいの距離を走る長距離バスも飲食はできます。
普通のバスや普通の電車は短距離、短時間(単なる移動)を目的にしている。電車内も混みます。机もありません。
これにより飲食は匂いや食べこぼしなど迷惑なものとして考えられます。
As a British person.....lines is not going to be a problem for me, we love queuing here 😂😂
And it frustrates us when people dont respect the queue
Years ago my friend and I were in London as tourists. We found the bus stop and got in line. People behind us seemed tense. Then the bus came and we realized our huge mistake. I loudly said to my friend, "Oh no, we apologize. This is not the end of the line!" Everyone laughed kindly with us as we ran for the end of the line.
@@happycook6737yeah in London queuing rules is more strict and more frown upon if broken. 😂
wait so I can't take a picture of someone's dog ?!?!?!
Ask permission first, they’ll usually let you! 😆 I don’t if I’m across the street or something…depends on the situation 😂
So many of these things are just really good societal rules to reduce the spread of illness. It’s like:
1.Yes! Take your shoes off in peoples houses!
2. The taxi door opens on it’s own? Fabulous!
3. Putting the money in the dish instead of handing it directly to the cashier? Good idea!
4. Wear a mask when you’re sick even when it’s not the height of Covid times? Yes!
I visited Japan back in 2018 and went around various parts of the country.
I think you mentioned some great tips, some I feel would be clear to anyone visiting and others are good to know before going as you wouldn't know like the taxi doors, rare to find a public bin etc
I found on whole the people of Japan to be very warm and welcoming and always respectable of others around them.
I love how any worker in a public facing role like a department store or on a train, they always bow before leaving the shop floor or moving onto the next carriage.
I would love to see more of this happening in the Uk.
Great video!
I've heard about the washcloth thing but failed to believe it to be true until you confirmed. thank you!