I won't lie the other commentor that said "People do that", thats immediately how I verbally reacted 🤣🤣 My southern momma and my Korean grandmother would've beaten me from one side of the house to the other
As an Asian-Canadian who has a lot of American friends, I don't see any of them sleeping with their shoes in bed... lol I've only seen that in movies... Kinda like when some people brush their teeth and there's no rinsing and spitting in movies... Who the hell brushes and just swallows everything, no rinsing no spitting lol!
@cyberfloater usually you leave the tip at the table you were seated at and the waitress or waiter who served you collects it when they go to clear off the table and tipping is usually at least 8% of the total meal cost
Mhcc Cccc working here in Florida I can 100% confirm we don’t make “minimum” we make roughly 5 an hour and tipping 10 percent of the meal is considered a bad tip 15 is good 18 is great and anything over that is an amazing job well done but the problem in America isn’t tipping it’s convincing millions of workers and Business owners that it’s worth It to pay them a wage similar to what we make I usually make 150 a night about 6 hours and I tip out my bussers and my bar and my food runner based on sales to make that in an hour wage I’d need 25 plus an hour and let’s be real being a server is a specialized job if anyone could do it they would cuz it’s good money but you’ve gotta be able to deal with people and give up your weekends and holidays
@lalilulelo You convince a ceo that he should pay his servers 25 an hour you’ll get worse service cuz if I make money no matter what and you come in with the attitudes that I have to deal with you ain’t getting service it’s just that simple it’s a service and you pay for service
It is typical to tip 20%, that is the standard. The reason for that is it makes the food and drinks less expensive. If the restaurant had to pay more in wages, food prices would go up in order to compensate.
I grew up not wearing shoes in the house and I am American, I wear slippers. I thought it was normal it wasn’t until I went to my friend’s house and she didn’t take her shoes off
My boyfriends family wears shoes all over the house, while laying in bed, etc. same with the rest of their family. They’re Mexican but idk if that’s a cultural thing. I’ve just noticed it with them and their extended family
In Canada we take off our shoes, it just... makes sense. Why would you wanna being all that dirt from the streets in your house and carpets or wear shoes all the time? Take of ya shoes n relax :P
@@acartonoj Its kinda regional from what i understand. When i was in denmark and germany no one took their shoes off either. You see it in places where asian culture is more prominent or in very specific regional manners but in general it isnt common outside of the asian subcontinent. Not to say that it doesnt exist.
It may also depend on how you get around? Like I'm sure that in urban areas where most people walk rather than drive (Like NY or any other big city with a bunch of traffic) they probably take their shoes off more, but rural areas (Like here in NC) where everything is so spread out, and people just drive or ride somewhere unless their car broke down or something etc etc, taking off shoes isn't as big of a problem because, however if you wear work boots or work in fields or something, people will usually take their's off if they can, ??? I *think* I'm making sense, but I tend to ramble and go off on tangents, so this may not be entirely accurate, bvvv
I live in the States and every time I take my shoes off at someone’s door I’m told, “You don’t have to do that.” To which I reply, “I know where they have been.”
A lot of British people are OK with people not taking shoes off in the house. It's disgusting... Imagine when you have a baby and it crawls around all the human spit, animal urine and poo, dirt, etc... That get walked around the house. So disrespectful!
it's gross unless like the whole of the bottom floor is that shiny floor and not carpet or wood and ur wearing like sandals or flip flops anything else and ur gross
To answer the eating/drinking in public while walking - It's because you might bump into someone, spill your food/drink onto them and cause them to have a bad day.
I love how the Japanese approach eating. It's like a ritual. You take your time. You sit down properly. You don't eat on the run or in public where others who might be hungry as well but can't eat currently. I enjoy this a lot 😍
want to correct re: tipping... most states in the u.s. don't pay waiters minimum wage. it's usually about $3/hour and tips *literally pay a waiter's wages* ... it's not "extra money".
Ya like can't they just pay em properly? I mean the employers are the ones getting benefits from the employees working there. Why do the customers ahd to shoulder the burden of paying them because the employer is so cheap and won't pay them a living wage?,
I think in his case though, BuzzFeed is in the LA area and there people are paid state or city minimum wage which starts at $11 and can be as high as $14 depending on the city and the number of employees.
You can talk, just don't be too loud. It's also good to remember that all rules/ etiquette can be broken if you know what you're doing. For example it's usually not cool to eat on the streets but if you're at a crowded place with nightlife like Shibuya you'll see a lot of people eating/drinking and even pissing(still, don't do that) on the streets.
um I would love if Rie and the other japanese producers did a Japan Travel Guide. also feel like Rie would give the best tips, and best recommendations on what/where to eat
There are AMAZING RUclips channels already ! To name a few : Abroad in Japan, Tokyo Creative, Rachel and Jun, That Japanese Man Yuta, and Life Where I'm from :)
The idea of tattoo and onsen is slowly changing in Japan, but if you have tattoo , and want to visit onsen place or resort, I recommend asking them if it''s allowed or not. So many places have allowed people with the tattoo to get to the onsen but some don't and you should better make sure about it because onsen is so good and it's different experience from anything else
Concerning shoes: Before the westernization of Japan, people of all classes sat, worked, ate, and slept using mats or cushions on the floor. This was the custom in many public places and in most all homes. People would not want to come from the roads and streets and walk on their dinner table or on their mattresses. In addition, although the floors were commonly wood, the formal rooms would have tatami mats covering the floor. These mats were made of woven straw and are difficult to clean. Even today, when people change from street shoes to house slippers in their homes, they take off the slippers to walk on tatami mats.
Servers in the USA DO NOT make minimum wage on top of tips. Though it varies by state, federal minimum for tipped employees is $2.13/hr. Tipping is not “extra” money-it’s literally how they survive.
The reason why you tip in America is that, as a server/waiter/waitress, you're expected to make so much money from tipping that your employer only needs to pay you $2-$3/hour. At Pizza Hut, I was told how "awesome" it was that I got $4/hour (with a majority of my customers tipping $2 no matter the size of the order - if I got tipped at all, since Pizza Hut is considered "fast food"). Also, tipping (especially in low level restaurant chains) is very dependent on not only the quality/speed of the service, but quality of the food (which is dependent on cooks, not normally servers), the demands of the restaurant they work for (most employers demand you check your table every 5 minutes, and I've had customers tell me they'd have tipped more if I left them alone) and other factors that aren't related to the server's performance, such as if a server was male or female, or if the well-endowed waitress had one or two buttons on her blouse undone vs buttoned up completely, or if the customer was only there for "free pie day" and only had enough money for a cup of soup and a "generous" dollar tip. Doesn't help that servers have to pay more in taxes than people who make hourly/salary wadges, since paychecks are automatically taxed and tips qualify as "additional income" that needs to be taxed further. Also, tipping was invented as a means of getting labor that was practically free from "unskilled workers" that were looking for jobs after the abolishment of slavery (since most of these unskilled workers were former slaves). I'm kind of envious of servers in Japan, since compared to American servers, they can make a decent income without having to rely on the generosity of their customers or else exploiting cultural sexual double standards.
@@ana-maria8350 it's because it "shows initiative," and that you "care for the customer's needs." Where as I've heard (and please correct me if I'm wrong, since I haven't been to Japan and may not have the right info) you need to signal/call your server over if you want additional service beyond your initial order, since it'd be considered rude or annoying if they bugged you every 5 minutes.
@@tsukiraaquarius8746 Honestly, it makes more sense for the customer to have initiative to order things. Expecting your waiter to check on you almost simulates a difference in social standing scenario. I think Japan as a whole also recognizes the value of being able to enjoy something without fear of being monitored and such (recordings in public are either not allowed or frowned upon). Even if you're socially awkward, Japan has developed other ways to be able to get serviced (automated and cards). As someone in the US, a sever that shows initiative either is actually caring, has nothing better to do, or is fishing for tips more than being interested in servicing you. Something else I've noticed is how in the US, "is there anything else I can help you with" has been changed into more aggressive selling like "how about some dessert". The "initiative" has a different nuance and becomes "proactive selling".
This was really interesting. I really enjoy learning about other cultures, especially the history of certain things, but not a lot of youtubers take the time to make the videos. I’ve been studying South Korea for years, and some lessons go into Japanese culture as well, so it’d be great to have more videos like this developed into a series.
Same, I am from India and I feel like we have so many slippers when you actually count it (but it has actually become pretty normal for me to change my slippers so many times) I have one one pair for each washroom Two pairs for the kitchen Everyone has their own pair for the balcony (plus one extra pair for guests) And finally one pair for every one (plus 2 pairs for guests) for the living room and bedroom Now that I think about it, I can't even believe how many pairs of slippers I change in an hour
Me too! We have indoor slippers and outdoor slippers. And we wouldnt even bring up the indoor upstairs! Sometimes though but we will leave it outside the bathroom, bedroom...
I love Rie so much, she is calm and collected, professional, funny yet caring, has a lot of respect for her job, aaahh she is just perfect humble woman and I just want to be like her.
A lot of people from India also believe in honor killings, female circumcision, and marrying off daughters to save them from "dishonoring" their family.
I am American and I don’t wear shoes inside the house mainly not to bring dirt inside; I switch to house slippers. Majority of my friends are the same.
I live in Japan (husband is military) and alllll of these things are accurate. We’ve only been here 10 months but we have 2 more years to go, and we love it.
I'm American, and my mom always made me take off my shoes before coming inside the house. I'm not sure, but maybe this is just a southern/country thing?
Don't think so. In Germany and Russia you also have to take your shoes off unless the person you visit says its ok because he didn'r clean the floor or it is too cold and there aren't enough slippers.
Taking shoes off in the home is common all over the USA - but, it is not as adhered to culturally as it is in Japan (and other Asian countries, mentioned in the video)
I think the stores here should implement the spots to hold shoes though! I've been living in the metro Vancouver area for 3 years now, and this would solve SO MANY PROBLEMS when it rains!
I think not taking off shoes is literally only an American thing. I am Canadian as well, have travel every city in our country and live on both coasts everywhere I have been I have always kept my shoes on. Aside of mechanic garage and work sheds.
I'm from the southern United States and it's surprisingly pretty common to take off your shoes when entering someone else's home. It has never been a big thing in my family so we don't do it, but many houses I've been to it was a requirement. Also, I just always take off my shoes in fitting rooms, I thought everyone did? lol
Well, in Europe we also take off our shoes when we enter the house. I think it's disgusting to bring in all the dirt, dust, soil and germs from the outside to your living space.
Great video! I've been to Japan 4x, and I'm happy to say these tips have been ingrained in me that everytime I come to Japan, I have always been mindful of these things. I hope I can learn more, that I might have missed the past years I've been there.
I've done a some of these blunders like eating while walking, not finding a trash can, being loud on a train... if only I'd seen this video 10 years earlier lol! This is a useful and helpful video.
I am from India and I feel like we have so many slippers when you actually count it (but it has actually become pretty normal for me to change my slippers so many times) I have one one pair for each washroom Two pairs for the kitchen Everyone has their own pair for the balcony (plus one extra pair for guests) And finally one pair for every one (plus 2 pairs for guests) for the living room and bedroom Now that I think about it, I can't even believe how many pairs of slippers I change in an hour But gosh, if I forget, I'm in for good lecture about cleanliness and germs... eek
I went to Japan last year and many of the things you mentioned I was lucky to incorporate. I think most people try rushing and don"t read the signs everywhere. I was lucky to book several days in certain towns so I didnt have to rush so I got to read the English signs and watch more YT vids while I was in my room. This vid is definently informative if you want to start with etiquette before researching all about booking and hotels and stuff.
Yes, Mainland Chinese people seem very rude, there had been a local news how a part of the newly renovated beach (Boracay) was closed down because a tourist from Mainland China let her child poop in the beach (like in the water), and how another tourist from MLC let her child pee in the trash can in a MALL! Go ahead and do that in your own country but don't do that in a place you're just visiting, especially the Boracay one since it just opened after the 6-month renovation!
Can you please do a video on how to enjoy Japan if you are Wheelchair bound. What rules and etiquette do we need to follow if we go to a Ryokan or places that require shoes to be taken off. I love Japan but a severe accident has left me wheelchair bound I want to visit again but don’t want to embarrass myself because I’m in a Wheelchair.
I’ve always seen taking off your shoes as a sign of closeness/informality-and therefore it seems rude to do around strangers. Like, if you’re someone I would feel uncomfortable being in my pajamas around, I feel uncomfortable taking off my shoes with you. In my eyes it’s much more polite to keep them on. (Although not saying how they think of it is wrong or anything-that’s just the way I was raised).
When I was in Japan I eventually caught on to the "no eating while walking in public" thing. Out of all of them, that was the biggest culture shock to me.
If you fold the paper from the chopstick 3 times, then fold it hot dog style, push the ends in lightly and you've got a super easy chop stick holder with every disposable set!
I'm glad to hear you also put the money on the little tray. In Italy it's more polite too to not hand it directly to the cashier, but in the USA it's the opposite. I was taking cash out of my wallet fast one time in New York and put it directly on the table because it was simply easier and the cashier got really offended. I learned my lesson.
The thing is im chinese and when i go to my friends houses their parents would tell me i dont have to take off my shoes cuz “its ok”, i think that’s just for hospitality’s sake
Chinese/Filipino perspective: 1. The real reason why you shouldn't stick you chopsticks onto the bowl of rice is because the souls of the dead/hungry ghosts eat the rice when the chopsticks are in that position. But as Rie (fav cook from Tasty) said, yeah they look like incense sticks 2. Even in the Philippines, you should ALWAYS take off your shoes. You need to wear tsinelas (slippers) or you can go around the house barefooted. Socks? You should also take off your socks. Even if you're a visitor, you should take off your shoes as a sign of respect to the home owner.
Oohhh yes i really love shinkansen I'm glad that you showed the N700A nozomi thats one of my favorite shinkansen besides alfa X, E5 hayabusa and the legendary 500 type EVA
I LOVE Nippon!!! Lived there for 8 years, now I dont. But I'm definitely going back!!! It really is a beautiful country, and they're definetly right about staying in places other than Tokyo. Best thing is you can explore all of it via flight, road trip or shinkansen!!!!
If the chopsticks are the really cheapo ones from Panda Express, I rub them...but if they are clearly not splintery like at Noodles & Company or better then I don't. The Pho place we go to has really nice reusable chopsticks which obviously don't need any splinters removed. I need to go to a good Asian restaurant...I haven't been in forever!
Craftybunny disposable wooden chopsticks are fine to rub since they produce splinters when they’re broken apart. But crafted wooden sticks that are already separate should not be rubbed because they have already been sanded down by the craftsmen.
Cheap disposable wooden chopsticks = okay but reusable wooden ones = under zero circumstances unless you wanted to be haunted by the ghosts of your ancestors
In Germany you also take off your shoes when entering your own or somebody else's house. We have plenty of shoes just for inside, also for share with guests.
I'm an American currently living in the UK and taking your shoes off at the door is something we have done all my life. My grandmothers would never consider allowing outdoor shoes in the house. I've brought the custom with me and have educated my UK family which they humor me without understanding why LOL
Wearing outdoor shoes inside is very common in the UK, but lots of households also insist on people removing their shoes. So, it's not really a stereotype you should be spreading. As to why? If you clean regularly enough, it really doesn't matter. You aren't eating off the floor. I grew up wearing shoes indoors and your bare feet never touch the floor as we had slippers for if you didn't want to wear shoes.
hello fellow southeast asian here! growing up i was told that taking off your shoes before you enter the home shows that you're leaving the possible bad energy that you might have carried throughout your day or possibly picked up in the street. so when you take your shoes off you leave that energy outside rather than in the home. but its also disrespectful to step over people when eating on the floor because they could see the bottom of your feet as well.
When we went last year there was a big thing also about staying on the left of the escalators so that people who want to walk up them have the ability to. I thought that was very cool!
Tips *ARE* the income of American servers. Restaurant base pay ($2.13/hr) is basically nothing; barely covers taxes. 15% tip is considered standard. That $3.74 You tip with pays their rent.
Taking shoes off, as far as i know is : 1. Tatami gets damaged, and hard to clean. 2. 土足で家にあがる（get in a house with shoes) typically meant "burglar" or disrespectful. 3. Could be from Buddism also.
As someone from Sweden I expected a lot bigger culture shock between Japan and Sweden but a lot of the common sense that exist in Japan is the same is Sweden, the real big difference is indvidual society to a collective society.
as a fellow European I'd say the idea of what's polite is a lot more similar in northern Europe and Japan than in America! It's less about being outgoing and chatty and more about being respectful and considerate in my opinion.
@@c.sophies7919 Well the thing is all these videos are based one America when America is very unique in the world with many things the rest of the world see as weird like not taking of shoes and they make these lists even thou it is not special what so ever.
As far as Onsen are concerned, there are more and more tattoo friendly onsen, all you usually have to do is either look at their website or ask. If you don't speak Japanese, it's ok, in most major cities the population will at least know enough English to communicate. Just use single word sentences, though, instead of "where's the bathroom?" ask "bathroom?" Get a sim card at the airport if your phone is unlocked. That way you'll have access to data. Don't count on public wifi, it's... not a thing in Japan. Not when I was there, anyway. If you're flying into Tokyo, try your best to go to Haneda instead of Narita. Haneda is more centralized, so you'll have less travel time and less messing around with trains when you're jetlagged Get a Passmo or Suica card at any convenience store and most stations if you're gonna be staying in a place with a lot of trains. It'll stop you from having to futz with tickets (and you don't have to know kanji, which is a bonus) plus they can be used on vending machines. Now is a good time to get it because in preparation for the Olympics, Japan is adding a bunch of English language interfaces to everything Learn the Kanji for Woman (女) and man (男) as these will often be the only things marking the men's or women's bathrooms. They're the only life-saving kanji you N E E D to know.
Oh I love taking shoes off at the fitting room! I grew up taking shoes off in homes. I like how tidy and respectful the culture can be in Japan. I really want to visit, for lots of reasons, but I'd be so happy to be around people who are picky about cleanliness and manners similarly to how I am. And I often get after friends for not wanting to carry garbage, too bad it you bought it it's your responsibility now. Really looking forward to going to the different areas in Japan that I've heard of in anime I've watched.
The thing about taking shoes off to enter a house is also common in the rural areas I have lived here in Australia (and I have absolutely no asian ancestry). You don't walk around a paddock full of horses and then walk into the house with your shoes on. My friends think I am weird when I automatically take my shoes off to enter their houses.
In Europe lt's also common to take off your shoes, tho sometimes hosts will say; oh you don't have to take your shoes off! But I still do anyways loll Idk it's just that shoes are dirty man. I cringe evertime i see an american on a bed with shoes.. like whyyyyyy
Well this video just amped up my desire to travel Japan. Love this tips. Gotta share this video with my bro who really wants to go to Japan someday as well. Any plans to do a series of videos on Japan?
In the US waiting doesn’t pay minimum wage, they get paid like $1 an hour and rely heavily on tips, usually if a waiter’tress doesn’t earn atleast 30$(?) within a certain time they’ll get bumped up to minimum wage
A surprising amount of Europeans take off their shoes, which was honestly something I didn't know. During my year in Slovakia I think I only met one person who didn't take their shoes off. Most houses have a little entrance to take off their shoes, too. Even at most schools you are supposed to change into special shoes or wear something over them (Though a lot of my classmates would try and get around it). Way cleaner and makes so much sense.
They have slippers in Japan for in the house, and a separate pair of slippers for the bathroom. Also, some bathrooms with showers, have no curtains or even a separate space for the shower like the way most people are used to. Just remember that when you get a hotel there and dont freak out, it's the usual for them.
Can you guys expand on all the different meibutsu and meisho in Japan! That would be amazing! Send Rie to Japan, I would love to see a travel show hosted by Rie! :)
As an American, one important thing I learned traveling in Japan for a year, was DON'T BE AFRAID. Even if you do something wrong or weird or uncomfortable, you wont be judged negatively. You will be corrected and life moves on, as do your travels. Merely be humble, but try to experience whatever you can without a shame monster hiding behind you! Just love what you are experiencing and listen. Also, learn some Japanese before you go....please.
With the shoe thing I do wear shoes on occasion when walking through the house to either go outside the other way or am close to leaving the house, but never just casually wearing outdoor shoes. Like if I’m chilling in the couch I wouldn’t.
In Aus it's stand on the left and walk on the right, and if people are standing on the right side you can bet that people walking behind you will barrel through anyway 😂
As the only person seriously concerned with keeping the floors clean I also wanted to add about the shoes, not only do you have to sweep more but you have to mop the floors more too. If I walk around your home wearing white socks and they come back black you're doing something terribly wrong.
I had the good fortune of being able to visit Japan in 2005; Osaka and Hiroshima (with day-trips to Miyajima and Nara). Luckily, I also had the good sense to procure a guide book before going, so I was aware of these things - and had to educate my parents on what they were doing wrong... This - naturally - resulted in them ignoring everything I said, and people generally seeing them as the typical "rude foreigners", and me trying my best to *not* be a typical rude foreigner.
In Japan you take off your shoes when you enter a home because tatami mats are difficult to clean. Obviously not all homes have tatami mats anymore, but that is the origin of the practice. In America, people were often going in and out of the house. A lot of people have large homes with large yards or farms, so they will just keep their shoes on until the end of the day. If you have animals the floor is going to get dirty quickly too. Also, the floor is usually tile, wood, linoleum, or carpet in bedrooms. Except for carpet, those are all easy to clean. I'm not saying I agree with this, I definitely grew up by always taking off my shoes in the home, but this is one reason for this in America. (And in TV shows or movies when people don't take off their shoes and get on their bed, that is only because it wastes time for the character/actor to remove their shoes when they are going to put them back on anyway. It looks weird to wear shoes in the bed, but it isn't offensive in America like how it might be in Japan or other countries.)
American tipping is an awful concept. In most restaurants, tipping isn't 'extra money' it's their wage. The server minimum wage is not equal to the normal federal one of 7.xx per hour, so that's why you really should tip. The server minimum was is 2.13 on average, and it's legal because managers take tips out of their pay, as an 'estimation'. If they don't earn enough tips to supplement that, then it's too bad.
Going along with "no loud convos on public transit" thing: do not talk on the phone while riding the bus or the train. If you get a call, and you must take it, keep it as quiet and as brief as you possibly can, and look appropriately embarrassed and apologetic while you do it.
the aspect of Japanese regions having different dialects/languages is so fascinating! While I was studying abroad in Tokyo for the year, whenever i traveled outside the city, friends and strangers I spoke to said I spoke with a Tokyo dialect, which only makes me want to learn even more about the different types out there lol. Language is so cool!
As an Asian-American living in America, I can not stand it when some people wear their shoes IN BED.
People DO THAT? I’m American, didn’t know that was a thing, and am appalled lol
I won't lie the other commentor that said "People do that", thats immediately how I verbally reacted 🤣🤣 My southern momma and my Korean grandmother would've beaten me from one side of the house to the other
As an Asian-Canadian who has a lot of American friends, I don't see any of them sleeping with their shoes in bed... lol I've only seen that in movies... Kinda like when some people brush their teeth and there's no rinsing and spitting in movies... Who the hell brushes and just swallows everything, no rinsing no spitting lol!
@@YakSa86 I never even caught that! But you're right who swallows toothpaste? Ew
I'm Caribbean and that is disgusting.
USA should really do something about their tipping culture. It should be the employers responsibility to pay their employees.
@cyberfloater usually you leave the tip at the table you were seated at and the waitress or waiter who served you collects it when they go to clear off the table and tipping is usually at least 8% of the total meal cost
YESSS
Mhcc Cccc working here in Florida I can 100% confirm we don’t make “minimum” we make roughly 5 an hour and tipping 10 percent of the meal is considered a bad tip 15 is good 18 is great and anything over that is an amazing job well done but the problem in America isn’t tipping it’s convincing millions of workers and Business owners that it’s worth It to pay them a wage similar to what we make I usually make 150 a night about 6 hours and I tip out my bussers and my bar and my food runner based on sales to make that in an hour wage I’d need 25 plus an hour and let’s be real being a server is a specialized job if anyone could do it they would cuz it’s good money but you’ve gotta be able to deal with people and give up your weekends and holidays
@lalilulelo You convince a ceo that he should pay his servers 25 an hour you’ll get worse service cuz if I make money no matter what and you come in with the attitudes that I have to deal with you ain’t getting service it’s just that simple it’s a service and you pay for service
It is typical to tip 20%, that is the standard. The reason for that is it makes the food and drinks less expensive. If the restaurant had to pay more in wages, food prices would go up in order to compensate.
Why don’t Americans take off their shoes...
Do americans actually just wear shoes inside as a normal thing?
@It'sPikachu! That would be just one of my concerns ^^
I grew up not wearing shoes in the house and I am American, I wear slippers. I thought it was normal it wasn’t until I went to my friend’s house and she didn’t take her shoes off
My boyfriends family wears shoes all over the house, while laying in bed, etc. same with the rest of their family. They’re Mexican but idk if that’s a cultural thing. I’ve just noticed it with them and their extended family
Roob Trulso cuz they’re gross
In Canada we take off our shoes, it just... makes sense. Why would you wanna being all that dirt from the streets in your house and carpets or wear shoes all the time? Take of ya shoes n relax :P
I know several canadians and they dont take their shoes off.
@@BOYVIRGO666 what a shame
@@acartonoj Its kinda regional from what i understand. When i was in denmark and germany no one took their shoes off either. You see it in places where asian culture is more prominent or in very specific regional manners but in general it isnt common outside of the asian subcontinent. Not to say that it doesnt exist.
Exactly. ^_^
It may also depend on how you get around? Like I'm sure that in urban areas where most people walk rather than drive (Like NY or any other big city with a bunch of traffic) they probably take their shoes off more, but rural areas (Like here in NC) where everything is so spread out, and people just drive or ride somewhere unless their car broke down or something etc etc, taking off shoes isn't as big of a problem because, however if you wear work boots or work in fields or something, people will usually take their's off if they can, ??? I *think* I'm making sense, but I tend to ramble and go off on tangents, so this may not be entirely accurate, bvvv
I live in the States and every time I take my shoes off at someone’s door I’m told, “You don’t have to do that.” To which I reply, “I know where they have been.”
We Europeans are pretty surprised about seeing Americans not taking their shoes off too .
We northerners from the USA are surprised when people dont take off their shoes. It is a Southern thing.
A lot of British people are OK with people not taking shoes off in the house. It's disgusting... Imagine when you have a baby and it crawls around all the human spit, animal urine and poo, dirt, etc... That get walked around the house. So disrespectful!
In southern Europe we don't take off our shoes, like Portugal, Spain for example
In Canada we are also surprised when people don't take their shoes off at the door when they enter our homes
it's gross unless like the whole of the bottom floor is that shiny floor and not carpet or wood and ur wearing like sandals or flip flops
anything else and ur gross
I see Rie, i click immediately. I love Rie!!!
Rie is queen. :D
Honestly samee she's my favorite 😁
Make it fancy ☝
Lincoln Loud yesss
I am a simple teen. I see Rie I click.
To answer the eating/drinking in public while walking - It's because you might bump into someone, spill your food/drink onto them and cause them to have a bad day.
so what? have u been to NY? bumping happens only in movies!!!
In my country it is also rude to eat in public because while you are eating people who cant afford it may want it but cant buy it
@@slayldrm2695 thats so interesting and empathetic, where do you live? This is so different
@@marischein2139 guessing Turkey
I love how the Japanese approach eating. It's like a ritual. You take your time. You sit down properly. You don't eat on the run or in public where others who might be hungry as well but can't eat currently. I enjoy this a lot 😍
um we eat on the train
The best part about having an asian mom is the food though 😋 I just had to say that-
want to correct re: tipping... most states in the u.s. don't pay waiters minimum wage. it's usually about $3/hour and tips *literally pay a waiter's wages* ... it's not "extra money".
Ya like can't they just pay em properly? I mean the employers are the ones getting benefits from the employees working there. Why do the customers ahd to shoulder the burden of paying them because the employer is so cheap and won't pay them a living wage?,
It doesn't have anything to do with the employer being cheap or fancy. It's the custom; especially in certain regions.
I think in his case though, BuzzFeed is in the LA area and there people are paid state or city minimum wage which starts at $11 and can be as high as $14 depending on the city and the number of employees.
Weird. Minimum wage here is $15.75 tips isn't a thing here it's the employees responsibility to take care of their workers. Not the customers.
Capitalism.
"Don't talk in the train"
*shows footage of Rie and Worth It guys talking in the train*
was she talking, tho!? :P
"Don't eat while walking"
shows footage of Rie and Worth It guys eating and walking
You can talk, just don't be too loud. It's also good to remember that all rules/ etiquette can be broken if you know what you're doing. For example it's usually not cool to eat on the streets but if you're at a crowded place with nightlife like Shibuya you'll see a lot of people eating/drinking and even pissing(still, don't do that) on the streets.
She also ate with them in the street lol
Actually, in that specific clip and footage, they were talking softly and they mentioned there that it's not nice to talk loudly in the train.
um I would love if Rie and the other japanese producers did a Japan Travel Guide.
also feel like Rie would give the best tips, and best recommendations on what/where to eat
TS L yesss!!! I want to travel there so badly but I would want a guide, Rie is so sweet and would give the best advice!
There are AMAZING RUclips channels already ! To name a few : Abroad in Japan, Tokyo Creative, Rachel and Jun, That Japanese Man Yuta, and Life Where I'm from :)
The idea of tattoo and onsen is slowly changing in Japan, but if you have tattoo , and want to visit onsen place or resort, I recommend asking them if it''s allowed or not. So many places have allowed people with the tattoo to get to the onsen but some don't and you should better make sure about it because onsen is so good and it's different experience from anything else
Concerning shoes: Before the westernization of Japan, people of all classes sat, worked, ate, and slept using mats or cushions on the floor. This was the custom in many public places and in most all homes. People would not want to come from the roads and streets and walk on their dinner table or on their mattresses. In addition, although the floors were commonly wood, the formal rooms would have tatami mats covering the floor. These mats were made of woven straw and are difficult to clean. Even today, when people change from street shoes to house slippers in their homes, they take off the slippers to walk on tatami mats.
Very interesting!
Servers in the USA DO NOT make minimum wage on top of tips.
Though it varies by state, federal minimum for tipped employees is $2.13/hr. Tipping is not “extra” money-it’s literally how they survive.
superCappy27 preach! I was saying the same thing!
Wow it is still that low? I don't remember how low it was back when regular minimum wage was $3.50, but server wages need to go up...that is crazy.
It shouldn't be my job to come up for your paycjeck
So if you work 8 hours and don't get any tips, you worked for free?
Sola maybe it shouldn’t be, but as the laws stand now, it is.
please make more of these types of videos!!! my #1 anxiety while traveling are not knowing these sorts of little tips!!
The reason why you tip in America is that, as a server/waiter/waitress, you're expected to make so much money from tipping that your employer only needs to pay you $2-$3/hour. At Pizza Hut, I was told how "awesome" it was that I got $4/hour (with a majority of my customers tipping $2 no matter the size of the order - if I got tipped at all, since Pizza Hut is considered "fast food").
Also, tipping (especially in low level restaurant chains) is very dependent on not only the quality/speed of the service, but quality of the food (which is dependent on cooks, not normally servers), the demands of the restaurant they work for (most employers demand you check your table every 5 minutes, and I've had customers tell me they'd have tipped more if I left them alone) and other factors that aren't related to the server's performance, such as if a server was male or female, or if the well-endowed waitress had one or two buttons on her blouse undone vs buttoned up completely, or if the customer was only there for "free pie day" and only had enough money for a cup of soup and a "generous" dollar tip.
Doesn't help that servers have to pay more in taxes than people who make hourly/salary wadges, since paychecks are automatically taxed and tips qualify as "additional income" that needs to be taxed further.
Also, tipping was invented as a means of getting labor that was practically free from "unskilled workers" that were looking for jobs after the abolishment of slavery (since most of these unskilled workers were former slaves).
I'm kind of envious of servers in Japan, since compared to American servers, they can make a decent income without having to rely on the generosity of their customers or else exploiting cultural sexual double standards.
Facts right here ☝🏽
Omg I’d be so annoyed if a waiter would come every 5 minutes to check on me, I don’t understand how employers can think that’s a good idea
@@ana-maria8350 it's because it "shows initiative," and that you "care for the customer's needs." Where as I've heard (and please correct me if I'm wrong, since I haven't been to Japan and may not have the right info) you need to signal/call your server over if you want additional service beyond your initial order, since it'd be considered rude or annoying if they bugged you every 5 minutes.
@@tsukiraaquarius8746 Honestly, it makes more sense for the customer to have initiative to order things. Expecting your waiter to check on you almost simulates a difference in social standing scenario. I think Japan as a whole also recognizes the value of being able to enjoy something without fear of being monitored and such (recordings in public are either not allowed or frowned upon). Even if you're socially awkward, Japan has developed other ways to be able to get serviced (automated and cards). As someone in the US, a sever that shows initiative either is actually caring, has nothing better to do, or is fishing for tips more than being interested in servicing you.
Something else I've noticed is how in the US, "is there anything else I can help you with" has been changed into more aggressive selling like "how about some dessert". The "initiative" has a different nuance and becomes "proactive selling".
This was really interesting. I really enjoy learning about other cultures, especially the history of certain things, but not a lot of youtubers take the time to make the videos.
I’ve been studying South Korea for years, and some lessons go into Japanese culture as well, so it’d be great to have more videos like this developed into a series.
We're making more! Just finished shooting some today :)
My asian mom would smack me in the face if i bring my shoes in the house, also we have different kinds of slippers per room
What asian are you from? Im guessing filipino...
@@depressedasalways5669 yes I'm filipino 😂
Same, I am from India and I feel like we have so many slippers when you actually count it (but it has actually become pretty normal for me to change my slippers so many times)
I have one one pair for each washroom
Two pairs for the kitchen
Everyone has their own pair for the balcony (plus one extra pair for guests)
And finally one pair for every one (plus 2 pairs for guests) for the living room and bedroom
Now that I think about it, I can't even believe how many pairs of slippers I change in an hour
Me too! We have indoor slippers and outdoor slippers. And we wouldnt even bring up the indoor upstairs! Sometimes though but we will leave it outside the bathroom, bedroom...
Yes! At one of the hostel's I stayed then had "bathroom" slippers! lol
I love Rie so much, she is calm and collected, professional, funny yet caring, has a lot of respect for her job, aaahh she is just perfect humble woman and I just want to be like her.
Didn’t know that Rie is from Hiroshima!
She should do Hiroshimayaki (or Okonomiyaki, as the locals prefer to call it) recipe for the next tasty video!
she’s done one! it’s in her favorite japanese foods video
Pretty much everyone calls it okonomiyaki.
Okonomiyaki is the most underrated Japanese cuisine it’s sooooo good 😍😍
@@tams805 I was gonna say my family's from Osaka and we call it okonomiyaki 😂
mdizzle shnizzle only the Hiroshima version🙂
In our culture ( Hindu ) taking off shoes is a must. They believe you will bring something home which will disrupt the peace in the household.
most of budhist asia has the same belief. South america mostly has it too.
A lot of people from India also believe in honor killings, female circumcision, and marrying off daughters to save them from "dishonoring" their family.
@@theiran thats india. hinduism is a religion. it's a very peaceful religion too.
@@theiran went from 1 to 100 real quick
I am American and I don’t wear shoes inside the house mainly not to bring dirt inside; I switch to house slippers. Majority of my friends are the same.
I live in Japan (husband is military) and alllll of these things are accurate. We’ve only been here 10 months but we have 2 more years to go, and we love it.
Nice new series. Will look forward to seeing this for other countries too
They’re not gonna do that
Sadly.. another snack one already just made for next country
We just finished shooting more of these today! Will try to edit them fast :)
1:15, I've never done that, but it never occurred to me not to do that. The fork analogy is very good.
I'm American, and my mom always made me take off my shoes before coming inside the house. I'm not sure, but maybe this is just a southern/country thing?
Don't think so. In Germany and Russia you also have to take your shoes off unless the person you visit says its ok because he didn'r clean the floor or it is too cold and there aren't enough slippers.
It just seems like the logical thing to do to me. Why would you bring all that dirt from the streets into your home?
Ana-Maria exactly! It’s a normal person thing. Plus, wouldn’t walking in your shoes all day long be tiresome?
Taking shoes off in the home is common all over the USA - but, it is not as adhered to culturally as it is in Japan (and other Asian countries, mentioned in the video)
I'm from the south and we don't do that. Granted we don't have carpets.
oh yeah, I do the shoe thing too. It’s common courtesy to take off your shoes. it’s considered rude and is looked down upon
Depending on where you are from. Some people consider it rude to take off your shoes in their home.
Im from British Columbia, Canada. We take off our shoes here and actually i have taken of my shoes everywhere i have gone in canada.
I think the stores here should implement the spots to hold shoes though! I've been living in the metro Vancouver area for 3 years now, and this would solve SO MANY PROBLEMS when it rains!
Do Canadians really apologize alot or is that a stereotype?
Here in Ontario also.. every household I go to everyone takes their shoes off.. is wearing shoes indoors an American thing?
Pfft you'd have to trust no one to steak your shoes!
I think not taking off shoes is literally only an American thing. I am Canadian as well, have travel every city in our country and live on both coasts everywhere I have been I have always kept my shoes on. Aside of mechanic garage and work sheds.
Rie is so beautiful, every time she is on I'm just like wow.
I'm from the southern United States and it's surprisingly pretty common to take off your shoes when entering someone else's home. It has never been a big thing in my family so we don't do it, but many houses I've been to it was a requirement. Also, I just always take off my shoes in fitting rooms, I thought everyone did? lol
Well, in Europe we also take off our shoes when we enter the house. I think it's disgusting to bring in all the dirt, dust, soil and germs from the outside to your living space.
Great video! I've been to Japan 4x, and I'm happy to say these tips have been ingrained in me that everytime I come to Japan, I have always been mindful of these things. I hope I can learn more, that I might have missed the past years I've been there.
I've done a some of these blunders like eating while walking, not finding a trash can, being loud on a train... if only I'd seen this video 10 years earlier lol! This is a useful and helpful video.
Ya like how to throw trash properly in its place if there's no trash can around... should I really start carrying my own trashbag?
I am from India and I feel like we have so many slippers when you actually count it (but it has actually become pretty normal for me to change my slippers so many times)
I have one one pair for each washroom
Two pairs for the kitchen
Everyone has their own pair for the balcony (plus one extra pair for guests)
And finally one pair for every one (plus 2 pairs for guests) for the living room and bedroom
Now that I think about it, I can't even believe how many pairs of slippers I change in an hour
But gosh, if I forget, I'm in for good lecture about cleanliness and germs... eek
I went to Japan last year and many of the things you mentioned I was lucky to incorporate. I think most people try rushing and don"t read the signs everywhere. I was lucky to book several days in certain towns so I didnt have to rush so I got to read the English signs and watch more YT vids while I was in my room. This vid is definently informative if you want to start with etiquette before researching all about booking and hotels and stuff.
Wow Japan is so polite
Unlike China 😂
No offense intended, I am a Chinese
Specifically Mainland Chinese people. www
Yes, Mainland Chinese people seem very rude, there had been a local news how a part of the newly renovated beach (Boracay) was closed down because a tourist from Mainland China let her child poop in the beach (like in the water), and how another tourist from MLC let her child pee in the trash can in a MALL! Go ahead and do that in your own country but don't do that in a place you're just visiting, especially the Boracay one since it just opened after the 6-month renovation!
maybe because most of them are atheists
They are apologising for ww2
O I love chinese
its an informative video and very nice how you shared it thank you
I’m from the uk I’ve always taken my shoes off when entering someone’s home all my family do it we see it as manners
i agree, but a lot of my friends don't do it and get annoyed at me for asking them to take off their shoes in my house hahah
We went to Japan last August and we didn't know about the money tray 😂, now we know... We love Japan, we'll be back next year
Thank you this helped a lot me and my wife are planing a trip to Japan
Can you please do a video on how to enjoy Japan if you are Wheelchair bound. What rules and etiquette do we need to follow if we go to a Ryokan or places that require shoes to be taken off. I love Japan but a severe accident has left me wheelchair bound I want to visit again but don’t want to embarrass myself because I’m in a Wheelchair.
I’ve always seen taking off your shoes as a sign of closeness/informality-and therefore it seems rude to do around strangers. Like, if you’re someone I would feel uncomfortable being in my pajamas around, I feel uncomfortable taking off my shoes with you. In my eyes it’s much more polite to keep them on. (Although not saying how they think of it is wrong or anything-that’s just the way I was raised).
I agree!!!
When I was in Japan I eventually caught on to the "no eating while walking in public" thing. Out of all of them, that was the biggest culture shock to me.
I'm a simple girl; I see Rie, I click
If you fold the paper from the chopstick 3 times, then fold it hot dog style, push the ends in lightly and you've got a super easy chop stick holder with every disposable set!
In Nigeria it's common courtesy to take your shoe off to prevent bringing dirt from outside into the house.
I'm glad to hear you also put the money on the little tray. In Italy it's more polite too to not hand it directly to the cashier, but in the USA it's the opposite. I was taking cash out of my wallet fast one time in New York and put it directly on the table because it was simply easier and the cashier got really offended. I learned my lesson.
The thing is im chinese and when i go to my friends houses their parents would tell me i dont have to take off my shoes cuz “its ok”, i think that’s just for hospitality’s sake
Chinese/Filipino perspective:
1. The real reason why you shouldn't stick you chopsticks onto the bowl of rice is because the souls of the dead/hungry ghosts eat the rice when the chopsticks are in that position. But as Rie (fav cook from Tasty) said, yeah they look like incense sticks
2. Even in the Philippines, you should ALWAYS take off your shoes. You need to wear tsinelas (slippers) or you can go around the house barefooted. Socks? You should also take off your socks. Even if you're a visitor, you should take off your shoes as a sign of respect to the home owner.
Oohhh yes i really love shinkansen I'm glad that you showed the N700A nozomi thats one of my favorite shinkansen besides alfa X, E5 hayabusa and the legendary 500 type EVA
I LOVE Nippon!!! Lived there for 8 years, now I dont. But I'm definitely going back!!! It really is a beautiful country, and they're definetly right about staying in places other than Tokyo. Best thing is you can explore all of it via flight, road trip or shinkansen!!!!
Try not to rub your wooden chopsticks together to get rid of splinters. This is disrespectful.
Really!? I didn't know that. I see it alot in Anime or Korean movies
Unless the place is expensive and they really have given you cheap chopsticks. In that case, give them hell.
If the chopsticks are the really cheapo ones from Panda Express, I rub them...but if they are clearly not splintery like at Noodles & Company or better then I don't. The Pho place we go to has really nice reusable chopsticks which obviously don't need any splinters removed. I need to go to a good Asian restaurant...I haven't been in forever!
Craftybunny disposable wooden chopsticks are fine to rub since they produce splinters when they’re broken apart. But crafted wooden sticks that are already separate should not be rubbed because they have already been sanded down by the craftsmen.
Cheap disposable wooden chopsticks = okay but reusable wooden ones = under zero circumstances unless you wanted to be haunted by the ghosts of your ancestors
In Germany you also take off your shoes when entering your own or somebody else's house. We have plenty of shoes just for inside, also for share with guests.
I'm an American currently living in the UK and taking your shoes off at the door is something we have done all my life. My grandmothers would never consider allowing outdoor shoes in the house. I've brought the custom with me and have educated my UK family which they humor me without understanding why LOL
Wearing outdoor shoes inside is very common in the UK, but lots of households also insist on people removing their shoes. So, it's not really a stereotype you should be spreading.
As to why? If you clean regularly enough, it really doesn't matter. You aren't eating off the floor. I grew up wearing shoes indoors and your bare feet never touch the floor as we had slippers for if you didn't want to wear shoes.
hello fellow southeast asian here! growing up i was told that taking off your shoes before you enter the home shows that you're leaving the possible bad energy that you might have carried throughout your day or possibly picked up in the street. so when you take your shoes off you leave that energy outside rather than in the home. but its also disrespectful to step over people when eating on the floor because they could see the bottom of your feet as well.
Tattoos being banned at onsens is still more the rule than not.
It will be less of a thing when more onsens close due to a lack of customers.
Watching japan travel advices before even being able to afford going there but japan is GOALS
Taking your shoes off is also European etiquette.
When we went last year there was a big thing also about staying on the left of the escalators so that people who want to walk up them have the ability to. I thought that was very cool!
Tips *ARE* the income of American servers. Restaurant base pay ($2.13/hr) is basically nothing; barely covers taxes. 15% tip is considered standard. That $3.74 You tip with pays their rent.
It usually doesn’t cover taxes-most industry people I know owe quite a bit at the end of the year.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who was annoyed by the tipping is extra comment!
Taking shoes off, as far as i know is : 1. Tatami gets damaged, and hard to clean. 2. 土足で家にあがる（get in a house with shoes) typically meant "burglar" or disrespectful. 3. Could be from Buddism also.
As someone from Sweden I expected a lot bigger culture shock between Japan and Sweden but a lot of the common sense that exist in Japan is the same is Sweden, the real big difference is indvidual society to a collective society.
as a fellow European I'd say the idea of what's polite is a lot more similar in northern Europe and Japan than in America! It's less about being outgoing and chatty and more about being respectful and considerate in my opinion.
@@c.sophies7919 Well the thing is all these videos are based one America when America is very unique in the world with many things the rest of the world see as weird like not taking of shoes and they make these lists even thou it is not special what so ever.
As far as Onsen are concerned, there are more and more tattoo friendly onsen, all you usually have to do is either look at their website or ask.
If you don't speak Japanese, it's ok, in most major cities the population will at least know enough English to communicate. Just use single word sentences, though, instead of "where's the bathroom?" ask "bathroom?"
Get a sim card at the airport if your phone is unlocked. That way you'll have access to data. Don't count on public wifi, it's... not a thing in Japan. Not when I was there, anyway.
If you're flying into Tokyo, try your best to go to Haneda instead of Narita. Haneda is more centralized, so you'll have less travel time and less messing around with trains when you're jetlagged
Get a Passmo or Suica card at any convenience store and most stations if you're gonna be staying in a place with a lot of trains. It'll stop you from having to futz with tickets (and you don't have to know kanji, which is a bonus) plus they can be used on vending machines. Now is a good time to get it because in preparation for the Olympics, Japan is adding a bunch of English language interfaces to everything
Learn the Kanji for Woman (女) and man (男) as these will often be the only things marking the men's or women's bathrooms. They're the only life-saving kanji you N E E D to know.
Not about food but there's Rie, so I'm here.
Oh I love taking shoes off at the fitting room! I grew up taking shoes off in homes. I like how tidy and respectful the culture can be in Japan. I really want to visit, for lots of reasons, but I'd be so happy to be around people who are picky about cleanliness and manners similarly to how I am.
And I often get after friends for not wanting to carry garbage, too bad it you bought it it's your responsibility now.
Really looking forward to going to the different areas in Japan that I've heard of in anime I've watched.
Most of these also apply to Korea as well
I love this...wonderful. Thank you for educating me.
We South African's are loud, very loud. It's just our mannerism, we love socialising.
The thing about taking shoes off to enter a house is also common in the rural areas I have lived here in Australia (and I have absolutely no asian ancestry). You don't walk around a paddock full of horses and then walk into the house with your shoes on. My friends think I am weird when I automatically take my shoes off to enter their houses.
In Europe lt's also common to take off your shoes, tho sometimes hosts will say; oh you don't have to take your shoes off!
But I still do anyways loll
Idk it's just that shoes are dirty man. I cringe evertime i see an american on a bed with shoes.. like whyyyyyy
Well this video just amped up my desire to travel Japan. Love this tips. Gotta share this video with my bro who really wants to go to Japan someday as well. Any plans to do a series of videos on Japan?
Rie's from Hiroshima?! How interesting can she get?!!
In the US waiting doesn’t pay minimum wage, they get paid like $1 an hour and rely heavily on tips, usually if a waiter’tress doesn’t earn atleast 30$(?) within a certain time they’ll get bumped up to minimum wage
its bizarre for me, like why do American even call it a *minimum* wage if there are jobs that makes less than that??
we Filipinos take off our shoes when we enter our house. especially in our room
the shoes off just makes sense.
you spend all this time and effort to get a place for your family, they’re for damn sure not messing up the floor.
You should tell us about how it was living in Hiroshima.
Great advice! Thank you :)
Thanks to Texan in Tokyo - I actually knew some of these :D thank you though - that was interesting
I LOVE TEXAN IN TOKYO! ^_^
@@anamahilom8978 Have all their books :D
A surprising amount of Europeans take off their shoes, which was honestly something I didn't know. During my year in Slovakia I think I only met one person who didn't take their shoes off. Most houses have a little entrance to take off their shoes, too. Even at most schools you are supposed to change into special shoes or wear something over them (Though a lot of my classmates would try and get around it). Way cleaner and makes so much sense.
so most U.S. waiters/waitresses don't get minimum wage + tip, tip is supposed to be their wage
definitely did not know about taking off your shoes in fitting rooms. good to know!
They have slippers in Japan for in the house, and a separate pair of slippers for the bathroom.
Also, some bathrooms with showers, have no curtains or even a separate space for the shower like the way most people are used to. Just remember that when you get a hotel there and dont freak out, it's the usual for them.
In Ivory Coast we take of shoes also when coming into someone's home, and for most, we wear flip flops while showering lol...
Rie looked so damn pretty in this video 😍😍
Can you guys expand on all the different meibutsu and meisho in Japan! That would be amazing! Send Rie to Japan, I would love to see a travel show hosted by Rie! :)
The shoe-thing - we do it in scandinavia to. It is really a snow-thing.
As an American, one important thing I learned traveling in Japan for a year, was DON'T BE AFRAID. Even if you do something wrong or weird or uncomfortable, you wont be judged negatively. You will be corrected and life moves on, as do your travels. Merely be humble, but try to experience whatever you can without a shame monster hiding behind you! Just love what you are experiencing and listen. Also, learn some Japanese before you go....please.
I wear a rashguard when I go onsen in Japan coz of my tattoos lol.
You can also just rent a private onsen for a few hours
With the shoe thing I do wear shoes on occasion when walking through the house to either go outside the other way or am close to leaving the house, but never just casually wearing outdoor shoes. Like if I’m chilling in the couch I wouldn’t.
Escalators. You stand on one side of the escalator and walk up the other unlike America, where we stand wherever we want.
oh really? we have the same in the uk where in the underground we stand on the right of the escalators and walk on the left
@@susanzheng4022 same in Germany
Same in Sweden. If no one is standing on the right, you can walk there too, but you never stand on the left side.
In Aus it's stand on the left and walk on the right, and if people are standing on the right side you can bet that people walking behind you will barrel through anyway 😂
Around Washington dc we stand on the right walk on the left if stand on the left people get annoyed or rude very quickly
As the only person seriously concerned with keeping the floors clean I also wanted to add about the shoes, not only do you have to sweep more but you have to mop the floors more too. If I walk around your home wearing white socks and they come back black you're doing something terribly wrong.
Me: I need to go to Japan
My health: you WHAT?
What do you mean? It's probably a lot healthier than where you come from.
@@micaylapresley my health is to bad to travel.
@@micaylapresley Do you understand that the date of my comment was before I knew anything about the new virus outbreak? Sorry if I confused you
I had the good fortune of being able to visit Japan in 2005; Osaka and Hiroshima (with day-trips to Miyajima and Nara).
Luckily, I also had the good sense to procure a guide book before going, so I was aware of these things - and had to educate my parents on what they were doing wrong... This - naturally - resulted in them ignoring everything I said, and people generally seeing them as the typical "rude foreigners", and me trying my best to *not* be a typical rude foreigner.
Onsen is very hot.. Oh the double meaning is making me laugh
In Japan you take off your shoes when you enter a home because tatami mats are difficult to clean. Obviously not all homes have tatami mats anymore, but that is the origin of the practice.
In America, people were often going in and out of the house. A lot of people have large homes with large yards or farms, so they will just keep their shoes on until the end of the day. If you have animals the floor is going to get dirty quickly too. Also, the floor is usually tile, wood, linoleum, or carpet in bedrooms. Except for carpet, those are all easy to clean. I'm not saying I agree with this, I definitely grew up by always taking off my shoes in the home, but this is one reason for this in America. (And in TV shows or movies when people don't take off their shoes and get on their bed, that is only because it wastes time for the character/actor to remove their shoes when they are going to put them back on anyway. It looks weird to wear shoes in the bed, but it isn't offensive in America like how it might be in Japan or other countries.)
American tipping is an awful concept. In most restaurants, tipping isn't 'extra money' it's their wage. The server minimum wage is not equal to the normal federal one of 7.xx per hour, so that's why you really should tip. The server minimum was is 2.13 on average, and it's legal because managers take tips out of their pay, as an 'estimation'. If they don't earn enough tips to supplement that, then it's too bad.
Alicia yes! I was just saying this!
Going along with "no loud convos on public transit" thing: do not talk on the phone while riding the bus or the train. If you get a call, and you must take it, keep it as quiet and as brief as you possibly can, and look appropriately embarrassed and apologetic while you do it.
Rie
the aspect of Japanese regions having different dialects/languages is so fascinating!
While I was studying abroad in Tokyo for the year, whenever i traveled outside the city, friends and strangers I spoke to said I spoke with a Tokyo dialect, which only makes me want to learn even more about the different types out there lol. Language is so cool!