Japan is famous for its complex web of social conventions and rules of behaviour, which only someone who's grown up in the society could hope to master. Fortunately, allowances are made for befuddled foreigners, but it will be greatly appreciated - even draw gasps of astonishment - if you show a grasp of the basic principles. The two main danger areas are shoes and bathing, which, if you get them wrong, can cause great offence.
The Japanese treat most foreigners with incredible, even embarrassing, kindness. There are endless stories of people going out of their way to help, or paying for drinks or even meals after the briefest of encounters. That said, foreigners will always remain "outsiders" (
gaijin
), no matter how long they've lived in Japan or how proficient they are in the language and social niceties. On the positive side this can be wonderfully liberating; you're expected to make mistakes, so don't get too hung up about it. The important thing is to be seen to be trying. As a general rule, when in doubt simply follow what everyone else is doing.
Meetings and greetings
Some visitors to Japan complain that it's difficult to meet local people. It's certainly true that many Japanese are shy of foreigners, mainly through a fear of being unable to communicate. A few words of Japanese will help enormously, and there are...
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Hospitality, gifts and tips
Entertaining
, whether it's business or purely social, usually takes place in bars and restaurants. The host generally orders and, if it's a Japanese-style meal, will keep passing you different things to try. You'll also find your glass continually...
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Shoes and slippers
It's customary to change into
slippers
when entering a Japanese home or a ryokan, and not uncommon in traditional restaurants, temples or, occasionally, in museums and art galleries. In general, if you come across a slightly raised floor and a...
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Bathing
Taking a traditional Japanese
bath
, whether in a ryokan, hot spring (onsen), or public bathhouse (
sento
), is a ritual that's definitely worth mastering. Nowadays most baths are segregated, so memorize the
kanji
for male...
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Toilets
Traditional Japanese
toilets
(
toire
or
otearai
) are of the Asian squat variety. Though these are still quite common in homes, old-style restaurants and many public buildings, Western toilets are gradually becoming the...
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Some general pointers
It's quite normal to see men urinating in the streets in Japan, but
blowing your nose
in public is considered extremely rude - just keep sniffing until you find somewhere private. In this very male, strictly hierarchical society, men always...
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