10 Japanese Customs You Should Know Before You Visit Japan (2023 Edition) (2024)

FAQs

How to not offend Japanese? ›

Show respect for the places you are in and the people who are there, especially on public transport. If you carry a phone, keep it on silent mode and avoid speaking on it. If in doubt, just follow the locals.

Japan Customs requires all passengers entering Japan to submit a Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles in order to prevent terrorism and smuggling, and to ensure prompt and proper customs clearance.

​​​​​​​To fit in, dress up your look a little extra! Wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move in, but also are stylishly sharp. Tuck in your shirt to a well-fitting pair of jeans or shorts, and be sure to wear shoes you can easily slip on or off.

Japan is an amazing country that's relatively safe to visit, and the Japanese are generally very friendly to tourists.

As many things in Japan, it depends on the situation. In a casual situation, arigato is completely OK, while Domo arigato gozaimasu would not be the right thing to say. On the other hand, when you receive something precious or something from a respected person, saying just arigato would be rude.

Arigatou on its own is a simple, somewhat casual “thank you.” That said, most people prefer doumo arigatou or arigatou gozaimasu as their standard way of saying thanks, because both of those phrases are more polite than arigatou on its own.

Blow your nose in public

Though other cultures consider sniffling rude, it's the opposite in Japan. Blowing your nose in public is seen as totally disgusting and the height of rudeness. Locals will sniffle until they find somewhere private to blow their nose, and you should do the same.

Japanese people are accustomed to bowing as a form of greeting. Walking around the streets, you'll probably notice people nodding spontaneously while talking on the phone and businesspeople or even train conductors taking long deep bows as a formalized show of respect.

What is a polite behavior in Japan? ›

Bowing is an essential part of Japanese custom to show respect, thanking, greeting or apology. In stead of shaking hands, we bow, and it depends on time and people how long and deep you bow. Generally men keep their hands in their side, and women put their hands together on their thighs with fingers touching.

Over-the-Counter Medication

The following are prohibited as they contain narcotic or stimulant ingredients in excess of the Japanese standard: These medications include (but are not limited to) Tylenol Cold, NyQuil, Actifed, Sudafed, Advil Cold & Sinus, Dristan Sinus, Vicks Inhaler, and Lomotil.

You can bring up to one month's supply of prescription medicines into Japan, and up to two month's supply of non-prescription medicines without completing any paperwork.

If you are planning to bring medicines or prescription drugs into Japan, please be aware that travellers are allowed to bring 2 months' worth of non-prescription medication without filling out any paperwork. 4 months' worth of vitamins are also allowed.

Pointing fingers directly at someone is considered impolite in Japan due to its confrontational and disrespectful nature, as it singles out individuals and can cause discomfort. Japanese culture emphasizes indirect communication and maintaining harmony, favoring non-verbal cues and subtle gestures instead.

When eating at a Japanese restaurant, it is important to be mindful of a few key etiquette points. First, it is considered rude to leave food on your plate, so be sure to finish everything on your dish. Second, avoid making noise while you eat, such as slurping your soup or clicking your chopsticks together.