In the past few years, tourists in Japan have been hitting the headlines for bad behavior. YouTubers like Johnny Somali have even been arrested for nuisance actions, like trespassing and shouting offensive things at local people. Others have attempted to travel up and down the country without buying a ticket.
So, what makes a good tourist? And how do we avoid offending anyone, especially in a country that regards manners as an important cultural currency? Here’s our guide to general Japanese etiquette. The Basics As a visitor to someone else’s country, it’s important to pay attention to what is happening around you and how the local people are behaving. Japan is no different, and sometimes the right way is literally signposted.
If a sign has a picture of a mobile phone with a big cross on it, it is obvious what that means. You needn’t speak the language to figure out the big picture. “Watch what the locals do and act accordingly,” says Peter Carnell , a freelance guide and podcaster based in Nagano.
“This applies to visiting any country. Many guests ask me about the rules in Japan and what to do and not to do. I tell them that as foreigners, Japanese do not expect us to know all the rules.
So in that regard, not to worry too much. But there are a couple of basic ones to respect.” Japanese Public Transport Manners There are several unspoken (and spoken) rules while riding Japanese trains.
Don’t answer phone calls. Your voice naturally rises when you’re on t.