In public
- Keep phone calls off trains and conversation quiet in carriages.
- Queue where the platform markings tell you to.
- Don't eat while walking in busy streets; step aside or stay at the stall.
Eating and drinking
- Wait until everyone is served before starting.
- Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick.
- Tipping is not practised and can cause genuine awkwardness.
Shoes and interiors
A step up, a change of flooring or a rack of slippers all mean the same thing: shoes off. This applies in homes, ryokan, many temples and some restaurants.
Onsen and public baths
Wash thoroughly at the seated showers before entering the water. No swimwear, no towels in the bath. Tattoo policies vary — private or room baths sidestep the issue.
