The Japanese are genuinely very friendly and easy-going when it comes to welcoming westerners to their country. Of the points below, its unlikely that you will really offend anybody with the odd misunderstanding. But we at Japan-Easy have compiled a handy guide to let you know a few do's and don'ts to remember when traveling in Japan: tips for traveling everywhere in Japan, eating in restaurants and bars, and soaking in 'onsen' baths

[Everywhere...]

1. Everyone takes their shoes off

Cleanliness is next to godliness, and the Japanese try to get as close as they can. If there is a 'genkan' hallway [usually with tiled floors and a step] this is your cue to take your shoes off before stepping onto lush tatami mat or wooden floors. We've seen this system enforced in a ski resort restaurant in Japan: despite all the hassle involved in taking off ski and snowboard boots, everybody does!

If you happen to forget, the shocked, sharp intake of breath by your Japanese host is always a good sign to remember.

2. Sneezing in public or blowing your nose with a handkerchief...

...isn't super-polite, but then you are unlikely to offend anyone too deeply.

[In restaurants or bars]

3. Nobody pours their own drink

When in a bar, restaurant or 'izakaya' restaurant and enjoying the local brew or sake, its the done thing to fill up your friends' glasses if they even come close to emptying. For westerners, this has the disconcerting effect of not being able to count just how many glasses of Asahi or Kirin you have had.

4. Passing food from your chopsticks to a friend's chopsticks is a no-no!

This is similar to a funeral rite in Japan, and hence not really the done thing in public.

5. Only babies have soy sauce poured on their bowl of rice

But if you really cant get used to just eating a bland bowl of rice by itself, who cares?!

6. Pay at the till, not the table

In about 90% of all restaurants - no idea why.

7. There's no need to tip

Actually, you are more likely to cause offence if you do try to give a tip


[In the onsen spa bath...]

8. The Japanese way of bathing

Shower first, often using the soap and little stools provided, rinse thoroughly, and then bathe. If you take soap into the bath, the hotel or onsen will have to drain the bath entirely and re-fill it.

9. Naked as the day you were born!

Bathing in Japan is always naked. This is why 90% of the public onsen spa baths are segregated between males and females. Wearing swimming trunks or swimsuits isn't the done thing. If semi-public nudity isn't your thing, many hotels will have 'kashi-kiri' baths: private baths that you can rent out by the hour.

10. The blue curtain is the male bath, and the red or pink curtain is the ladies bath

Its easy to forget this after a long flight to Tokyo. We've had customers who forgot or didn't realise before...