Since you mention toilets, you should know that there are 2 styles for women: **Western, which is what is used in the US and Europe -- works pretty much the same, but some have 2 kinds of flushes (big/small -- for obvious reasons) **Japanese style -- the proper etiquette is to squat over the toilet. Don t sit down (I know someone who made that mistake. Also, if you notice plastic slippers at the entrance to the bathroom, take your shoes/slippers off and use those plastic ones instead. When you ride a train during rush hour, it will be more crowded than you ve ever seen in your lifetime (even if you live in NYC). It s OK to gently push your way onto a train, even if it looks impossible. A trick I learned while living there is to enter the train backwards, pushing against people with your back. They will make way. Don t be shy, or else you ll never get anywhere during rush hour. (Trains are much emptier during non-rush hour.) If you visit a Japanese hot spring (quot;onsenquot;), the proper practice is to wash yourself thoroughly in one of the showering cubicles provided. Once clean, dip into the hot springs. You should NOT wear clothing. You can, however, bring a small towel and leave it on top of your head (look around -- you ll see others doing it). Use that towel to strategically cover yourself as you enter and exit the bath -- again, look around, others will do so. Japanese people tend to bow rather than shake hands. If you do dinner with a Japanese family, it s expected that you will take a bit of everything from the various choices on the table. Use your chopsticks. Traditionally you should turn them around to take food using the end that doesn t touch your mouth (for hygene reasons), but some families just use the regular end of the chopsticks. Be sure to say thank you after the meal (gochisousama deshita in Japanese). When you purchase something at a store, don t be surprised if the cashier or salesperson shows you the total price on a calculator. Whether you speak Japanese or not, if you look like a foreigner, this always happens. Also, the change comes in a little change tray -- use that rather than holding out your hand. Also, if the store has an elevator attendant, tell her (yes, they re mostly women) what floor you want to go to, rather than pushing the button. People above mentioned wearing slippers in homes -- this is true. Note that you also need to wear slippers (or go w/ socks or barefoot) when you enter the inside rooms of temples -- you ll notice the polished hardwood floors. Happy travels!!
My husband adds: 1)females don t like the sound of pee to be heard, so they flush or press an electronic flush sound button on the wall. 2)New toilets come w/ keypads that heat the seat, wash your behind, etc. No need to use if u don t want to, esp in public. But in a hotel, a warm seat is nice:) Report Abuse
honestly, you are a foreigner, so whatever you do, you d probably do wrong, SIMPLY because it s your first time. i don t want to send you a downer, girl, but it s just the way it is. the more you ll practise, though, the better, so don t worry about it too much. my tip is to laugh a lot at whatever you do wrong and be really cute. actually, be super-cute! for some demonstration, you could watch this series about japanese tradition at youtube. it s a bit humorous, so don t take everything they show there so seriously. the short movies show what to do and say in different situations and how to do it correctly. well, you ll have a laugh watching them as well. i did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4bMM73-q... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEBZgLnyQ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuNu2a4FG... there are some more of them available. i m sure you ll be fine. just remember to take your shoes off when entering the house and bring some omiyage (small inexpensive gifts from your home country) with you;) you might also want to take some business cards and tons of clean socks;)
If you re given a wrapped present - don t unwrap it in front of the giver - do it in private later or ask permission to open it before. The giver doesn t want to be embarrassed in front of other people as to whether it s too cheap or too expensive. When you give or receive things - use both hands. Don t offer to help in the kitchen when your visiting someone s house. It s like saying, quot;Your obviously ill prepared for my visit.quot; Your host will be making a show of being busy to show that you re being looked after. Always take a present when you re visiting someone new to you. Say thank you after eating by saying quot;Go chi so sama des staquot; If you re picking something up off a serving plate - reverse your chopsticks. It s nice if you refill people s beer glasses - even if it s only a third empty. If someone offers to refill your glass hold it with two hands at a tilt and say quot;arigatoquot; a lot. Going bearfooted into a temple is a big no-no. Anything more than this is a bonus.
When entering a home, take off your shoes. Call people by last name plus quot;sanquot;. That is: Mr. Smith becomes Smithsan, Mrs. Okawa becomes Okawasan. Try not getting drunk in public; could be the end of your career. Jokes about others are not funny. Jokes (clean) about you are OK. When invited to someones home, bring a gift (wine, cake, candy).
Don t speak too loudly. If you haven t been to Japan before (or for a while) you may not realise the volume that you speak at. Also, never talk over someone while they are speaking (although, this should be universal).
Another place to take shoes off is changing rooms, for example when trying on clothes. Take slippers off when entering a tatami room. Take slippers off inside a house when entering the toilet room (a room with a toilet, not a bath) and use the slippers that are inside the toilet room.One hint for these sorts of things is if you have to step up, it might be a place to remove footwear. Do not put chopsticks standing straight up in rice. When putting on a yukata, wrap the right side around first with the left side on the outside. Doing othwise in both of these situations are for funerals. Other than the above situations and as someone said talking loudly, Japanese people realise that foreigners don t have the same customs they do and are pretty understanding. To correct a few things: It is not uncommon to take shoes off on an inter-city train, with all seats facing forward, but not a train where the seats face each other. Drunkenness is one thing that is tolerated in Japan. Western or Japanese toilets are a choice not only for women but men as well.
In Japan, be nice to people. They be nice back. You learn as go along. Ching chong chang.
take care! there is an eject button in the toilet. do not push it. if u push it, you soar into the sky.. hahahahaha,, signnnn.. u do not take ur shoes off in the train, tax, bus or such vehicles but u need to take it off when u come into the someone s house. there is an entrance hall where u need to take it off and come into the floor. I think there are some.. Plus, we are shy, that is we do not have an faculity to speak english. if u visit an urban city, i guess there are large number of people who can speak english. even though u are in trouble or look like so, we might not help u. because basically we donot help people, even if they are japanese, and in actual there are some people or some workers can help u. that s why. in a train station, there are some crews who can help u. that s why. good luck!!
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