Society & Culture

Japan is the most polite society in the world — and that's not a cliché. Politeness permeates every aspect of daily life, from the way a business card is handed over (with both hands, with a slight bow) to the fact that Japanese put their phone on silent in the train (Manā Mōdo — "manners mode").

The Most Important Rules

• Bowing: Japan's handshake. The deeper the bow, the more respect. A slight bow (15°) is sufficient for tourists. Bow when greeting, thanking, and apologizing.
• Be quiet: Silence is observed in trains, buses, and temples. No phone calls, speak softly. Japanese find loudness impolite.
• Queueing: Japanese always stand in orderly lines — at bus stops, in front of restaurants, on the platform (marked lines on the ground). Cutting in line is a serious offense.
• Remove shoes: When entering houses, temples, ryokans, and some restaurants. Pay attention to the genkan (raised entrance area) — remove shoes before entering, put on slippers. There are separate toilet slippers!
• Blowing your nose: Blowing your nose in public is considered impolite. Sniffling is more acceptable (the opposite of Europe!).
• Business cards: If on business: hand over and receive the card with both hands, read it briefly, place it respectfully on the table — never write on it or put it in your pocket.

Onsen (温泉, hot springs) are Japan's most important bathing culture — and have strict rules that tourists must know. The basic rule: Everyone is naked. Swimwear is prohibited in traditional onsen.

The Process

1. Changing room: Remove all clothing, place in a locker. You receive a small towel (tenugui) — this is for washing, NOT for covering in the water.
2. Washing station: Thoroughly shower before bathing (sit-down shower, shampoo, soap). This is mandatory — no one enters the communal bath unwashed.
3. Bathing: Slowly slide into the hot water (38–44 °C). Place the small towel on your head or at the edge of the bath — DO NOT dip it in the water!
4. Enjoy quietly: Be quiet, do not swim, do not dive, do not splash. Onsen is meditation, not a swimming pool.

Tattoo Problem

Many traditional onsen prohibit tattoos — due to the association with Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Options for tattooed travelers:

• Tattoo cover patches: Available in drugstores, allow access to some onsen
• Private onsen (Kashikiri): Private bath for 1–2 people, from ¥1,000–3,000/hour
• Tattoo-friendly onsen: Growing number, especially in tourist areas — research online (tattoo-friendly.jp)
• Ryokan with private bath: Room with its own rotenburo (outdoor bath)

Japan's konbinis (convenience stores) are in a class of their own — far more than a 7-Eleven in Europe. With over 56,000 branches (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart), they are Japan's unofficial living room.

What Konbinis Can Do

• Food: Fresh onigiri (rice triangles, ¥120–200), bento boxes (¥400–700), sandwiches (incredibly good!), oden in winter, nikuman (steamed buns), desserts — all surprisingly high quality
• Withdraw money: 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards (one of the few ATM types that do!)
• Buy tickets: Concert, bus, and event tickets at Loppi (Lawson) or Famiport (FamilyMart)
• Send/receive packages: Takkyubin (parcel delivery) — send your suitcase ahead to the next hotel!
• Print/copy: Documents, photos, travel documents
• Toilets: Clean, free toilets — konbini toilets save lives
• Pay bills: Electricity, gas, online orders — Japanese pay everything at the konbini
• Umbrellas: Transparent plastic umbrellas for ¥500 — Japan's umbrella standard

A fierce belief war rages among Japanese: 7-Eleven (best onigiri and bento), Lawson (best desserts, especially the "Uchi Café" line), or FamilyMart (best famichiki — fried chicken). The truth: All three are fantastic.