Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • Here are 10 things not to do in Japan.

  • Let's get started.

  • One.

  • Do not wear your outside shoes inside the house.

  • Typically, if you go to a house in Japan, you take off your outside shoes and there are inside slippers for you to wear.

  • Two.

  • Do not bathe dirty.

  • Typically in Japan, the set up is there is a shower and a tub right next to each other, and you're suppose to clean yourself off in the shower and then go into the tub.

  • That goes for onsen, or hot springs, as well.

  • Be sure to wash your body off and then go into the hot spring, or onsen.

  • This is because the tub is used for soothing and soaking.

  • Three.

  • Do not eat or drink while walking on the streets.

  • Yes, there are street food areas where that is okay and you can buy it and eat and walk.

  • But, typically in the city streets, it is very strange to be eating and drinking.

  • This includes inside the train as well.

  • Four.

  • Don't pour soy sauce on your rice.

  • I have a lot of friends here in Hawaii that do that, but in Japan, that's a little strange.

  • Five.

  • Do not pour your own drink.

  • In Japan, when you're out with your friends or your boss or with people, typically, it is very polite to pour drinks for other people, but not yourself.

  • Number six.

  • Do not spread your germs.

  • If you are sick and coughing or you have a runny nose, make sure you wear a mask.

  • Number 7.

  • Do not blab away on your cell phone.

  • This includes places like the super market, the department store, pretty much anywhere.

  • If you see a Japanese person talking on the phone, they're usually like this,

  • because they're not suppose to be blabbing away on the phone.

  • And if you're in a restaurant and you need to talk on the phone, it is best to leave the restaurant to talk to the person.

  • Number 8.

  • Do not tip.

  • Japan is not a tipping country, which is great, so remember: No tipping!

  • Number 9.

  • Do not hug as a greeting for either saying hello or even goodbye.

  • Japanese people greet with a "hi", "hello", a little bow, "nice to see you".

  • Not a hug.

  • Unless they are a little bit more Westernized or they understand your culture, then, yeah, maybe you can hug them, but typically, Japanese people don't hug to say hi or goodbye.

  • Last but not least, number 10.

  • Do not litter.

  • Yes, it is very difficult to find a trash can, but that does not mean you can litter.

  • Trash cans can be easily found in the train station or at the convenience store.

  • Other than that, they're pretty much nonexistent.

  • So be prepared to carry your trash back to your house to dispose there.

  • And those are 10 things that you should not do in Japan.

  • Did you learn something new?

  • Write it in the comments below.

  • Did I miss something? Write it in the comments below.

  • And that's it for today.

  • See you!

  • Number 8.

  • Do not tip.

  • Japan is not a blahblahblahblahblahblahblah!

Here are 10 things not to do in Japan.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it