If you follow the news in Japan at all, you’ve likely seen an uptick in the number of stories about foreigners behaving badly lately.
From influencers recording themselves committing crimes to rank and file tourists chasing down Maiko (a form of Geisha) in Kyoto or riding the famous Hachiko statue in Shibuya for “the ‘Gram”, every week it seems like some new cultural faux pas bordering on an international incident is occurring.
But if you’re living in the West, there’s likely no better time than now to visit Japan thanks to the considerably weakened yen, so sit tight while we rattle off a handful of handy tips for what NOT to do if you don’t want to offend the locals when you finally make that dream pilgrimage to Japan.
#1. When in Rome
Before getting into specifics, we first want to cover a general catch-all that will help avoid most, if not all, potential cultural faux pas.
Japan can seem paradoxical at times; you’ll often hear that there’s a litany of rules, while at the same time being told that much is left unsaid in the country. There’s a commonly used phrase in Japanese that goes something like “空気を読む” (kuuki o yomu), and it means, literally, to “read the air” and, figuratively, to have a general sense of situational awareness.
This can lead a lot of people to feel ill at ease; it’s easy to fall into a panicked state and think “What if I’m breaking some long-held cultural norm and it’s simply that no one is willing to tell me?” Others do a full 180 and say, “I’ll never be able to follow all of their rules, so why even bother trying?”, shirking general cultural norms.
But there’s an old adage that offers a remarkably easy solution to ensure that you fall prey to neither of these. We’re sure you’ve heard it at least once or twice: “When in Rome,” as they say. You know how the rest goes, “do as the Roman’s do.” But there’s a little bit of a hiccup here; if it’s your first time in Japan, certain things are going to be very easy to “do as,” for example: if you want to board a train, it’s not hard to notice that people are lining up and line up along with them.
If you’re at a restaurant, and people are leaving their trays on the tables when they’re done eating (or taking them to a specific counter), this also isn’t too terribly hard to notice and “do as.”
But what if you want to do something, and you’re not sure if it’s okay to do or not? This is where we look at the inverse of our little adage and put a twist on it. If you’re walking down the street, for example, and you want to have a cigarette; how do you know if it’s okay or not? An easy way to check is try and take note not only of what the Japanese people around you are doing, but also of what they’re not doing. “When in Rome, don’t do as the Romans don’t,” as they say.
Don’t see Japanese people smoking in the street? You probably shouldn’t, either.
Don’t see Japanese people sitting on the floor? You probably shouldn’t, either.
Don’t see Japanese people using the subway handles to do pullups? You probably shouldn’t, either.
Realistically, most Japanese people will be able to suss out that you’re only visiting from how you look, dress and act, and for that reason alone, they’ll happily give you a world of grace when it comes to not perfectly following certain rules and observing certain cultural norms. This is why, rather than focusing on what TO do, focusing on what NOT to do can make first time visits far more manageable.
#2. A Picture is Worth
A video went viral recently of a woman running down the street in Kyoto, trying to snap a perfect picture of a Maiko. Ignoring that the Maiko was simply walking to work, it actually makes a lot of sense if you think about it.
How often do you see what some would consider a living, breathing representation of history? It’s understandable why some people would get excited, perhaps even a little too excited. The issue, however, is that this wasn’t something done in the middle of an amusement park or some tourist trap; it was in the middle of a city with lots of people just going about their daily lives. Cars and other vehicles often travel these roads as well, so it’s not hard to imagine a serious accident occurring.
It's gotten so bad that certain areas of Kyoto have started to ban photos and foreign tourists outright.
While there’s no particular easy fix for any of this, it’s important to understand that Japan has very different laws from western countries when it comes to things like photography. One good example is what is known as “portrait rights,” which, while not an officially codified law, essentially state that people have the right to not be in your photos without their permission and to not have photos of themselves uploaded to the internet without their permission. If you’ve ever seen photos taken of tourist spots with many people in Japan and everyone has their faces blurred or covered up, “portrait rights” are the reason.
Now, realistically, there’s a very low chance you’re going to have charges brought up against you for snapping a picture of that cute rickshaw driver, but we’re not talking about legality here; we’re talking about politeness. While the solution to this problem isn’t particularly feasible when it comes to larger crowds, keeping it polite when taking pictures of individuals, or inside of certain areas like shops and restaurants where no clear signage with regard to the prohibition or otherwise of photography is posted, is easy enough: just ask.
Even if you can’t speak Japanese, simply asking something like “Camera OK?” is generally going to be enough to get your point across. In addition to helping, you avoid situations where you might otherwise come off as rude, and make no mistake, there will occasionally be situations in which certain people say no, another benefit is that it will generally help you get much better shots. You’d be surprised how quick the generally-regarded-as-shy locals are willing to strike a pose if they’ve got a few seconds to mentally prepare for a photo.
#3. Haute Cuisine
To cap off the first entry in this series, we’d like to cover a handful of things related to food and eating out that you might not be fully aware of.
- Walking while eating:
While the country is, in general, becoming more liberal with regard to their attitude on walking while eating, it’s still generally regarded as being on the ruder side of things. Thankfully, there’s no such stigma about standing while eating, and most convenience stores and restaurants are going to have places where you can sit and eat. On the off chance you’ve got no choice but to walk while eating, just make sure you don’t walk into anyone or spill something. - Making noise while eating:
While you generally don’t want to make a tremendous amount of noise while eating, there are certain situations in which you might actually want to make a bit of noise. In the West, we’re often admonished for doing things like slurping our spaghetti, and while that’s not something that you should do here either, it’s a different story when it comes to Japanese noodle dishes like Ramen, Udon and Soba. In these cases, slurping is not only not looked down upon; it’s completely normal. There are a variety of theories behind why this might be the case, including the notion that slurping can help to aerate the broth and bring out more complex flavors, but regardless, you don’t need to be overly mindful of table manners when hopping into a local ramen joint. - And lastly, tipping:
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the West, this is going to sound like a godsend to you but, typically, you’re not going to be tipping any restaurant staff in Japan. That’s not to say that it’s never done; you may see the occasional tip jar as you visit various places, but it’s seldom encouraged and almost never insisted upon.
Summary
In conclusion, visiting Japan can be an enriching experience if approached with a bit of cultural sensitivity and awareness. Recent incidents involving tourists highlight the importance of respecting local customs and norms, and, as unfortunate as they may be, offer us wonderful examples of what NOT to do. Remembering to "read the air" and observe what is and isn't done can prevent unintentional offenses. Whether refraining from intrusive photography or understanding dining etiquette, being mindful is going to enhance both your own experience and how the locals receive you.
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