Japanese Social Etiquette: Real Guide to Japanese Greeting, Etiquette and Manners

If you're planning a trip to Japan or learning Japanese, you must be curious about Japanese culture and how people interact there. The thing is, Japan has developed some pretty specific social rules over centuries, and while Japanese people are generally forgiving of foreigners who make mistakes, knowing the basics shows respect and makes everything smoother. Here's what you need to know about navigating social situations in Japan without accidentally offending anyone.

Why is Japan so strict about manners

Before we dive into specific rules, let's talk about why Japanese etiquette matters so much. Japan's social structure developed over centuries of isolation, with strong influences from Confucianism emphasizing hierarchy, respect, and group harmony. The concept of wa (), meaning harmony, sits at the center of Japanese social interactions. Maintaining this harmony means following certain unspoken rules that help everyone coexist peacefully.

The strict social etiquette you'll encounter today comes from this historical foundation. During 1633-1853, Japan was essentially closed off from the rest of the world for over 200 years. This isolation allowed unique customs to develop and become deeply ingrained in the culture. Even as Japan modernized rapidly after opening to the West, these traditional values stuck around.

Greetings and bowing: Your first impression

The bow is probably the most iconic aspect of Japanese etiquette. When you meet someone, you'll bow. When you say goodbye, you'll bow. When you're thanking someone or apologizing, you guessed it, you'll bow.

There are different depths of bowing depending on the situation.

As a foreigner, people won't expect you to master all these nuances right away. A respectful nod or slight bow will usually do the job.

Pick one or the other. In business settings, Japanese people might shake hands with foreigners because they know it's a Western custom, but the traditional greeting remains the bow.

When you greet someone, saying "Ohayou gozaimasu" (おはようございます) in the morning, "Konnichiwa" (こんにちは) during the day, or "Konbanwa" (こんばんは) in the evening shows basic politeness. The greeting you use matters less than the fact that you're acknowledging the other person respectfully.

Dining etiquette: More than just chopstick rules

Japanese table manners can feel overwhelming at first, but most of them make sense once you understand the reasoning behind them.

Chopstick etiquette

Chopsticks, or hashi (), come with their own set of rules.

Before and after eating

Before you start eating, say "Itadakimasu" (いただきます), which roughly translates to "I humbly receive this food." It's a way of expressing gratitude for the meal. When you finish, say "Gochisousama deshita" (ごちそうさまでした), meaning "Thank you for the meal."

Slurping noodles is actually encouraged. It shows you're enjoying the food and helps cool down hot noodles as you eat them. This applies to ramen, soba, and udon.

One thing that surprises many visitors: tipping is not done in Japan. Like, at all. Leaving a tip can actually confuse or even offend servers, as excellent service is considered standard and included in the price. If you try to leave money on the table, servers might chase you down, thinking you forgot your change.

The 5-minute rule

You might have heard about the "5-minute rule" in Japan. This refers to punctuality, which Japanese people take seriously. If a meeting is scheduled for 2:00 PM, you should arrive at least 5 minutes early. Arriving exactly on time is actually considered cutting it close. Being late, even by a few minutes, requires an apology.

This punctuality extends to everything from business meetings to casual meetups with friends. Trains run on incredibly tight schedules (We're talking seconds, not minutes), and people expect the same precision in social interactions.

Public transport etiquette

Speaking of trains, public transport in Japan comes with its own manner expectations. Trains and buses are generally quiet. People don't talk on their phones, and if they do take a call, they keep it whispered and brief. Conversations with companions are kept to low volumes.

Priority seating exists for elderly people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Even if you're tired, avoid sitting in these seats unless you genuinely need them. If someone who needs the seat gets on, you're expected to give it up immediately.

Here's something interesting: in Tokyo, people stand on the left side of escalators and walk on the right. In Osaka, it's reversed. People stand on the right and walk on the left. These regional variations show how etiquette can differ even within Japan.

Don't eat or drink on local trains (Long-distance shinkansen are different and allow eating). Don't put your bag on the seat next to you when the train is crowded. And if you're wearing a backpack in a packed train, take it off and hold it at your feet so you don't accidentally hit people.

Shoes, slippers, and when to remove them

The whole shoes situation in Japan confuses a lot of visitors, but it follows a logical pattern.

You'll remove your shoes when entering homes, many traditional restaurants, temples, some hotels, changing rooms, and certain other establishments. Look for a genkan (), the entrance area where shoes are removed. You'll usually see a step up from the genkan to the main floor. Shoes stay in the lower area.

Many places provide slippers to wear indoors. Put them on after removing your shoes. But here's where it gets tricky: you'll take off even these slippers before stepping onto tatami () mat flooring. Tatami mats are traditional woven straw mats found in Japanese-style rooms, and you walk on them in socks or bare feet only.

Bathrooms have separate toilet slippers. When you enter a bathroom, you'll switch from your indoor slippers to the toilet slippers waiting by the door. When you leave, switch back. Forgetting to change back and walking around in toilet slippers is a classic mistake that Japanese people find pretty funny (and gross).

At a ryokan (), a traditional Japanese inn, you'll navigate multiple slipper changes throughout your stay. The staff will guide you, but expect to remove your shoes at the entrance, wear provided slippers in hallways, remove those slippers before entering your room with tatami, and use separate slippers for the bathroom and possibly for walking to the onsen.

Onsen and bathing customs

The onsen (), or hot spring bath, represents an important part of Japanese culture. But the etiquette here is strict because you're sharing a communal bathing space.

Many onsen don't allow people with tattoos, though this rule is relaxing slightly in some places that cater to international visitors. The historical association of tattoos with yakuza (Organized crime) drives this rule. Some onsen now allow small tattoos or provide cover-up patches.

Swimsuits are not worn in traditional onsen. The baths are gender-separated, and everyone is naked. There are some mixed-gender onsen where you'd wear a yukata (), a casual summer kimono, but traditional onsen are bathing suit-free zones.

Business etiquette: Cards, meetings, and hierarchy

Japanese business etiquette deserves its own guide, but here are the essentials. The exchange of business cards, or meishi (), is practically a ceremony.

When receiving a business card, take it with both hands, look at it carefully, and make a comment acknowledging the person's company or position. Never just shove it in your pocket immediately. During a meeting, keep the cards on the table in front of you, arranged in the order people are seated.

Hierarchy matters enormously in Japanese business culture. The most senior person enters the room first, sits in the seat furthest from the door, and is served first. Pay attention to who defers to whom, and you'll quickly understand the pecking order.

Meetings often involve a lot of silence. Japanese businesspeople take time to think before responding, and this silence isn't awkward or negative. Jumping in to fill every quiet moment can actually be considered rude. Let the silence happen.

Gift-giving customs

Gift-giving in Japan follows specific patterns. When visiting someone's home, bring a small gift, called omiyage (). This is usually food or a regional specialty from your hometown or somewhere you've traveled.

How you present the gift matters.

When receiving a gift, accept it with both hands and thank the person. Traditionally, you wouldn't open it in front of the giver, though this custom is becoming less strict. If you do open it, express appreciation regardless of what's inside.

Do’s and Don’ts quick reference

Do:

Don't:

If you're serious about learning Japanese, using real content like Japanese shows, news, and books makes a huge difference. Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching Japanese content or reading articles, so you can learn the language in context while getting familiar with how people actually interact. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

Knowing Japanese etiquette makes your trip smoother!

Ready to think about visiting Japan after reading through our Japanese etiquette tips? The good news is that Japanese people understand foreigners don't know all these rules. They're generally patient and appreciative when you make an effort to follow basic customs. The best approach is to observe what Japanese people around you are doing and follow their lead. Before you go, you can also do a bit more practice by observing how people conduct themselves in dramas and reality shows.

Body language matters!