Essential Shoe Etiquette In Japan — 3 Important Times To Change Your Shoes (2024)

FAQs

What is the shoe rule in Japan? ›

People in Japan hold cleanliness in high regard, taking great care in keeping an immaculate home. This means that their home should not be soiled by the dirt on your shoes. So it is customary to take off your shoes and usually wear the provided slippers.

When do I need to take my shoes off? There is no hard and fast rule on where you must be shoeless, so your best guide is your eyes. Homes and hotels will typically always be shoeless as well as anywhere with a tatami mat floor.

Japanese have developed the custom of eating meals sitting on tatami mats, not on chairs. They also roll out the futon on which they sleep on the tatami floor. Therefore, they take their shoes off when entering the house to avoid getting the floor dirty.

The genkan is where guests change out of 'dirty' street shoes, and into 'clean' slippers; those for adults are lined up in the foreground; those for children in pink and blue in the background.

Showing Respect

In addition to the practical reasons, taking off your shoes is also seen as a sign of respect when entering someone's home or place of business. Traditionally, it could be seen as disrespectful to keep your shoes on in someone's residence.

NEVER ever pass out at a party with your shoes on. This is because of one of the simplest of rules: if one falls asleep with their shoes still on, it gives the remaining conscious members of the party the right to mess with said slumbering drunk.

If you are not wearing socks, it is polite to bring a fresh pair of socks to wear after removing your outdoor shoes because entering someone's house barefoot is not considered well mannered, although acceptable in informal situations. Slippers can generally be worn anywhere except when entering rooms with tatami floor.

It is a traditional Japanese custom. There are two times a year to change clothes. On June 1st, we put away winter clothes and take out summer clothes. On October 1st, we put away summer clothes and take out winter clothes.

This is the place to wear the shiny items and take fashion risks, if you'd like to, that is. I speak about footwear quite a bit in my 'Preparing for Japan' article here but I will talk about it again and add some more information. All footwear is fine. Heels , flats, boots, sneakers, sandals.

'proper sitting') is the formal, traditional way of sitting in Japan. It involves a specific positioning and posture in a kneeled position so as to convey respect, particularly toward elders. It developed among samurai during the Edo period and was later widely adopted by the public.

Do you take your shoes off in restaurants in Japan? ›

In Japan, it is customary to take off one's shoes and put on slippers to wear inside a Japanese house, temple, restaurant, ryokan or school. There are two reasons for this. One is psychological: by following this ritual, you will leave the worries and stress of the outside world behind as you enter a quieter place.

This small space right after the entrance is called a 'genkan'. A genkan is usually a little lower than the main part of the house. It is the only place in the house you can wear your shoes. You are supposed to leave your shoes at the entrance and step into the room.

Footwear Etiquette in Japan

Indoor slippers or sandals are often provided in areas where you are required to remove your outside shoes. Be aware that there are different types of slippers for different purposes. Wearing socks is also perfectly acceptable.

While you may be accustomed to chatting with your traveling companions while using public transportation, this is not the norm in Japan. Loud chatter or other disturbance is considered rude.

Japanese tend not to eat while walking along or standing around on the street. However, it is acceptable to drink while standing aside a vending machine. Eating and drinking on local trains, but not long distance express trains, is also frowned upon.

Many women today maintain long hair when they're single, and then cut it shorter when they have kids, due to its impracticality. So in a way, that cutting of hair is a ceremony that mirrors that of an Edo period Samurai: an end to an era of someone's life, and the beginning of another.

Never hugging or kissing

In Japan, touching another person's body is considered rude, even with friends or family. Hugging and kissing are mostly for couples.

Entering a house with shoes on is considered disrespectful, as it is synonymous with bringing in outside dirt and grime to one's residence. Modern Korean apartments often have built-in shoe cabinets at the hyun-gwan, which doubles down as a storage area for other objects.

Yes, you guessed it – the '3 shoe rule' is only pack THREE pairs of shoes. For a summer vacation, this typically means a pair of sneakers and two pairs of sandals – one dressy and one casual. It's simple really.

Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.

What is the drunk shoe rule? ›

The drinker either removes their own shoe, or nominates a friend's shoe to be used as the vessel. The shoe is tilted and the entire contents of a can of beer are poured into the shoe's opening. Once the beverage has settled, the beer is drunk by tipping the shoe up to the mouth and chugging it.

White should be avoided, although at a more casual wedding you may be able to wear black. On the other hand, it's not all rules and customs. Bright colors and patterns are welcome at a wedding, as it is a celebration after all — although anything too flamboyant may be seen as inappropriate.

In Japan, crossing one's legs is seen as disrespectful. It is because when you do this you show the bottom of your feet to guests, and since they have picked up dirt, you are showing that dirt to your guests.

In Japan, you're not likely to see too much public smooching going on. As well as being reserved and modest by nature, most Japanese people also believe that drawing attention to oneself in public is bad manners.

In view of the fact that many Japanese bathe and wash their hair daily, it's essential that they take well care of it. Modern-day shampoos mostly have ingredients that strip the hair of its natural oils, for example, sulfates.

Many Japanese also air-dry their clothes on the balcony. If you don't have time for this, or space, then you may want to look for a laundromat to use a dryer. Dryer sheets are also not common in Japan, so if you want to use these then it is best to bring them with you to Japan.

In Japan, it is common to do laundry every day for couples or families. Single people typically do laundry 1 to 3 times a week. A family with small children will sometimes do it more than 2-3 times a day.

Any slip-on shoes are ok, even Crocs (no, really). Anything that's easy to slip on.

Wear slip-on shoes

While flip flops are a big no-no for most occasions (save for a trip to the beach or a midnight run to the conbini), comfy ballet flats, loafers, boat shoes, or even a nice pair of slip-on sneakers are practical options. You might also notice that open-toed shoes and sandals are uncommon.

Are ripped jeans OK in Japan? Temples/shrines in Japan don't have a dress code. So pretty much anything goes–no problem at all with tattered jeans.

Can you show your thighs in Japan? ›

Even though many Japanese girls wear mini skirts, it's actually illegal to expose your thighs or buttocks in public according to the Light Crimes Act passed in 1948.

Without chairs or bedding, the Japanese generally used the floor to sit and sleep on. This is because the Japanese believe in the concept of ma, or negative space, and a desire for simplicity. Objects would be placed very far apart, as the traditional Japanese believed that this space encouraged creativity.

By sleeping with the mat on the floor – rather than on a bed frame, as in Western culture – the Japanese believe it helps to relax the muscles, while enabling the hips, shoulders and spine to maintain a natural alignment during rest.

Not finishing one's meal is not considered impolite in Japan, but rather is taken as a signal to the host that one wishes to be served another helping. Conversely, finishing one's meal completely, especially the rice, indicates that one is satisfied and therefore does not wish to be served any more.

The Japanese consider it rude to leave food on your plate, whether at home or at a restaurant. It's related to one of the fundamental concepts in Japanese culture, mottainai, which is a feeling of regret at having wasted something.

When bathing Japanese-style, you are supposed to first rinse your body outside the bath tub with the shower or a washbowl. Afterwards, you enter the tub, which is used for soaking only. The bath water tends to be relatively hot, typically between 40 and 43 degrees.

Others are manner rules universal: don't speak with your mouth full, and close your mouth while you are chewing. What's special for Japanese food is perhaps the use of chopsticks. Please avoid holding food with two pairs of chopsticks.

Many Japanese people believe it is poor manners to walk or do other physical activities while eating because it means you're not appreciating your food properly. For some, this belief has its roots in World War II, when food was scarce and it was something to be treasured, not treated casually.

Firearms such as pistols, revolvers and machine guns, and bullets or parts thereof. Explosives, gunpowder, materials for chemical weapons, germs such as anthrax. Counterfeit, altered or imitated coins, bank notes or securities, and forged credit cards. Obscene or immoral materials, and child p*rnography.

Though you will certainly need some cash, carrying wads of money, which could easily be stolen, lost, or just spent too quickly, is not ideal. There are three main options when it comes to cards in Japan – credit cards, debit cards, or travel money cards.

Is it okay to wear sweatpants in Japan? ›

Legs: You'll want to bring 3 to 5 pairs of nice thick pants. Don't bring sweat pants or jump suits, unless you plan to only wear it in your hotel room. Japanese people only wear them to the gym and you'll be very underdressed. Underwear: Along with your 7 or 8 days worth of underwear, bring some long underwear.

As for crop tops, you'll have to use your own judgment. Women are supposed to be conservative with cleavage in Japan, in that showing even a hint is often not regarded as appropriate. If you have a low-cut crop top or one that could reveal your bra from underneath, it's best to leave it at home.

In Japan, it is considered impolite to have a private conversation on a cell phone while others, especially strangers, are around to listen. This rule extends beyond trains, subways and buses. It is considered impolite to talk on the phone in just about any indoor public space.

Do you need to speak any Japanese to travel around Japan? Absolutely not. You can travel to Japan without learning any of these words and have a great time. People ask us about the Japanese language barrier all the time, with common questions such as, Do Japanese people speak English?

Loud slurping may be rude in the U.S., but in Japan it is considered rude not to slurp. Oh, and don't forget to use your chopsticks to get the noodles into your mouth. It is also acceptable to bring your small bowl of food close to your face to eat, instead of bending your head down to get closer to your plate.

Eating while walking is a big no-no for most Japanese–even children enjoying an ice cream are often told to sit down before consuming food.

The amendments will also criminalize sex with children under the age of 16 by raising the legal age of consent from 13. Japan's current age of consent has remained unchanged since its enactment in 1907 and is one of the lowest among developed nations.

Who Can Get Married in Japan? Article 731 to 737 of the Japanese Civil Code stipulates the following requirements: The male partner must be 18 years of age or older and the female partner must be 18 years of age or older. A person who is under 18 years of age cannot get married in Japan without a parent's approval.

Crossing your feet in some cultures is considered very rude. In Japan you are expected to sit erect with both feet on the floor and never cross your ankle over your knee. In Singapore, as in many Asia cultures, the foot is thought to be unclean and should not be used to point at someone.

In most Japanese schools, everyone has to change out of their outside shoes and into their inside shoes (called Uwabaki or Uwagutsu) when they enter the school.

Are jeans illegal in Japan? ›

Casual clothing is common in Japan outside of Tokyo's business district. Shorts, jeans, and camisoles are perfectly fine to wear as long as you don't plan on attending religious sites.

Japan Dress Code for Women

On some days, however, the desire for comfort trumps the concept of jeans or any type of limited clothes. Unfortunately, wearing tracksuit bottoms or leggings outside of the gym is frowned upon and considered a sign of laziness here in Japan.

Slippers are provided by the host. If you are not wearing socks, it is polite to bring a fresh pair of socks to wear after removing your outdoor shoes because entering someone's house barefoot is not considered well mannered, although acceptable in informal situations.

CONTENTS. Actually, tattoos are fine in Japan. They're not illegal in any way. You may even see some people walking around with fashion tattoos, especially in Tokyo.

While tattoos are not illegal, they can prevent people from getting the full Japanese experience. When using public transportation in Japan, such as trains, tourists with visible tattoos will want to keep in mind that their ink may be offensive to some of the locals.

DON'T: IGNORE THE TABOO IF YOU'RE WESTERNERS

Your age, gender and country of origin don't matter, because if you are travelling in Japan, you have to respect the cultural aversion to PDA. Holding hands is okay. In smaller towns, you might get a dirty look if you're walking with an arm around your partner.

At the end of the 2019 school year, it began allowing girls to wear pants. At the end of 2021, girls were given the option of wearing neckties, no longer limited to bow ties. Following consultations with parents while gradually adding options, the school ended up completely overhauling the uniforms.

Ear piercings are against Japanese school dress code, along with any other forms of jewelry and even painted nails. In fact, piercings of any kind are very uncommon in Japan, even for older people.

In general, kids have to be at school by 8:45 am. School finishes around 3:15 pm, so they have to be in school for about six and a half hours every day from Monday to Friday. However, most kids also attend after-school clubs, and many also go to juku (cram school) in the evening to do extra studying.

Wear slip-on shoes

While flip flops are a big no-no for most occasions (save for a trip to the beach or a midnight run to the conbini), comfy ballet flats, loafers, boat shoes, or even a nice pair of slip-on sneakers are practical options. You might also notice that open-toed shoes and sandals are uncommon.

Is it OK to show shoulders in Japan? ›

Avoid showing your shoulders; if the dress is sleeveless, add a shawl or bolero. White should be avoided, although at a more casual wedding you may be able to wear black. On the other hand, it's not all rules and customs.