7 Things You Should Do In Japan But Not In America

[ShogunXXX]

Each ethnic group has its traditions, habits, etc., better to know them, otherwise it can lead to embarrassing or even disastrous situations.

In Asia (but not only), it is often considered impolite to enter a house with your shoes.
In the Arab world, shaking the hand of someone with your left hand is not polite at all (supposed to be used to wipe your a... only).
etc.

For Japan, do you have something to add, from personal experiences or something you just heard of (including in the language) ?

-www.tofugu.com/2012/09/10/7-things-you-should-do-in-japan-but-not-in-america/

 

[genki_desu]

One I'll add, which I learned from personal experience, is while in Japan you should walk on the left side of the sidewalk, otherwise you'll just be running into everybody.

 

[FlameDemon]

One I'll add, which I learned from personal experience, is while in Japan you should walk on the left side of the sidewalk, otherwise you'll just be running into everybody.

In most of Japan it is, but not every places in Japan walk on left side, like Osaka

 

[ShogunXXX]

Thanks. It just reminded me that in Vietnam there is always a special technique to cross a road (have to go slowly)

-www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iLP6iAFfc4

 

[shammykun]

- Cash is better to use than credit cards here in Japan.
- Go with the flow, be more humble and open your mind to learn.
- For those who want to date or pick up a girl in Japan, be more assertive with your Japanese dates. Be nice, but don`t be afraid to make the move. Maybe this also applies in the US...

On the flip side, do not carry around $100 bills and expect stores to break them in the US like we break 10,000 yen notes here in Japan. I would see Japanese expats trying to spend big bills back stateside only to get rejected and create a big line of shoppers behind them.

 

[chrisfallout]

what if someone has this plantar fasciitis. where your can not walk barefoot do to improper heel arch. like me i have to have shoes on when i walk in house

 

[FlameDemon]

will just explain it, people will understand.

 

[ShogunXXX]

"Cash is better to use than credit cards here in Japan."

I could not have expected that, in remote villages yes, but in cities. Good to know.

 

[FlameDemon]

That's true, some restauran accept 1000yen ONLY, because they use food-ticket-machine (some machine still accept 5000 and 10000)

 

[isityours]

what if someone has this plantar fasciitis. where your can not walk barefoot do to improper heel arch. like me i have to have shoes on when i walk in house

japanese people often carry slippers with them when going to events etc and shoes can be worn inside if they are clean and are not worn outside. some people might still have a problem with you wearing shoes in their home but if it was explained they would likely put up with it. you probably shouldnt walk on their tatimi though as they usually remove their slippers before enetring a tatami room.
you leave your outside shoes at the door and your inside shoes/slippers outside the tatami room.

 

[ShogunXXX]

About the habit of leaving the shoes outside. It is a common practice in Asia, there is no religious belief behind this (although ground/earth can be associated to the deaths), but mainly for hygienic reasons, because soil means dirt, mud, etc. It is something we should be inspired too in the West, how many of us still keep their shoes in their home ? So many Western cities are covered with tons of dogs' shit...

An other positive point is that it also adds some intimacy or a cooler atmosphere when you are visiting friends or people without your shoes, you are somewhat more "fragile" because clothes can be like some sort of shield that "protect" us (just like you would be if you were in company of people totally naked), we are then may be less ready to argue or quarrel.

 

[liutao1849]

see see what