Manners specific to Japan

Here are some manners that you should pay attention to when you come to Japan.

Be quiet on the bus or train.

You should be quiet on public transportation that is used by many people.

Take off your shoes in the house.

In Japan, you basically need to take off your shoes and put them together in the house. In inns and hotels, you should use slippers.

Separate garbage.

In many areas of Japan, it is compulsory to separate garbage. In many cases, you have to separate whether the garbage is burnable (plastic or not), plastic bottles, empty cans, bottles, etc.

Dining Manners

In Japan, there are many manners for eating, but there are three basic things you should pay attention to. The wet towels given out at restaurants are called oshibori and are used to wipe your hands before eating. Don't use them to wipe your face. Also, don't stick your chopsticks in your food. Finally, try to eat as much as you can of the food you ordered.

First of all, if you have a tattoo, you may not be able to enter a hot spring. Check beforehand. Before taking a bath in a hot spring, use hot water to rinse the dirt off your body. (This is called kakeyu.) Also, do not put towels in the bathtub in order to keep the water clean. Wipe your body with a towel when you get out of the bath.

Manners at Shrines

When passing through the torii gate, bow at each end before passing through. Before praying, purify your hands and mouth at the water fountain. When praying, first throw in a monetary offering, chant your wish in your heart, and ring the bell. Then do two prayers, two claps, and one prayer. (Bow twice, clap your hands twice, and bow again at the end.) There may be raffles and good luck charms for sale. Ask the priest for details.

Temple Manners

Gather your hands in front of the gate, bow, and enter with your right foot. Throw in a monetary offering, join your hands together (without making a sound), bow, and burn incense.

Tsuruoka South Senior High Scool English Seminar REBORN JOURNEY