Japanese etiquette isn't just nice-to-know—it's the difference between being welcomed or merely tolerated. Take off your shoes at the genkan entrance or risk the silent death stare that will haunt your dreams. I once kept my socks on at an onsen and still wake up in cold sweats thinking about it.
Bowing: A Crash Course
Bowing is an art form I've butchered countless times:
- Casual greeting: Slight nod (15°)
- Business meeting: Medium bow (30°)
- Apology for knocking over a display of perfectly stacked Kit Kats at Don Quijote: Deep bow (90°) plus profuse sweating
Brutal Truths No Guidebook Will Tell You
Your "indoor voice" is still too loud for Japanese trains. Nobody wants to hear about your amazing sushi experience while commuting.
Chopstick Crimes:
- Don't wave them around like Harry Potter's wand
- Don't stick them upright in rice (unless you're performing funeral rites)
- Don't use them to spear food like it's a medieval jousting tournament
- Don't pass food chopstick-to-chopstick (another funeral thing)
The Mysterious Case of Missing Trash Cans
Trash bins are Japan's unicorns—mysteriously absent yet somehow the country remains spotless. Carry a small bag for your garbage or wear pants with deep pockets. Your hotel room trash can is not meant for the seven Family Mart onigiri wrappers you accumulated throughout the day.
Remember: Masks when sick aren't political—they're basic courtesy. Wear one if you're coughing, unless you want to experience the famous Japanese "polite ostracism."