English Language Edition

HOW TO ENJOYTOKYO!
Manners & Customs Handbook

rs Tripenn bleaaMydoGooan Enjfor

How to Use This Booklet
We are frequent repeaters to Japan. In this booklet, let us in
Japanese manners and customs we have observed. Our advi
categories that may most likely relate to your stay in Japan.
one while practicing what we advise!

Moving to your destination

Arriving in Japan

1. Transportation

P. 3

Moving around town

We ll be back again

5. In public places

P.16

1troduce some of the typicalce is stated under ﬁve major
Make your visit an enjoyable

Relaxing in a hotel
Accommodation

2. facilities / Taking a bathP. 6

Enjoying food

3. Restaurants

P.10
Enjoying shopping

4. Shopping

P.13
108円
（8％税込）

108円（8％税込）

大特価

This booklet contains basic
manners and customs to be kept
in mind as well as things to beaware of, which relate toJapanese cultures. For details ofeach category, please conﬁrm
them as illustrated.
21

Transportation

This section introduces typical questions and difficulties you may
encounter in relation to transportation. Enjoy traveling around our citywhile giving consideration to those around you !

When boarding trains
Wait until arriving
passengers have left
the train before
getting on board.

The proper manner is to wait beside
the train door so that you don t standin the way of arriving passengers.

Taking photos
in the station area

Pointing by station staff

Be careful of accidents
when taking photos on
platforms and other areas in
the station.
Station staff often
points in the directionof an approaching train
as a safety warning.

Taking photos close by a train isvery dangerous.
3He does not point at passengers or you who are waitingon the platform.

1Transportation

How to use a taxi

Tipping a taxi driver

Get a taxi at a taxi standor stop a cruising taxi byraising your hand.
空車

The red Japanese characters stand for Empty Car.
Taxi doors open and close
automatically.

How to pay a bus fare
There are two ways:
pay the fare when boarding or when getting off.

Remembertipping is notcustomary inJapan.

Input port for
payment
Input port formoney changing
There are two types of money
input ports: One for payment andanother for money changing.

How toget off a bus

When getting off a bus, in manycases you simply signal the driverby pressing a nearby get-off
button as your bus approaches
your intended bus stop.
There are also buses that automaticallystop without the need to press such abutton. Confirm this once on board.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices.

4

1Transportation

Using a cell phoneor smartphone

Refrain from talking
on a cell phone orsmartphone whileon board a train orbus.
Do not talk ina loud voice in a train or bus.

Lost andfoundIf you have forgotten something while getting around,be quick to contact thetransportation system youused or even the police.

Lost and found5

While on board
Refrain from eatingor drinking in acommuter train or aregular route bus.

When crowded, please holdyour backpack in your arms or
put it on a shelf.

Priority seats
If the train or bus you areusing has become crowded, bekind to give a seat to anyone
who may be handicapped.

Targets: The elderly, the physicallydisabled, expecting mothers, ones
with a baby or infant, etc.

2

Accommodation facilities / Taking a bathThis section introduces typical questions and difficulties you may encounter
when utilizing accommodation facilities or taking a bath. Note especially thattraditional Japanese facilities have unique manners and rules to abide by. You
will enjoy your visit even more by understanding these basic manners and rules !

Accommodation payment system¥10,000×1¥10,000×3
In many cases, traditional Japanese accommodations are charged by the number ofguests and not on a per-room basis. Whenmaking a reservation, confirm the payment
system of the facility you stay at.

The more guests,
the higher theaccommodation
charge becomes.

Tea and sweets provided
in a guest room
Complimentary

Facilities where youneed to take off yourshoes to enter

For acharge

In many cases, the tea andsweets provided on a guest
room table are complimentary.
Typically, you will be charged foritems in a guest room refrigerator.
＊When you check out, do nottake any guest room items withyou other than basic amenities.

At some traditional
Japanese accommodations, you are requestedto take your shoes off
before entering.

NOGOOD

If toilet-only slippers are provided
at the lavatory, change into theseslippers before using the toilet.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices.

6

2

Accommodation facilities / Taking a bath

Tatami-matted room

GOOD

Items that emit
a strong odor
When it comes to things
that produce a strong
odor such as incense orcertain spices, be
careful of using theminside your guest room.

NODo not enter a tatamimatted room wearing
shoes or slippers.

Bad smell !

Tatami is a traditional
Japanese flooring material.

BedmakingOperating hours
Typically, there are set hours
for check-in and check-out
as well as opening andclosing times for in-houserestaurants.

At a ryokan or othertraditional accommodations,the staff may enter yourroom to prepare bedding.
If you are concerned about the staff
coming into your room for bedmaking
while you are out, it s advisable to tellthem not to do so beforehand.
7

Confirm such hours
in advance.

2

Accommodation facilities / Taking a bath

Onsen hot-spring baths and public bathhouses

KAKEYU is theJapanese custom torinse the body withhot water.
Make sure to pour hot water over yourbody to rinse yourself off（= KAKEYU）
before entering the tub. Also, never
unplug the tub to drain the hot water.

In the dressing room
It is your responsibility totake care of your belongings. Put the clothes you
have taken off as well as
any valuables in a locker.

Lock

Keep your locker key
around your wrist while
enjoying bathing.

When using
a communal bath

The basic rule isto take a bathtotally unclothed.
＊There are cases when those with aswimsuit on or with a tattoo are notallowed to bathe in a communal bath.
Ask the staff beforehand whether
doing so is acceptable or not.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices.

8

2

Accommodation facilities / Taking a bath

Bathtub

After taking a bath

Do not swim,
jump around ordive into thecommunal
bathtub.

Also, it is not proper to soak a towel
or rinse unwashed hair in the tub.

Inside the bathroom

After taking a bath, dry
your body in the bathroom before entering thedressing room.

Shower curtain

Do not washclothes in thebathroom or inthe tub.

NONOGOOD

When using an indoor
unit bath provided in yourguest room, it is advisable
to use the shower curtain.
To wash clothes, you are advised
to use a laundromat or the laundry
service available in the accommodation facility you are staying in.
9Put the skirt of the shower
curtain inside the tub.

3

Restaurants

This section introduces typical questions and difficulties you may
encounter at restaurants. Note that ordering and payment methods
may vary according to the type of establishment !

Food taboos and allergies

In Japan, the number ofrestaurants that accommodate those who have foodtaboos or are allergic toparticular food ingredients is increasing.
List of Ingredients Used
Some restaurants post a
pictogram listing food ingredients used that are allergenic orrelated to food taboos.

If you are concerned about such a problem, check with the restaurant
before you make a reservation or place an order.

Water and oshibori(moistened hand towel)

As you are seated at a table,
a shop assistant usually offers aglass of water and an oshibori(moistened hand towel).

MENU

A glass of water, which is basically
free, is often offered for consumption within the restaurant.

OtoshiOTOSH I

Some drinking establishments
like izakaya (gastropubs) havethe custom of automaticallyserving a small dishcalled otoshi when you
order an alcoholic drink.
Otoshi is a small appetizer
dish, which is added to thebill in many cases.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices. 10

3Restaurants

Japanese eatingetiquette ①

Japanese eating
etiquette ②

In Japan, it is considered to be good manners to eat with a bowl
in one hand and yourchopsticks in the other.
It is considered goodmanners to consume
food completely
without leaving any
thing half-eaten.

Slurp,Slurp,Slurp
It is common for Japanese toeat soba and udon noodle
dishes while slurping.

The number of items
to orderNOGOOD NO
It is common forJapanese toorder more than
one item.

11Also, try not to soil the tableor floor. Enjoy a soil-freemeal.

Restaurant rule forbringing in food ortaking it home
Most Japanese restaurants
don t allow customers tobring in food or drink ortake uneaten food home.

NO

If you don t know it for sure,ask a shop assistant.

3Restaurants

Self-service eateries

Payment
At the cashier

At some restaurants, it is a rulefor customers to return useddishes and wipe off table
crumbs by themselves.
Dish or tray return
window

At your table

Ask the shop attendant
as to whether you
should pay at your tableor at the cashier.
Tipping is not customary inJapanese restaurants.

If you don t know for sure, ask
a shop employee.

Cancelling a reservation

Food-ticket
vending machines

1.

3.

2.

4.

Some eating establishments operate by
selling food tickets at
a ticket vendingmachine.

¥1,000

Sorry, but I dlike to cancel
my reservation.

If it has become
impossible to keep areservation, make sure
to call the shop forcancelling.

Putmoney inPush
the buttonGet
a ticketGet
the dishTypically, a food ticket vending machine
can be found at the shop entrance.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices. 124ShoppingThis section introduces typical questions and difficulties you may
encounter while shopping. Enjoy shopping while using good manners
so as not to bother other shoppers !

Declared values

There are two typesof consumption tax:
10% and 8%. 8% isapplied mainly tofood and beverage
products, excluding
alcoholic beverages
and eating out.

Prices are listed with tax included.
＊The consumption tax rate used in the above example is as of June 30,
2021.

Tax exemption
There are two types oftax exemption:（1）Tax-free（forconsumption tax）and（2）Dutyfree（for consumption tax, customs
duty, liquor tax, tobacco tax, etc.）.

Price discounts
50% OFF,please.

Sorry,
we cannot
do that.

Symbol mark for tax-free shops

Tax-free shops can be found on various
streets and shopping districts while
duty-free shops are located in thedeparture area of international airports.
13

In Japan, there arevery few shops thatallow bargaining overprices between theseller and shopper.

4Shopping

Trying it on
FITTING ROOM

Clothing sizes
Sizes of clothing in Japanare typically expressedin S, M and L.

Men s sizes

Ask a shop assistantbefore trying a pieceof clothing on.

(cm)

HeightChest girth

Waist

S 162-168

85-91

71-77

M 167-173

89-95

75-81

L 172-178

93-99

79-85

XL 177-183 97-103

83-89

Example: JASPO Standard sizes

Some shops set a limit to thenumber of items you can bring
into the ﬁtting room.

Size notations may vary
according to brand and maker.
＊1inch=2.54cm 1foot=30.48cm

Product examination

Unpacking a productbefore payment
Do not unpack an
article you wish topurchase before
payment is completed.

In case you don t want topurchase a product you havepicked up and examined,
return it to its original place.
Try not to touch
the products
unnecessarily.

NO¥1,00

0

If you want to conﬁrm thepackage content before
payment, ask a shop clerk.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices. 14

4Shopping

Plastic bags

Smoking and drinking
Smoking andalcohol consumption
are prohibited if you
are under age 20.

Most stores charge
for plastic bags.
Bring your ownbags.

Payment … ①
There are shops where
credit cards andelectronic payment are
not honored. So,
prepare some cash
just to be safe.

under 20years old

HonoredNot honored

Tipically, at shops where these payment
methods are honored, symbol marks
indicating such are posted at the shop
front or beside the cashier.

No, wethank YOU.

Thank you.

Payment… ②
There is also nocustom of tipping
when shopping.

15

In Japan, express your thanks inwords instead of by tipping.

5

In public places

This section introduces typical questions and difficulties you may
encounter in public places. Whether on the street or in tourist areas,
enjoy your visit while giving proper consideration to those around you!

Littering
No littering inpublic places !
Properly dispose of litter inbins which are separated andmarked according to the typeof garbage. If no garbage bins
are available nearby, pleasetake your garbage with you.

Waiting in a line /How to use an escalator
Cutting into a line
or allowing family
members or friends
to do so is considered improper!

NOWhen using an escalator,
hold the handrail and do
not walk up or down. If
you are in a hurry, it sbetter to use stairs.

Rest roomsNOIn Japan, there are
two types of toilets:
western-style andtraditional
Japanese-style.

GOOD

Use the traditional
Japanese toilet bowl in
the proper direction.

Do not throw used toilet
paper in the trash but
flush it properly.

＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices. 16

5In public places

Taking a break

NOSmokingIn public areas, smoking indoors
is prohibited in principle while,
outdoors, some districts prohibit
smoking on the street or in parks.
If you want to smoke, do so at
designated smoking areas.

Do not sit
down by theroadside or atother impropercity locations.

Taking photos
Try to refrain fromtaking photos when
there are people
around.

Wi -FiFree Wi-Fi accesspoints are available
in various publicplaces.

NODo not attempt to step into
off-limits or dangerous areas
to take photos.

Confirm how to use because
usage varies according to type.
＊Do not use your smartphone
while walking.

17 ＊The above examples are provided to illustrate general ideas and common practices.

Useful Websites
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html
Filled with the latest information on sightseeing in Tokyo.
Please be sure to visit our website.

http://www.menu-tokyo.jp/index.php?lang=en
Find the restaurant in Tokyo that best suits your tastes !

http://www.wifi-tokyo.jp/
This is a public wireless LAN ( Wi-Fi ) service that foreign visitors or
public facility users can use free of charge at the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government offices, public gardens, museums, etc.

Tokyo Medical Institution Information Service " Himawari "https://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq13/qqport/tomintop/other/fks230.php

This website allows you to locate medical institutions in Tokyo that canoffer medical services in 16 foreign languages in addition to Japanese.
［ Languages available: English, Korean, Chinese（ simplified ）］Tokyo Metropolitan Government Disaster Prevention Website
https://www.bousai.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/

This website disseminates evacuation and other disaster-related information while calling your attention to disaster preparedness and introducing safety initiatives taken by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Safety tips

https://play.google.com/store/apps/
details?id=jp.co.rcsc.safetyTips.android : Android

Supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency, this application
provides foreign visitors with important disaster information.
Using push notification service, it issues warnings such as
earthquake early warning, tsunami warning, emergency
weather warning, volcanic eruption warning and so on.

iOS : https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/safety-tips/id858357174?mt =8Emergency
Contacts

To call the police（for accidents and crimes)

TEL.110

To call an ambulance ( for injuryand illness ) or ﬁre engine ( ﬁre )TEL.119

English Language Edition

Tourism Division,
Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs
2 - 8 -1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163 - 8001, JAPANRegistration number 5（235）