Did You Know?
4 Ways to Behave in Public in Japan

There are so many unique things to see and do in Japan, from well-known sights and places of historic interest to exquisite Japanese cuisine and the latest pop culture. Indeed, visitors to Japan will no doubt have a long list of places they would like to visit and countless things they would like to do. If you are planning a visit to Japan, be sure to remember even just a few of the most basic Japanese manners and customs to ensure you and those around you have an enjoyable time.

Careful How You Throw That Away!
Know How to Separate Garbage

As with most other countries, littering in Japan is strictly prohibited. Since people generally don’t walk and eat, and with garbage bins found in parks, convenience stores and in stations, litter is something not often seen in public places in Japan.
You should also know that if you are ever caught littering, you could face a fine since you could be breaking a number of laws, such as the Minor Offenses Act or the Waste Disposal Law.
The majority of bins in public places are set up for recycling, so be sure to throw your trash away in the correct bin, be it for combustible waste, non-combustible waste, or plastic bottles.

Don’t Wear Your Shoes Indoors
Remember When and Where to Take Your Shoes Off

With some exceptions, wearing shoes in the house in Europe and the United States is a normal thing to do. But in Japan outdoor shoes are not allowed to be worn indoors. Before entering a house, you should take your shoes off. It’s especially worth remembering this because rather than just being a basic point of good manners, it is connected with the very essence of the Japanese way of life.
It might be quite confusing for someone visiting Japan for the first time who may be wondering: “Where do I take my shoes off?” and “Where do I put my shoes?” The general rule is to always take your shoes off “before stepping up”.
For example, upon entering a house, the first area after stepping through the front door is the the genkan (entranceway), which normally features a step up to the rest of the house. Even if there isn’t a step, if there are slippers for you to wear, then this is almost certainly the place where you should take your shoes off. With izakaya (Japanese-style bars) and restaurants where visitors can enter while wearing their shoes, there are often raised seating areas inside with tatami mats or cushions to sit on. If there is such a step up to a raised seating area, then this is the place where you should take off your shoes.
If there is a place in the genkan or by the raised seating area to put your shoes, like a shelf, box or locker, you should leave your shoes there. When there is no obvious home for your shoes, it is okay to leave them on the floor in the entranceway or just outside the raised seating area, however, it is good manners to neatly put your shoes together and turn them so the toes point out towards the door or away from your seating.

Smoke in the Smoking Areas
Look Out for Them in Bars and Restaurants Too

More and more countries are seeing the smoking of cigarettes and cigars, and even the smoking of e-cigarettes, in public places as unacceptable. Japan’s rules on smoking are comparatively relaxed, but with smoking areas commonly available in airports, stations and other places, the rules are clearly laid out on where one can smoke in such places.
Smoking on the street is seen in a particularly bad light, so much so that the majority of local governments in Tokyo impose fines on those who smoke such places. There are differences to a degree, but note that strict restrictions are imposed on smoking on the street or outside designated smoking areas in all the prefectures of Japan.
There are detailed rules for smoking inside bars and restaurants, with many establishments being non-smoking. Even for those restaurants where it is alright to smoke inside, the majority have designated smoking areas separated by a wall, etc.
Among restaurants which are completely non-smoking inside, there are those which have smoking areas by the entrance or out the back, so, if you really do feel like having a cigarette, be sure to check with a member of the staff where the best place to smoke is.

Yakult Man Says...

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