Top 10 Taboos to Know Before Traveling in Japan: Cultural Insights for Respecting Local Customs

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The world is full of diverse and fascinating cultures, each with its own unique customs and traditions. When traveling abroad, being mindful of your behavior is crucial to avoid offending locals by adapting to their cultural norms and steering clear of local taboos. Taiwanese tourists often enjoy visiting Japan, but the country has many specific etiquette rules and details related to food and daily life that require special attention. Below are ten situations to keep in mind for future trips to Japan.

1. Avoid Eating While Walking
Although Japan doesn’t outright ban eating while walking, it’s still best to avoid it. Even street vendors often provide high tables or seating areas so that people can eat in one spot. Some shops may even dislike customers eating while lingering near their entrances.
 
2. Don’t Pass Food with Chopsticks
During Buddhist funeral ceremonies in Japan, special chopsticks are used to pass the cremated bones of the deceased. As a result, passing food to someone else using chopsticks can evoke associations with funerals and is considered bad luck.
 
3. Eat Sushi in One Bite
Sushi is one of the must-try foods in Japan, and its true essence lies in the tradition of eating it in one bite. Most sushi pieces are made to be just the right size for a single bite. If you eat a single piece of nigiri sushi in two bites, the chef might think their creation isn’t delicious enough.
 
4. Put Your Phone on Silent Mode on Trains
When riding a train in Japan, make sure to switch your phone to silent or vibrate mode as soon as you board. Try to avoid taking calls, and near priority seating areas, it’s best to turn your phone off entirely out of respect for other passengers.

5. Tattooed Individuals May Be Denied Entry to Onsen
In Japanese culture, tattoos are still widely associated with organized crime. As a result, most onsen (hot springs) display signs prohibiting entry for tattooed individuals, with only a few exceptions. If someone with a tattoo (regardless of size or meaning) enters a public onsen, locals may choose to leave.
 
6. Shower Before Entering the Onsen
Japanese people typically bathe in onsen completely naked, though some places may allow visitors to wear swimsuits. Regardless, showering before entering the hot spring is essential—not only to clean your body but also as part of the tradition of slowly warming up in the bath.
 
7. Remove Shoes Before Entering a Home
When entering a Japanese home, you must take off your shoes and change into slippers to keep the interior clean. When visiting someone’s house, guests usually change into the slippers provided by the host. However, when entering tatami mat rooms, you should only wear socks.

8. Language Taboos
Similar to Chinese cultural taboos, certain numbers and phrases are best avoided in Japan. For example, try not to use numbers related to “4.” In Japan, words that sound like “suffering” or “death” are avoided, as are the numbers 4 and 2, because their pronunciation resembles the word for “death.” As a result, hospitals generally don’t have rooms or beds numbered 4 or 42. The number 13 is also considered unlucky, and many hotels don’t have a 13th floor or room 13, and Haneda Airport doesn’t have gate 13.
 
9. Gift-Giving Taboos
Giving gifts is a common practice in Japan. Whenever visiting a friend’s home or attending a gathering, it’s customary to bring a small gift. However, try to avoid giving gifts in purple or green, as these colors are associated with sadness and bad omens due to religious beliefs. When visiting someone who is ill, avoid giving camellias or flowers in pale yellow or white, as these are linked to funerals.
 
10. Wear Kimono and Yukata with the Left Side Over the Right
There is an important taboo when wearing a kimono or yukata in Japan: both men and women should wear them with the left side over the right (on the outer layer). Wearing them right over left is how the deceased are dressed for funerals, so this mistake should be carefully avoided.

The most important things when traveling abroad are to have fun and stay safe. Beyond the ten taboos and etiquette tips above, learning more about Japanese culture and manners can help you avoid unnecessary trouble, show basic respect for the local customs, and give you greater peace of mind when planning your trip.