Locals explain what to never do on your trip to Japan

Japanese locals have revealed their biggest pet peeves when it comes to the behavior of travelers following a tourism tsunami that has challenged the nation.

From geisha being harassed to arguments in the carparks of ski towns, the island nation is experiencing a range of issues due to the incredible influx of visitors in recent months.

The Government of Japan even took the rare action last month of pleading with Australians to venture beyond the “Golden Triangle” of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

It had hoped this would ease the strain on the stunning country.

However, more needs to be done to make life easier on the locals – including visitors taking the time to learn more about the culture and etiquette that’s expected of them.

So, when a curious tourist who was keen to make a better impression than many others asked an etiquette question in a popular Japan Travel Tips group on Facebook, they were inundated with responses.

“What are some things that tourists do that locals hate?” the man asked. “Trying to make sure I don’t ruffle any feathers when I visit in October.”

One Tokyo resident begged tourists to be mindful of train etiquette.

“When you’re on a crowded train and it comes to a stop at a station, and you’re standing in front of the door that opens, please step out of the train onto the platform and get out of the way,” she wrote.

“Once everyone who needs to exit does so, you can just hop back on.

“Don’t randomly stop in the middle of stores/sidewalks/any paths. Yes even I have to check my phone sometimes but I always step out of the way of traffic. Be observant and copy what the locals seem to be doing.”

A local woman from Kyoto agreed that behavior on transportation can be an issue, pointing out that travelers need to be aware of how loud they are while on trains.

“I’m a foreigner who has lived in Kyoto long enough to be ‘a local’, I guess. My biggest pet peeve is loud talking and eating in the train. It’s just so different than what the people around them are doing, and it at once seems both completely oblivious and at the same time arrogant (this is what I do at home, so why not here?).

“The best advice anyone can give is to watch, observe, and mimic as much as you can. The Japanese (and the local expats) will really appreciate your efforts.”

While another local found that inconsiderate crowds are the worst.

“Walking side-by-side in a slow-moving herd like cattle and failing to leave room for people going the opposite direction. I *may* have been known to lower a shoulder and plow straight through a wall of tourists.”

Bus delays are another common frustration.

“I work at a tourist information centre and we always get complaints from the local bus drivers saying why foreigners take forever to pay the bus fare, why they can’t prepare the coins in advance or why they don’t have the right amount, etc, etc (no one comes to complain about noise or anything else expect bus drivers and delayed payment) so we always advice tourists to get an IC card. Happy tourists, happy local bus drivers.”

The next pet peeve could surprise many.

“Wearing a strong perfume in a formal Japanese restaurant is generally considered very poor etiquette, as the delicate flavors of Japanese cuisine are meant to be experienced without interference from strong scents, and it could be seen as disruptive to other diners; most would advise against it and opt for a light fragrance or none at all.

“Key points about wearing perfume in a Japanese restaurant:

• Disrespectful to the chef: The subtle nuances of the food are crucial, and a strong perfume can overpower the intended aromas.

• Considered ‘smell harassment’: In Japan, wearing a strong fragrance is sometimes referred to as ‘smell harassment’ and can be seen as inconsiderate to others.

• Especially important for sushi restaurants: Since sushi relies heavily on the freshness and taste of the fish, strong scents are particularly unwelcome.”

If you’re after a more comprehensive list of things not to do in Japan, one commenter who said they have worked with Japanese people for 30 years and has broad knowledge of their culture says the following:

“If you want to piss off the locals then you do the below:

• Wearing strong fragrance

• Talk on the phone or talk loudly on the train

• Don’t take off shoes when entering your house (almost criminal offense and you probably will be told to remove)

• Staring. Eye contact isn’t the done thing in Japan

• Spitting on the street

• Dragging your luggage through crowded areas and on crowded trains (the Japanese use the delivery service at airport)

• Music too loud in headphones when in public place

• Dropping litter on the street (No litter bins? Place it in the parked bike basket as everyone else does)

• Smoking outside of designated areas

• Blowing your nose in public (go ahead and sniff and snort all day long)

• Not wearing a face mask when you are sick

• Dressing poorly and appearing ungroomed

• Being late for an event or appointment. Punctuality is a big deal in Japan

• Asking direct or personal questions

• Requesting something that’s not on menu, or to customize your order in any way

• Any impolite behavior generally like cutting lines, being boisterous or laughing loudly”

There were some other etiquette observations, including this: “One of the major problems with foreigners in Tokyo, especially in areas like Shibuya, is foreigners getting drunk and fighting with each other, with locals, and even assaulting the police.

“One of the reasons (sic) why foreigners are often banned from bars and Tokyo even passed an ordinance banning drinking outdoors.

“It’s not that drinking a lot is unusual in Japan, Japanese often drink heavily. But drinking to the point of near blackout, puking everywhere, screaming, raging, sexually assaulting women, and starting fights is almost exclusively done by foreigners …”

And lastly, whatever you do, don’t ask for changes to a meal when ordering at a restaurant.

“The other big one (annoyance) is people trying to change how a dish is prepared. No – they will not leave parts of the dish out. They have spent years (literally) perfecting it and asking is an enormous insult. This is true in the finest restaurants and the corner ramen house.”

With a predicted 40 million tourists set to visit Japan this year, it’s wise to learn the local ways.

Tourism boom

Between January and September in 2024 visitors to Japan from Australia totaled a record 637,300. This was an increase of 42 percent over the same period for the previous record in 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

Australian visitors also rank as one of the top markets for total length of stay in Japan.

There are locations such as Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, that are buckling under the pressure of the sheer number of tourists.

“We strongly encourage Australians to consider lesser-known destinations, as well as look at shoulder travel seasons, such as autumn, as well as Japan’s summer – known locally as the ‘green season’ where the country’s rural and regional areas really come into their own,” JNTO’s Australian office’s executive director Naoki Kitazawa told news.com.au.