Rules & Etiquette(17 guides)

Business Cards and First Meetings in Japan: The 5-Minute Version

A practical guide to exchanging business cards in Japan: when to offer yours, how to receive one, where to place it, seating, greetings, and common mistakes.

Updated: 2026-08-09

Where You Can't Take Photos in Japan

Japan photo rules by place: people, Gion, temples, shops, museums, stations, tripods, and private property, with a quick permission check before you shoot.

Updated: 2026-08-07

Karaoke in Japan: How the Room, Pricing, and Machine Work

A first-time guide to Japanese karaoke boxes: 30-minute rates, free-time plans, drink rules, song tablets, checkout, and solo visits.

Updated: 2026-08-06

Eating on Trains in Japan: Where It Is OK and Where It Is Not

A practical guide to eating bento and drinking on Shinkansen, limited express, local trains, subways, and station platforms in Japan.

Updated: 2026-08-04

Noise Rules at Japanese Minpaku and Apartments (Airbnb Stays)

There is no single national quiet hour for every Japan stay. Use your property's house rules, plus this noise and complaint guide for minpaku and apartments.

Updated: 2026-07-19

Why No Trash Cans? Handling Garbage as a Tourist in Japan

Where tourists can dispose of trash in Japan, what vending-machine collection boxes accept, and what to carry back to a hotel instead.

Updated: 2026-07-18

Where You Must Take Off Your Shoes in Japan

A place-by-place guide to shoes in Japan: homes, ryokan, tatami, temples, fitting rooms, toilets, and the floor clues that tell you what to do.

Updated: 2026-07-18

Smoking in Japan: Street Bans and Where It's Legal

Where you can and cannot smoke in Japan as a tourist. Street smoking bans, designated smoking areas, indoor rules, and how heated tobacco is treated.

Updated: 2026-07-13

Wearing a Yukata in Japan: Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors

A practical first-timer guide to wearing a yukata in Japan: dressing, walking, valuables, rental returns, damage rules, heat, and crowds.

Updated: 2026-07-11

Flying a Drone in Japan as a Tourist: The Rules to Check

An overview of drone rules for tourists in Japan: weight thresholds, banned areas, registration, and why you must confirm with the official MLIT source first.

Updated: 2026-06-29

Queueing in Japan: Escalators, Trains, and Taxi Stands

How lining up works in Japan: train platform queues, which side to stand on an escalator, taxi stands, and cashier lines. Simple do and don't rules.

Updated: 2026-06-29

Japanese Convenience Stores: A Tourist Power Guide

What you can actually do at a Japanese konbini: withdraw cash, buy tickets, print, drop off luggage, find a toilet, and pay for almost anything.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Eating Out in Japan: Izakaya and Sushi Basics

How to order and behave at a Japanese izakaya or sushi counter, from the otoshi seating charge to chopstick rules and how to pay at the end.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Onsen Etiquette: A Step-by-Step First-Timer Guide

How to use a Japanese onsen correctly: wash before bathing, no swimsuits, keep the small towel out of the water, and other simple rules.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Why You Put Money on the Tray in Japan

What the small tray at a Japanese register is for, how to pay with cash or card on it, and the simple etiquette of handing over and receiving money.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Shrine and Temple Manners (Without Overthinking It)

Simple manners for Japanese shrines and temples: how to bow, purify your hands, pray, and tell when photos are not allowed.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Tattoos and Onsen in Japan: Rules and Workarounds

Can you enter a Japanese onsen with tattoos? The real rules, cover-up options, and how to find tattoo-friendly baths.

Updated: 2026-06-13