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Tokyo Etiquette — Manners for Trains, Restaurants, Shrines & Onsen
No calls on trains, no swimsuits in onsen, no tipping. A scene-by-scene guide to Tokyo manners for trains, dining, shrines, and hot springs.
Train and Station Etiquette
The first thing you’ll notice on a Tokyo train is the silence. Even during packed rush hours, you’ll barely hear a conversation.
Phone calls are an unspoken taboo. If your phone rings, let it go to voicemail and call back after you step off at the next station. Even among a group of friends, keep your voice low inside the car. Sound leaking from earphones is also frowned upon.
Avoid bringing strong-smelling food on board or carrying an open can. Smells spread quickly in a sealed train car, and a sudden jolt can easily spill the contents.
In crowded cars, hold your backpack against your chest or place it on the overhead rack. Wearing it on your back bumps into the people around you without you realizing it.
On the platform, line up along the floor markings and wait for everyone to exit before boarding — this is called seiretsu-jōsha (整列乗車 / orderly boarding). For help navigating the busiest stations, see our station transfer guide.
Rush hours (weekdays 7:30–9:00 AM and 5:30–8:00 PM) with a large suitcase are brutal. Avoid these windows or check car-by-car congestion on the Tokyo Metro my! app before boarding.
Restaurant Etiquette
Leave a Tip and They’ll Chase You Down
Japan has no tipping culture. If you leave cash on the table and walk away, the staff may run after you thinking you forgot it.
The best way to show appreciation is saying “gochisōsama deshita” (ごちそうさまでした / “thank you for the meal”) as you leave. If you need help booking a restaurant in the first place, we have a guide for that too. If you really want to give a tip, say “this is a tip” directly or hand it in a small envelope (pochi-bukuro) — that way the staff can accept it gracefully.
Don’t Stick Chopsticks Upright in Rice
Nobody minds if your chopstick skills are clumsy, but there’s one thing to avoid: tate-bashi (立て箸) — sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This resembles a funeral ritual and is a strong taboo. When you need to set your chopsticks down, use the chopstick rest or fold the paper sleeve into a makeshift one.
Slurping Noodles Is Normal
Ramen, udon, and soba are meant to be slurped. You don’t have to force it, but trying to eat them silently like pasta actually makes them harder to eat.
Visiting Shrines and Temples
These are tourist attractions, but they’re also active places of worship. Knowing the basics makes the visit more meaningful.
How to Visit a Shinto Shrine
The Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honchō) outlines the following steps:
- Bow before passing through the torii gate — The torii marks the boundary between the everyday world and the sacred realm of the gods. A bow is like saying “excuse me for entering”
- Walk along the edges of the path — The center is called seichū (正中) and is considered the gods’ walkway. Visitors show respect by staying to the side
- Purify at the temizu-sha (手水舎) — In Shinto, you cleanse accumulated kegare (穢れ / spiritual impurity) before standing before the gods. Washing your hands and rinsing your mouth purifies both body and mind. The sequence: pick up the ladle with your right hand and pour water over your left → switch hands and rinse the right → cup water in your left hand and rinse your mouth → tilt the ladle upright to rinse the handle
- Two bows, two claps, one bow (二礼二拍手一礼 / nihai-nihakushu-ichihai) — Each step carries meaning. The two deep bows express reverence to the deity. The two claps announce your presence — “I have come to pray.” With your hands still together, offer your prayer silently, then finish with one final bow of gratitude
Some shrines like Izumo Taisha use “two bows, four claps, one bow,” but when in doubt, this standard sequence works everywhere.
No Clapping at Temples
At Buddhist temples, place your palms together quietly (gasshō / 合掌) and bow. Clapping is a Shinto custom. The difference: shrines “call out to the gods,” while temples are for “quietly settling your mind before the Buddha.”
Remove hats and sunglasses when entering the main hall. Look for “no photography” signs (撮影禁止 / satsuei-kinshi) — the interior of the main hall is usually off limits to cameras.
Offering Incense (Oshōkō)
You may find an incense burner (kōro / 香炉) in the main hall or at a memorial service. Offering incense is a ritual of presenting fragrance to the Buddha and purifying your own body and mind.
- Bow before the incense burner
- Pinch a small amount of powdered incense (makkō / 抹香) with your right thumb, index, and middle fingers
- Raise it to forehead height (called “oshi-itadaku” / 押しいただく)
- Gently drop it into the burner
- Put your palms together and bow
The number of times varies by sect; once is fine if you’re unsure. In Jōdo Shinshū, incense is placed directly in the burner without raising it to the forehead — practices differ by school. If using a stick of incense, wave the flame out with your hand rather than blowing it out. In Buddhism, human breath is considered impure.
Onsen and Sento (Bathhouse) Rules
Onsen (hot springs) and sento (public bathhouses) have strict rules, and breaking them can get you a warning — or asked to leave.
You bathe fully nude. Swimsuits are not allowed, and baths are gender-separated. The single most important rule: rinse your body with water (kake-yu / かけ湯) before entering the communal tub. Keep your small towel on top of your head or outside the bath — never let it touch the water.
Many Facilities Ban Tattoos
Due to a long-standing association with organized crime (yakuza), many onsen and sento refuse entry to guests with tattoos. Check JNTO’s official onsen guide for tattoo-friendly facilities before you go. Tattoo cover stickers (available at Don Quijote stores, around ¥500–1,000) can conceal small tattoos. A private bath (kashikiri-buro / 貸切風呂, ¥2,000–5,000 per hour) doesn’t check for tattoos.
Smartphones are prohibited in the changing room — to prevent any possibility of photos being taken.
Rules in Public Spaces
Smoking
Street smoking is banned by local ordinance in many of Tokyo’s wards. In Chiyoda Ward, violators face a ¥2,000 fine. As of November 2024, heated tobacco products (IQOS, etc.) are subject to the same rules. Smoke only at designated smoking areas (kitsuenjo / 喫煙所). Restaurants and bars have been largely non-smoking indoors since 2020 under the revised Health Promotion Act.
Almost No Public Trash Cans
Public trash cans are rare in Tokyo. Many were reportedly removed as a security measure after the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, and they’ve stayed scarce ever since. Convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) have trash cans inside, but these are only for waste from items purchased at that store. Bringing in household garbage or trash from elsewhere is considered bad manners. Carrying a small plastic bag for your own trash is the simplest solution.
No Eating While Walking
Eating while walking is considered rude. If you buy street food, eat it at the stall or find a bench. Festival food stall areas are the exception.
Escalators
In Tokyo, the custom is to stand on the left and leave the right side open. However, railway operators officially recommend standing on both sides for safety. Saitama Prefecture enacted an ordinance banning walking on escalators in 2021.
Workplace Etiquette
Not relevant for tourists, but good to know if you plan to work in Tokyo.
Business Card Exchange
Exchanging business cards (meishi-kōkan / 名刺交換) is part of the greeting ritual in Japanese business. Receive a card with both hands. When placing it on the table, set it on top of your own card case — never write notes on someone’s card or shove it straight into your pocket.
”Otsukaresama desu” and “Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu”
When you pass a colleague in the office, you say “otsukaresama desu” (お疲れ様です). It doesn’t carry deep meaning — think of it as a casual “hello.” When leaving the office before others, say “osaki ni shitsurei shimasu” (お先に失礼します / “excuse me for leaving ahead of you”).
Punctuality
Arriving five minutes early to meetings and appointments is the standard. If you know you’ll be late, contact the other party as soon as you realize it. Even “just five minutes” counts as late in Japan.
Neighborhood Etiquette
Greeting Your Neighbors When You Move In
It’s not mandatory, but the custom is to visit your immediate neighbors — the units on either side and directly above and below yours — when you move in. Bring a small box of sweets (around ¥500–1,000). A simple “I just moved into unit X, my name is Y, nice to meet you” goes a long way toward keeping the relationship smooth.
Garbage Sorting Rules
Sorting categories and collection days vary by ward and by building. Categories are detailed — burnable, non-burnable, recyclable, plastic, and more. If you sort incorrectly, your bag will be left uncollected at the garbage station. After moving in, check your ward’s garbage calendar (downloadable from the official website) for the schedule.
Nighttime Noise
In apartment buildings, the unwritten rule is to avoid running the vacuum or washing machine, playing instruments, or having loud conversations after 10 PM. Even in reinforced-concrete (RC) buildings, sound carries between floors more than you’d expect.
When You Slip Up
You don’t need to get everything right. A simple “sumimasen” (すみません / “I’m sorry”) with a slight bow smooths things over in most situations.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your phone rings on the train | Don’t answer — step off at the next station and call back |
| You can’t use chopsticks well | Ask “fōku arimasu ka?” (フォークありますか？ / “Do you have a fork?”) — perfectly fine |
| You don’t know the onsen rules | Watch what others do, or ask at the front desk |
| You forgot the shrine prayer sequence | Just follow the people around you and bow gently |
| You can’t find a smoking area | Search “kitsuenjo” (喫煙所) on Google Maps |
| There’s nowhere to throw away trash | Head to the nearest convenience store — there are bins inside |
| You don’t have a business card | Suggest exchanging contacts via phone or an app like Eight |
| You’re not sure how to sort your garbage | Check your ward’s official website for a garbage calendar — many have English versions |
Alternatives
If you’re nervous about onsen, book a private bath (kashikiri-buro / 貸切風呂, also called “family bath”). You can bathe at your own pace without worrying about others.
To check shrine worship steps on the spot, the official websites of Meiji Jingū and Ise Jingū have illustrated guides.
When language is a barrier, a translation app (like Google Translate’s camera feature) lets you read signs and menus in real time. Make sure you have mobile data set up so these tools work wherever you are.
Related Articles
- 11 Tokyo Travel Mistakes — Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- How Payments Work in Tokyo — Suica, credit cards, PayPay, and cash
- 8 Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo — Where to see cherry blossoms and how to enjoy hanami the right way
Sources:
- Association of Shinto Shrines “How to Worship” https://www.jinjahoncho.or.jp/omairi/sanpai/ (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Association of Shinto Shrines “The Sandō Path” https://www.jinjahoncho.or.jp/omairi/sandou/ (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Association of Shinto Shrines “Torii Gates” https://www.jinjahoncho.or.jp/omairi/jinja_no_namae/torii (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Ise Jingū “Worship Etiquette” https://www.isejingu.or.jp/visit/manner/ (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Meiji Jingū “For Visitors” https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/sanpai/2.php (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Shōsenji Temple “Incense Offering (Jōdo Shinshū)” https://www.shosenji.or.jp/butsuji/oshouko.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- JNTO “Onsen Hot Springs: On Tattoos and Etiquette” https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/inspiration/onsen-hot-springs-on-tattoos-and-etiquette/ (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Chiyoda Ward “No-Smoking Ordinance Overview” https://www.city.chiyoda.lg.jp/koho/machizukuri/sekatsu/jore/aramashi.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare “Revised Health Promotion Act” https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000189195.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Saitama Prefecture “Safe Use of Escalators” https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0310/escalator/escalator.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Toei Transportation “Escalator Safety Campaign” https://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/pickup_information/news/subway/2025/sub_p_2025071112108_h.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
- Tokyo Metro “Tokyo Metro my! App” https://www.tokyometro.jp/mobiledevice/smartphone/my/index.html (accessed: 2026-02-26)
* This article was translated from the original Japanese with the help of machine translation. Some expressions may not read naturally.
