proper and correct Etiquette are very important to all Japanese. but if you are a foreigner in Japan you must need to know and learn at least some basic manner rules in japan,so here are some of the basic manners to remember when visiting japan or for those who have a plan on a trip.
Manners in a Door or Genkan
when entering the house or some restaurant and you see a clean line of slippers and shoes handled accordingly, remember to follow this rule.
because the doors in japan is still considered outside and is the place for people to take off and put their shoes. be careful not to step on the door without taking off your shoes or slippers. It is good manner to turn your shoes to point towards the door after you have removed them.
if your a tourist and visiting some of historic temples,shrine and castle here in japan, i recommend you to wear shoes that can be easily removed for it can be forced you to take it off.
Manners in Japanese table
restaurant in japan had different types, other are common types of settings chairs and tables but there are some settings like tatami type that are rare to see in other country except here in japan so it may help for you to remember and learn tatami type of restaurant here in this page to avoid getting confused if how you should do when you encountered tatami type of restaurant. like in Japanese door step shoes and slippers must be removed before stepping on to tatami type of restaurant. the waitress automatically give a you a Wet towels (おしぼり)when you sitting on but there are some places that have wet towel already prepared it in the table so free to use it to clean your hands. to order your food it is a nice attitude to let others to order their own preferred food first than yours, but when your order arrived first and others aren't yet, don't eat first but wait others orders to arrived in the table before start to eat and say "itadakimasu/いただきます" means "I gratefully receive",and say the phrase "gochisōsama deshita" means "thank you for the food" after eating.
When visiting Japanese Temples
when visiting this kind of place remember to behave calmly and respectfully. by Showing your respect you should give a short prayer in front of the holy object.
in some shrine or temples, you will see a lots of visitors burning incense in large burners. pick a bundle and light them, leave them burn for a few seconds to create a smoke and then extinguish the flame by waving your hand rather than by blowing it out. put the incense into the incense burner and fan some smoke towards yourself as the smoke is believed to have healing power.
Photography is usually permitted on the temple grounds. It is forbidden indoors at some temples. Watch for signs before taking a photo the place.
Gift giving manners in Japanese
every Twice a year, in June and in December, it is common in Japanese, family,friends and relatives to give a gifts. and they called it ochugen and oseibo for showing respect. the common price of this gifts, about 5000 yen it contains household items or something similar. in company gift giving of employees coincide for receiving a special bonus in addition to their salaries.
the Gifts in sets of four are usually avoided because it is considered unlucky number in Japanese. When handing over a present, both the gift giver and recipient use both hands.
(image for Ochugen and Oseibo)
Manners in a Door or Genkan
when entering the house or some restaurant and you see a clean line of slippers and shoes handled accordingly, remember to follow this rule.
because the doors in japan is still considered outside and is the place for people to take off and put their shoes. be careful not to step on the door without taking off your shoes or slippers. It is good manner to turn your shoes to point towards the door after you have removed them.
if your a tourist and visiting some of historic temples,shrine and castle here in japan, i recommend you to wear shoes that can be easily removed for it can be forced you to take it off.
(Editors image)
Manners in Japanese table
restaurant in japan had different types, other are common types of settings chairs and tables but there are some settings like tatami type that are rare to see in other country except here in japan so it may help for you to remember and learn tatami type of restaurant here in this page to avoid getting confused if how you should do when you encountered tatami type of restaurant. like in Japanese door step shoes and slippers must be removed before stepping on to tatami type of restaurant. the waitress automatically give a you a Wet towels (おしぼり)when you sitting on but there are some places that have wet towel already prepared it in the table so free to use it to clean your hands. to order your food it is a nice attitude to let others to order their own preferred food first than yours, but when your order arrived first and others aren't yet, don't eat first but wait others orders to arrived in the table before start to eat and say "itadakimasu/いただきます" means "I gratefully receive",and say the phrase "gochisōsama deshita" means "thank you for the food" after eating.
(phanhin.com)
it is really good manner to clean and return all your dishes on how they were at the start of the meal after you finished all of it. it means replacing the lids on dishes by your your chopsticks.When visiting Japanese Temples
when visiting this kind of place remember to behave calmly and respectfully. by Showing your respect you should give a short prayer in front of the holy object.
in some shrine or temples, you will see a lots of visitors burning incense in large burners. pick a bundle and light them, leave them burn for a few seconds to create a smoke and then extinguish the flame by waving your hand rather than by blowing it out. put the incense into the incense burner and fan some smoke towards yourself as the smoke is believed to have healing power.
Photography is usually permitted on the temple grounds. It is forbidden indoors at some temples. Watch for signs before taking a photo the place.
(Editors image)
Gift giving manners in Japanese
every Twice a year, in June and in December, it is common in Japanese, family,friends and relatives to give a gifts. and they called it ochugen and oseibo for showing respect. the common price of this gifts, about 5000 yen it contains household items or something similar. in company gift giving of employees coincide for receiving a special bonus in addition to their salaries.
the Gifts in sets of four are usually avoided because it is considered unlucky number in Japanese. When handing over a present, both the gift giver and recipient use both hands.
(image for Ochugen and Oseibo)
(http://goo.gl/ymGNt4)
