Japanese Customs
Japanese Customs
Daily Life and Customs
- ・Take off your shoes at the entranceway to home. Do not wear slippers on tatami mats.
- ・At the public bath houses and hot springs, wash before entering the bathtub. Do not use towels or soap in the bathtub, because bathwater is not changed after each user.
- ・People often greet each other with a bow, not with a handshake.
- ・In concluding agreements, people use personal seals instead of signatures in many cases.
- ・The word “agaru” in addresses in Kyoto refers to going north and “sagaru” to going south.
- ・According to Japanese law, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco is prohibited for those under 20 years old.
Shopping
- ・8%～10% consumption tax is included in the prices of goods.
- ・Other than a few retail stores, the prices of goods are fixed and not open to negotiation.
- ・There is no tipping custom in Japan.
Holidays in Japan
- ・All government offices and many businesses are closed from December 29 to January 3.
- ・From the end of April to the first week of May, there are a series of national holidays. This period is known as “Golden Week.” During this period, most company businesses and some stores are closed.
- ・Many businesses and stores are closed during the Obon holiday period (a Buddhist festival) which is roughly from August 13 to 16.
| Date | Holiday Name |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day (Ganjitsu) |
| The 2nd Monday in January | Coming-of-Age-Day (Seijin-no-hi) |
| February 11 | National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen-no-hi) |
| February 23 | Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno-tanjobi) |
| Around March 21 | Spring Equinox Day (Shunbun-no-hi) |
| April 29 | Day of Showa (Showa-no-hi) |
| May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo Kinenbi) |
| May 4 | Greenery Day (Midori-no-hi) |
| May 5 | Children’s Day (Kodomo-no-hi) |
| Third Monday in July | Marine Day (Umi-no-hi) |
| August 11 | Mountain Day (Yama-no-hi) |
| Third Monday in September | Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro-no-hi) |
| Around Sept 23 | Autumnal Equinox Day (Shunbun-no-hi) |
| Second Monday in October | Sports Day |
| November 3 | Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi) |
| November 23 | Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro-kansha-no-hi) |