Are you ready for a few more Japanese manner tips that will let you travel in Japan like a pro?
More Manners That Will Make You Look Like a Pro:
Saying Please
Even you can’t speak any other Japanese, when you order or ask for something; you might want to say onegai shimasu (please) to score some “super cool foreigner” points.
If you want to get someone’s attention, say sumimasen (excuse me/I’m sorry).
If you bump someone in the station or realize you made a mistake or did something careless or stupid, you can also say sumimasen.
Pro-tip 1: After your food has arrived, before you start eating say itadakimasu (a humble way to say “thanks for the food”).
A Ramen Shop Is Not a Hangout
After you finish your ramen, get the hell out. Most shops are small, with limited seating so customer turnover is important. Even if the shop is pretty much empty, hanging out there ordering more beers and chatting just looks weird – like you have no idea what you’re doing.
Pro-tip: Slurp your noodles to show how much you like them. This applies to all noodles in Japan. Slurp away.
Don’t Stop In Front Of The Ticket Gate in Train Stations
This is just freaking common sense, people. And I see Japanese people do it too. When a Japanese person does it, they’re just a dumbass. When a foreigner does, you’re a fucking gaijin and we all look bad.
If you have to stop to put away your train pass or look around for something, walk to an out of the way spot and do what you gotta do, don’t block the ticket gate and scratch your balls.
Sneezing, Coughing and Generally Being Sick
Most Japanese are kireizuki (clean freaks), so if you’re on a train or something, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. This should be common sense… unless your mom was born in a barn.
Pro-tip: Wear a mask to keep your nasty germs away from other people.
If you liked this, please visit the much more important Japanese Manners Part One!
UPDATE: There’s more! So if you want to learn more Japanese manners, check out Japanese Manners Part Three.
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Ohh, these are some facts which are good to know. I’ll remind them when I’ll visit Japan. The elevator rule is also common where I live, but to get in a line before getting on a train was new for me. Although if I say “go-chisō-sama desu” after a meal, won’t it be strange? Would they expect something like that from me? Thanking them in a kinda slang style… if you said something like that here, they would start to think “What’s up with that kid?”.
Oh, sorry for the confusion!
Go-chisō-sama desu is not slang. it’s extremely polite.
There are casual ways to say it, and slang ways, but the one I put here is the best. It’s formal and will show that you have respect for the people who brought you food.
Also, if someone pays for your meal, you can say go-chisō-sama desu. That’s also good manners.
Wow, this post is nice, my younger sister is analyzing such things,
thus I am going to inform her.
That sneeze/cough one is malarkey.
Most Japanese people I see don’t make an effort to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough…..unless they’re wearing a mask.
Being on the train is a nightmare when you have a chronic condition that causes you to be hospitalized each time you catch a cold -_-;;