Do's & Don'ts

Meal Time~~

• Do not stick your chopsticks in your rice bowl.
• Do not make noise by nitting your plates/glasses with your utensils.
• Do not rest your elbow on the table while eating.
• Hold your rice/soup with your left(right) hand if you are a right(left)-handed when you are eating.
• Eat all the dishes evenly. (Traingle eating) Do not keep eating one particular dish.
• Do not wipe your face/neck with a wet wash cloth in the restaurants. The wash cloth is for wiping your hands!
• Do not lick the lid of your ice-cream/ yogurt cup.
• Do not hesitate to ask for forks and spoons if your cannot use chopsticks.
• Do not mix the food together!
• Do not reach into the serving dish with your chopsticks. If there's no serving utensils, flip your chopsticks over and serve yourself with the end of your chopsticks.
• Do not eat while walking around. Eat your food where you buy it.
• Eat every grain of rice in your bowl. if you leave any it means that you want more.
• Slurp your noodles! It's okay, but you do not have to.
• Try all foods. You may end up loving them. If you don't like it, you don't have to finish it.
• Before eating the phrase, ITADAKIMASU, must be said.
• After the meal, the phrase, GOCHISOU SAMA DESHITA must be said.

Taking Baths in Japan (Onsen)

• Bring a small towel and a bath towel.
• Undress yourself in the changing room and take only the small towel with you into the bathroom.
• Wash yourself at the washing area and use the small towel to scrub yourself with soap.
• Take off your underwear before you go in.
• Put yourself in the towel and relax. Do not put your small towel into the water. (put them on the head instead.)
• Before you leave, take a shower again and wipe your body with the small towel before going back to the changing room.
• Go back to the changing room and wipe yourself with bath towel. Put your clothes on and leave.
• DO NOT wash your body in the tub.
• DO NOT drain the hot water after usage.

Giving/ Accepting of Gifts

• Give and accept gifts with both hands and bow.
• Refuse the gift once or twice before accepting.
• Wrap the gift and put it in a bag.
• Most of the time, hand-made gifts are usually exchanged. (Depending on the host)
• Give each of the family members a gift.(Liquor are of a good choice)(Bring sufficient gifts)
• Give your gifts in private if you are not giving the whole group a gifts.
• Do not give gifts in odd numbers or in fours.
• Try not to give the family members the same type of gifts.
• DO NOT give gifts that are made in JAPAN.

Visiting/ Entering Someone's house

• Bowl
• Take off your shoes and place it neatly.
• Introduce yourself.
• Take a seat only after being asked to do so.
• When leaving the house, give a gesture, bow.
• Avoid physical contact.
• If you are given a gift with a wrapping paper, please do not crumple it.
• If offered a drink, only drink after the word, DOUZO, has been said.
• Do not wear your shoes into the house. Some families provide slippers.
• Do not wear house slippers into the bathroom. Bathrooms have their own slippers.
• Do not aks for bathroom or restroom. Ask for the toilet. The bathroom is a room you take your shower in.

General Etiquette

• Take note on Japanese people's facial expressions, they rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels.
• Often trust norrverbal messages more than the spoken words as they amy have several meanings.
• Frowning while someone is speaking shows a sign of disagreement.
• Watch out this expression, inhaling through clenched teeth, tilting the head, scratching the back of the head and scratching the eyebrow.
• Do not blow your nose in public.
• Always be polite.