"Please stand up. If you are in Tokyo, please do as Tokyoites do," I said to two foreign boys sitting on the ground beside the escalator to Shibuya Sky in July 2023. This is the second time. The first time was at Ueno in June.
I've noticed that some foreign travelers are not aware of important rules that Japanese people follow when they are in public. So I would like to share these unspoken rules with foreigners visiting Japan, especially Tokyo.
When I take my guests on a tour around Tokyo, I always explain to them, some key rules that must be observed while at the train:
Please stand in line.
Don’t break the que.
Don’t cross your legs.
Don’t talk over phone.
Don't speak in a loud voice.
At sightseeing spots, like Asakusa, there is an announcement from a speaker saying, “Please don’t drink or eat while walking. Please eat at the store where you purchase your food.” Furthermore, it is difficult to find trash cans in street, so please don't litter. (See my blog. https://gowithguide.com/blog/cleanliness-in-japan-2265)
82.6% of Japanese wear masks when they are in public places such as trains and department stores.(1) . Japanese people are very particular with cleanliness.
Living in Tokyo is considered a status symbol like New York. When you look closely, each season comes with a distinct fashion trend. Tokyoites follow this trend. In this way, we can distinguish Tokyoites from people coming from Korea and China, even from other cities in Japan.
Only 8.7% of Japanese can communicate in English fluently. (2) Therefore, when we see foreigners’ bad manners, we have no choice but to ignore it.
Most of my guests are impressed that Tokyo is so clean, and people are well-mannered. Yes, we have invisible rules to follow which have deep consideration but I cannot explain them all. So I always recommend reading “IKIGAI” by Ken Mogi.” (3) This book talks about Japanese way of life and the secret to a happy and long life. The secret Japanese way to live a happy and long life.
I hope foreign travelers take time to familiarize themselves and follow our invisible rules, so, we can live in a comfortable and harmonious environment.
If you plan to visit Tokyo, it would be a great pleasure to guide you. I will explain about our culture further. My tour website is https://gowithguide.com/profile/3624
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Remarks
(1) https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/coronavirus/mask/detail/detail_38.html
(2) https://englishfactor.jp/online/4918.html
(3) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36496221-awakening-your-ikigai
