Do you have what it takes to rub shoulders properly in Japan? Not literally though, that would be rude.
etiquette (Page 6)
Help keep Japan’s convenience stores convenient by learning and following these six Japanese etiquette points.
Twitter manga reminds us that if you’re standing in this part of the train, you might be making the ride unpleasant for your fellow passengers.
Office employee poses question to the Internet: Is it wrong to drink a non-alcoholic beer during a break?
Japan’s nonsmokers hit back against “smoking etiquette”, suggesting the best etiquette would be to quit once and for all.
What could be hard about taking a pee in Poland? Where are you likely to see camel racing with robotic jockeys? Answers to these and more below!
One man in China was mad as hell at uncivilized behavior in airports and divided opinions in the country by not taking it anymore.
With rules regarding everything from tea to elevators, some new employees think it’s all too much.
In the past we’ve written about office etiquette and office parties in Japan, but how are Japanese office manners or your own different from those in other countries?
As hugely popular instant messaging app LINE supplants most other forms of communication in Japan, a poll asks young Japanese people: Is it okay to break up with someone by IM?
Many of us dream of eating authentic sushi in Japan. But do you know the proper decorum for ordering? How about paying the bill? And what’s the difference between nigiri and narezushi, anyway?
Every country has its own culture and unique customs that come with it. Understanding the social etiquette of the country before visiting can help to make the experience less overwhelming.
In China, you might be surprised to find that burping is considered a way of complimenting the chef or that a gift will be refused several times before it is accepted.
Here are 13 customs to know before traveling to China.
With thousands of temples, beautiful gardens, geisha and maiko (geisha-in-training), and more history than you can shake an encyclopedia at, Kyoto is the place to be when visiting Japan. So with so many tourists from around the world crowding into the city, a few are bound to step out of line.
Thankfully TripAdvisor Japan created a handy infographic showing how to politely visit Kyoto. Kyotoites are understandably protective of their city and its cultural and historical treasures, and some will not hesitate to correct you if you’re doing something rude or wrong. So to be sure that everyone is on the same page, here are a few simple rules to keep in mind when you visit this wonderful city.
Karaoke in Japan tends to be a little different from in the west, and it comes with its own set of rules and etiquette that it’s a good idea to learn if you want to keep being included in karaoke parties.
Whether it’s your first time ever singing in (semi-)public or you’re a seasoned karaoke veteran back home, these six tips for not being a total karaoke bore will help make your singing sessions super special (and not at all humiliating…).
With the invention of indoor plumbing and bathtubs (not really news to anyone, we’d hope), the traditional public bath houses and hot springs of Japan are now used for relaxing getaways more than actual hygienic necessity. Heck, even capybara soak in hot springs to relax!
Hot springs, known as onsen in Japanese, are also becoming popular with foreign visitors, at least those brave enough to bare it all in front of strangers. For health and safety reasons, there are quite a few rules to pay attention to when soaking in a public bath. A very nicely designed etiquette poster, which recently surfaced on TripAdvisor, is very thorough and is even teaching Japanese people a thing or two about the bathing experience!
If you are a brain surgeon trying to get a side job flipping burgers at a fast food joint, you’re more than likely to be called “overqualified” and sent packing; yes, even if you really have a passion for perfecting the ultimate burger flip. Your services are clearly required elsewhere, despite your dreams of being Employee of the Month. But being overqualified for sports isn’t something most athletes generally have to worry about blowing back on them.
Unless, apparently, your sport is Japanese high school baseball, as one especially talented and furiously base-stealing Gunma Prefecture player learned recently.




















Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
Japan’s revolving sushi restaurant king Sushiro coming to U.S. this fall with high prices, no tipping
The mystery of Port Store, the Japanese convenience store that looks like a Lawson rip-off
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Elderly couple donates 400 million yen to erect Myaku-Myaku statue in Osaka
Japan Railways announces unlimited-ride train pass for fall travel
Lawson convenience store opens its first mobile, trailer-style location in Japan
Mini CRT-lookalike Final Fantasy figurines are awesome pixel art music boxes [Video]
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Family Mart releases new Human Made Cup Noodle in Japan, with freebies for Nigo fans
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements
Hikaru Utada sings new song in Shinkansen commercial for Japan’s Supreme Class cabins
Mister Donut releases new doughnuts that look and taste like Japanese sweet potatoes
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Elderly couple donates 400 million yen to erect Myaku-Myaku statue in Osaka
Japan Railways announces unlimited-ride train pass for fall travel
Lawson convenience store opens its first mobile, trailer-style location in Japan
Mini CRT-lookalike Final Fantasy figurines are awesome pixel art music boxes [Video]
Family Mart releases Famima convenience store products nationwide, but which ones are worth buying?
American tourist in Japan arrested on charges of attempted murder and arson
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Onsen Egg Bukkake Udon Ice Cream makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about sweets
Mister Donut releases new doughnuts that look and taste like Japanese sweet potatoes
Finally! Japan’s big three convenience store chains announce rice ball price reductions
Japan’s most popular curry rice restaurant chain, Coco Ichibanya, might be for sale
One Piece Day 2026 brings new art, music, and new cast announcements