Locale Information

Some information from Qantas (https://www.qantas.com/travelinsider/en/travel-tips/things-to-know-before-you-go-to-tokyo.html):

Legalities

​There was a law in Japan that stated there must be no dancing after midnight in clubs – and no public dancing at all unless the venue was in possession of a special licence. It was lifted in 2016, so we can assure you that no arrests will be made if you’re busting a move in a karaoke room in downtown Shibuya at 2am, but it’s worth noting some of Japan’s more unusual laws that could trip up visitors.

• Foreigners must carry their passport on their person at all time. Police have the power to stop any person at any time and demand to see identification. If you don’t have any, you could be arrested.
• Some medicines that are available over the counter in Australia are illegal in Japan, including codeine and pseudoephedrine (common in cold and flu medications). Check the Embassy of Japan for further information and bring a prescription for any medications you must take.
• The legal drinking age is 20.
• Japan has a strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy for drugs and penalties will be imposed for possession of even the smallest amounts of banned substances.

Tipping

• Tipping is not customary in Japan.

 Etiquette

• Japanese people are unfailingly polite and the greatest importance is placed upon respect for others. You won’t hear Japanese commuters yammering on their mobile phones. Follow suit to find out how peaceful public transport can be.
• In Tokyo’s busy train stations, commuters will form an orderly queue and wait patiently at markers that indicate where the train doors will pull up – visitors should do the same.
• Always remove your shoes before entering the home of a Japanese person. Some hosts will provide you with slippers; otherwise your stockinged feet are fine. Even if you have slippers, you’ll be required to swap them for a special pair of bathroom slippers when you need to use the facilities.
• You may also be expected to remove your shoes at restaurants and before entering shop change-rooms, temples and tea ceremony rooms.
• Bowing is a traditional greeting; generally, the deeper and longer one bows for, the greater the respect being shown. When dealing with foreigners unfamiliar with the custom of bowing, many Japanese people will shake hands.
• When paying for items, don’t hand the cash to the cashier. Place it in the small cash tray provided. Your change will be returned in the same fashion.
• If you wish to indicate to a Japanese host that you’ve had enough to eat, finish everything on your plate, including the rice. If you don’t, it could be construed as an indication that you’re still hungry.
• Pouring soy sauce directly over rice or sashimi is not the done thing. Instead, pour the sauce into the small dish provided and dip the food into the sauce. When eating sushi, dip the topping into the sauce instead of the rice. Leaving grains floating in the sauce dish is considered coarse, as is mixing wasabi into your soy. Instead, dab it on the sushi then dip it in the soy.
• Chopstick rules: don’t rub your chopsticks together, use them as makeshift drumsticks or spear food with them.
• If you’ve already eaten with your chopsticks, use the opposite end of them to take food from shared plates.
• When sharing a bottle of saké (or any other beverage, for that matter) fill your companions’ glasses but allow someone else to fill yours for you.
• Blowing your nose in public is considered rude.
• The numbers four, nine and 13 are thought to be bad luck and four is avoided so studiously that some elevators do not list a fourth floor.
• Use two hands when giving and receiving gifts and business cards.

Public toilets

Traditional Japanese toilets are squat toilets, which can be challenging for the uninitiated. Most, however, are far more high-tech – think pre-warmed seats, various bidet modes and accompanying music. Some have such a dizzying array of options it’s hard to decide which button to press. Options include water pressure, water temperature and flush size, but to operate the basic functions the icons are fairly clear. Just remember to stay seated if you press the bidet button – the water can shoot several metres in the air.

Dress code

The teenagers who hang around Harajuku are known for their eccentric style and in Tokyo, young people express themselves with outlandish Dragon Ball Z haircuts, piercings and cosplay outfits. Meanwhile, the professional types are strait-laced and buttoned up. As a tourist, you can pretty much get away with whatever you like, but bear in mind a couple of things when packing.

• Consider the frequency with which you may have to remove your shoes – a pair of slip-ons will be handy. Sandals are fine but you should take a pair of socks with you when you’re out and about so that your bare feet don’t touch the slippers you’re supplied with. You’ll also want to be sure that your socks are clean, matching and have no holes.
• If you’re planning to visit shrines and temples, dress modestly and ensure shoulders, décolleté and knees are covered.
• Cleavage and short-shorts aren’t really the fashion here and you may feel a little out of place if you dress like it’s Bondi beach in Tokyo.