If you’re studying the Japanese language, you’re learning about the culture, too. Today, let’s look at the proper etiquette for visiting a Japanese friend’s house. As you may know, Japan has a lot of rules about manners. If you can follow them, your Japanese friends are sure to be impressed. Well then, let’s consider what you might need to be careful of once you’ve been invited over to your friend’s house!
First, let’s think about clothing. Your clothing and personal appearance are important—they’re some of the keys to have a smooth and comfortable visit to your friends house. If there isn’t a formal or official event, wear something you’d usually wear to relax in as you chat with your friend. Traditionally, Japan has a culture of sitting on the floor, unlike the tables and chairs you might find in the West. Because of this, you might not be able to relax if you come dressed in a mini skirt or a tube top.
When you’re picking out an oufit, choose something you like that’s easy to move in. Styles like jeans with dragging hems, however, are not seen much in Japan, though, so that might be something to pay attention to.
First, let’s think about clothing. Your clothing and personal appearance are important—they’re some of the keys to have a smooth and comfortable visit to your friends house. If there isn’t a formal or official event, wear something you’d usually wear to relax in as you chat with your friend. Traditionally, Japan has a culture of sitting on the floor, unlike the tables and chairs you might find in the West. Because of this, you might not be able to relax if you come dressed in a mini skirt or a tube top.
When you’re picking out an oufit, choose something you like that’s easy to move in. Styles like jeans with dragging hems, however, are not seen much in Japan, though, so that might be something to pay attention to.
When you arrive at your friend’s house, take your shoes off at the genkan, or entryway. Once you’ve taken them off, it’s the Japanese way to line your shoes up with the toes pointing towards the door.
There’s an interesting theory about the Japanese culture of removing one’s shoes indoors: that only the dead wear shoes indoors. In Japan, when someone dies, they are dressed in a white kimono and special shoes, or “waraji,” to prepare them for their journey and send them off. The theory is that it’s from this tradition that the culture of not wearing even clean, brand-new shoes inside the house.
There’s an interesting theory about the Japanese culture of removing one’s shoes indoors: that only the dead wear shoes indoors. In Japan, when someone dies, they are dressed in a white kimono and special shoes, or “waraji,” to prepare them for their journey and send them off. The theory is that it’s from this tradition that the culture of not wearing even clean, brand-new shoes inside the house.
Next, though it may not happen as frequently, you might be invited to spend the night at your friend’s house. If you spend the night, you may be invited to take a bath. The bath is another area with unique Japanese customs. In Japan, it’s customary to fill a bathtub with hot water and soak in it. Before entering the tub, sit outside it in on the small bath chair to wash your body first. It is, after all, a sitting culture! 🙂
After you’ve washed your whole body, you can enter the bathtub, but be careful to keep your towel out of the water! This is the same as onsen rules. When you get out of the tub, be sure to leave the water for the next person. Draining the tub water is the final bather’s job.
After you’ve washed your whole body, you can enter the bathtub, but be careful to keep your towel out of the water! This is the same as onsen rules. When you get out of the tub, be sure to leave the water for the next person. Draining the tub water is the final bather’s job.
That’s it for today’s examination of important manners in Japan. What Japanese customs seem strange to you?