Are there any cultural norms or etiquettes unique to Tokyo that foreigners don’t follow, or should be aware of?

13 comments

1. So few of them wear their “I’m a local” badges, leaving us wondering if they’re ignorant tourists or impudent immigrants.

2. Eating McDonalds on the metro, noisily. In a somewhat packed car.

   For the most part foreigners here are pretty well behaved when they have some self awareness like yourself.

   Nobody will care much if you’re on the wrong side of an escalator as long as you’re not manspreading and blocking traffic. Even locals make this mistake, frequently.

3. Stand on the left side of the escalator.

4. You’re probably new to Japan.

   Japanese break cultural norms all the time and can be unbelievably obnoxious too.

   It’s not a Japanese/foreigners thing.

   Is a person thing.

5. The main one for me would be the way Western foreign residents here are so judgemental about other Western foreign residents and tourists. I think most long term residents here, both foreign in origin and Japanese nationals, just have their head down trying to get through their day without* wasting any of their energy caring (let alone being annoyed) about minor missteps other people around them might be making.

6. Don’t do Mario Kart; learn to be passive aggressive; don’t fuck Hanako at the Hub (it will lead to you writing threads in 20-years about how you are an Eikawa monkey and your wife won’t fuck you); don’t engage with people around stations who want to talk about Mt Fuji; and don’t go to Teamlabs.

   I think I summed it up. And go get the non-sexual testicular massage.

7. Don’t bash immigrants, plenty of Japanese break a lot of the same rules. Totally depends on the person.

8. I noticed that pedestrians in this city loves to follow traffic signal to absolute ridiculous extent – like waiting for signal to turn green although there’s zero car or bikes in clear sight. I find that the other few things that Japanese culture are known for is pretty strong in this region such like avoidance of interference as coutesy. Perhaps Japanese in totality is shares these traits when compared with the others in East Asia or the world, but that’s what I picked up as someon from the West Japan. I don’t know if it’s worth payting attantion though.

9. No live streaming.

10. No.

11. no
    There is only one thing you must protect.
    That means always acting with the other person’s feelings in mind.

12. I sometimes get annoyed at all the asshole know-it-alls on r/Tokyo who feel it their solemn duty to downvote every new post into oblivion.

13. Don’t win Miss Japan