Commonly Misunderstood (527) — page 2

MannersEssential kekko desu no aimaisa「結構です」の曖昧さa single phrase that can mean either yes, that's fine or no, thank you depending on tone and context

MannersEssential ojigiお辞儀bowing

MannersEssential oshakuお酌pouring for each other

MannersEssential gomi o mochikaeruごみを持ち帰るcarrying your litter with you because there are no trash cans

MannersEssential sumimasenすみませんsorry / excuse me / thank you

MannersEssential surippaスリッパindoor slippers and the toilet pair

MannersEssential takushi no jido doaタクシーの自動ドアthe door that opens by itself

MannersEssential chippu ga naiチップがないwhy Japan has no tipping culture

MannersEssential kutsu o nugu靴を脱ぐremoving shoes indoors

MannersEssential kutsushita ni ana靴下に穴why this matters more here

MannersEssential nokosazu taberu残さず食べるleaving nothing on the plate

MannersEssential shashin o toru mae no hitokoto写真を撮る前のひと言when you need permission

MannersEssential shugibukuro祝儀袋と不祝儀袋the envelopes for celebration and condolence money

MannersEssential tabearuki食べ歩きeating while walking

MannersEssential aizuchi相槌the frequent small sounds and nods listeners make to show they are following along

MannersEssential hashi no tabu箸のタブーthings you must never do with chopsticks

MannersEssential men o susuru麺をすするwhy noodles are eaten noisily

MannersEssential men o susuru oto麺をすする音slurping noodles out loud

Modern JapanEssential kyasshuresu kessaiキャッシュレス決済paying by card, IC card or QR code instead of cash

Modern JapanEssential konbiniコンビニthe Japanese convenience store

Modern JapanEssential masukuマスクwhy people wear masks in Japan

Modern JapanEssential kafunsho花粉症hay fever, mostly from cedar pollen

Modern JapanEssential kokyo no toire公共のトイレclean public toilets, free to use

Modern JapanEssential shoshi koreika少子高齢化a falling birth rate with an aging population

Modern JapanEssential shokkenki食券機the meal ticket machine at the door

Modern JapanEssential suidosui ga nomeru koto水道水が飲めることwhy you can drink from the tap

Modern JapanEssential densha no teiji unko電車の定時運行why Japanese trains run on time

Modern JapanEssential manin densha満員電車the packed commuter train

Modern JapanEssential yomichi no anzen夜道の安全why walking at night feels safe in Japan

Seasons & NatureEssential shiki四季the four seasons, as Japan talks about them

Seasons & NatureEssential Fujisan to shinko富士山と信仰Mount Fuji and mountain worship

Onsen & BathEssential furoお風呂the Japanese home bath

Onsen & BathEssential kakeyuかけ湯rinsing yourself before entering the bath

Onsen & BathEssential onsen温泉a natural hot spring bath

Onsen & BathEssential onsen to mizugi温泉と水着why bathing nude, not in a swimsuit, is the norm at most onsen

Onsen & BathEssential otokoyu and onnayu男湯と女湯the separate men's and women's baths

Onsen & BathEssential yubune ni tsukaru湯船につかるsoaking in the tub rather than just showering

Onsen & BathEssential atsui furo o konomu bunka熱い風呂を好む文化the Japanese taste for baths hotter than most visitors expect

PlacesEssential Kamakura no Daibutsu鎌倉の大仏the bronze Buddha that sits outdoors because its hall was destroyed

PlacesEssential Gion祇園と花街the old Kyoto quarter where geiko and maiko still work

PlacesEssential kyoto京都the capital for a thousand years, and how to explain it

PlacesEssential Kinkakuji金閣寺the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

PlacesEssential Ginkakuji銀閣寺the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, which has no silver on it

PlacesEssential Harajuku and Omotesando原宿と表参道the youth fashion street and the tree-lined avenue beside it

PlacesEssential Itsukushima Jinja厳島神社the shrine built over the sea, with a torii gate standing in the water

PlacesEssential Hiroshima to Heiwa Kinen Koen広島と平和記念公園the park in the middle of Hiroshima built where the city was destroyed

PlacesEssential Kokyo皇居と二重橋where the Emperor lives, on the site of Edo Castle

PlacesEssential Akihabara秋葉原the Tokyo district that went from radio parts to anime

PlacesEssential Shibuya sukuranburu kosaten渋谷スクランブル交差点the all-way pedestrian crossing outside Shibuya Station

PlacesEssential Shinjuku and Kabukicho新宿と歌舞伎町the world's busiest station and the entertainment district beside it

PlacesEssential Kiyomizudera清水寺the Kyoto temple with a wooden stage built out over a hillside

PlacesEssential Asakusa浅草the old temple district in eastern Tokyo

PlacesEssential Tsukiji and Toyosu築地と豊洲the old fish market street and the new wholesale market

PlacesEssential Tokyo Tawa東京タワーthe red and white broadcasting tower built in 1958