Public Manners in Japan

What is often introduced as Japanese "manners" is actually a mix of three different layers: laws, local ordinances, and community requests. Understanding which layer a rule belongs to helps you understand the consequences of not following it.

Introduction: What this guide covers

In a travel context, the most important rules are those that are officially documented, such as smoking regulations, street drinking rules, photography restrictions, and mountain climbing-entry rules. Conversely, many things commonly described as "don'ts in Japan" are actually just social suggestions without any legal or official basis.

This guide focuses on the former—rules with actual consequences—while clarifying when a rule is merely a suggestion. This will help you focus on what truly matters.

The Three Layers of Rules

Knowing these layers helps you interpret signs. For example, the "10,000 yen fine" sign standing on a private path in Gion, Kyoto, was put up by the Gion-machi Minamigawa District Council, a private neighbourhood body, and is not based on any Kyoto City ordinance. Since a fine (bakkin) can only be imposed by the state or a local authority, this 10,000 yen is not something that can be collected legally; it is a deterrent notice. That said, entering private property without permission can itself become a civil matter. Kyoto City's own efforts centre on multilingual signage and manners awareness, and the city's pages make no mention of administrative or criminal fines.

7 Things to Keep in Mind in Japan

1 Smoking is restricted to specific areas

Indoor smoking is governed by national law. Since the full implementation of the Revised Health Promotion Act on April 1, 2020, most indoor public spaces are non-smoking. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking rooms. There are four types of smoking areas (smoking-only rooms, heated-tobacco-only smoking rooms, smoking-purpose rooms, and smoking-permitted rooms), and they differ in whether eating and drinking is allowed. Schools, hospitals, childcare facilities, and government offices are non-smoking across their entire premises and may not set up indoor smoking rooms. People under 20 are not allowed in smoking rooms, even if they are employees.

Some small izakayas or snack bars may still allow smoking because they fall under "existing specific food service facilities" as a transitional measure. This applies only to establishments that meet all three conditions: they were in business as of April 1, 2020, have a capital of 50 million yen or less, and have a seating area of 100 square meters or less. Places where smoking is allowed are required to display a sign, so you can tell from the notice at the entrance.

Outdoor smoking rules depend on the municipality. There is no nationwide ban on street smoking.

• *Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo**: Since April 1, 2010, smoking is prohibited throughout the ward. While the ordinance allows for a fine of up to 20,000 yen, 2,000 yen is typically applied. As of November 1, 2024, this includes heated tobacco products.
• *Osaka City**: As of January 27, 2025, the ban has expanded to the entire city. A 1,000 yen fine may be collected on the spot. This also includes heated tobacco products.
• *Kyoto City**: Since June 1, 2007, smoking has been prohibited in outdoor public places. The 1,000 yen administrative fine is collected only inside "Street Smoking Countermeasure Reinforcement Areas," such as the city center, the area around Kyoto Station, and the Kiyomizu-dera/Gion area.

2 Stand still on escalators

You may often hear that you should "stand on the left in Tokyo and the right in Osaka to leave a path for walkers," but this is actually the opposite of current official recommendations.

Saitama Prefecture's ordinance, effective October 1, 2021, requires users to stand still while using escalators. Nagoya City also has an ordinance (effective October 1, 2023) requesting that users stand still, regardless of which side they choose.

Railway companies are also moving in this direction. The 2026 "Stand Still, Don't Walk" campaign, running from July 21 to August 31, involves 58 railway companies and 7 organizations, centered around JR East. The 2025 edition also had Osaka Metro, Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Nankai, and Kintetsu on its list. In the Kansai region too, operators are asking passengers not to walk.

3 Some areas have time restrictions for street drinking

In Shibuya, a revised ordinance implemented in October 2024 prohibits drinking on streets and in parks in designated areas around Shibuya Station from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM year-round. Previously, these restrictions were limited to Halloween and the New Year period, and the area covered has been widened as well. The ward's page states no penalty, but the restriction is in place all the same.

Please wait to open your drinks until you are inside a shop or back at your accommodation.

4 Eating while walking is not illegal, but choose your locations wisely

While you may hear that "eating while walking is not allowed in Japan," there is no law that prohibits it and no ordinance that attaches a penalty to it.

The Kamakura City ordinance often cited in this context (in force since April 1, 2019) lists nine types of "nuisance behaviors," including eating while walking in a way that might stain someone's clothes. However, the city itself explains that the ordinance "does not prohibit eating while walking" and that "there are no penalties". Most "No Eating While Walking" signs seen in tourist spots are private rules set by local shopping districts, temples or shrines for their own grounds or streets.

The key is not "is it legal?" but rather "whose space is this?" and "is it crowded?" If there is a sign, follow it. In crowded streets, it is best to find a place to stand still while you eat.

5 Photography depends on the property type

Photography issues usually arise because the area is private property or a residential area.

In the private paths of Gion, Kyoto, signs prohibiting "through-traffic" were added between April and May 2024. Signs prohibiting photography have been present since around 2019. Both are issued by the local community association about its private path, not by the city ordinance.

Kamakura's ordinance lists photography that obstructs traffic or photography near train tracks as nuisance behaviors (though there are no penalties). In Otaru, security guards have been deployed at four locations, including Funamizaka, since January 10, 2026, due to issues with roadside parking, photography taken in the roadway, and entry onto private property.

In residential areas or temple approaches, even without a sign, it is safest to assume that the residents' right to pass through is the priority.

6 Check climbing rules before climbing Mt. Fuji

For the 2026 season, all four climbing routes on Mt. Fuji require a 4,000 yen fee per person, per climb. Rules vary by prefecture.

• *Yamanashi side (Yoshida Trail)**: From July 1 to September 10. Gates are closed from 2:00 PM to 3:00 AM (except for mountain hut guests). There is a daily limit of 4,000 people (excluding hut guests). Equipment checks are conducted at the 5th Station; you may be denied entry if you lack necessary gear. Pre-registration is recommended but not mandatory.
• *Shizuoka side (Fujinomiya, Subashiri, Gotemba)**: For Subashiri, the period is July 1 to September 10. For Fujinomiya and Gotemba, it is July 10 to September 10. Three things are mandatory: completing the advance e-learning and passing the confirmation test, holding a mountain hut reservation for entry between 2:00 PM and 3:00 AM, and paying the toll. Registration is done via the "Shizuoka Prefecture FUJI NAVI" app, and the QR code wristband serves as your climbing permit. You can also register on site.

Equipment checks and e-learning did not exist before 2024. The more experience you have of climbing it in the past, the more important it is to check.

7 Tipping is not required

There is no custom of tipping in Japan. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) explains that tipping is not a custom and that giving a tip might confuse the recipient. While some say it can be seen as insulting, there is no official source for this.

Simply pay the amount shown on your bill. JNTO notes that in restaurants a service charge is generally added to the final bill. If you do choose to give a small token of appreciation, it is polite to place it in an envelope and hand it over discreetly rather than passing cash directly.

"Requests" without penalties—Trains, Trash, Restrooms, and Hotels

Everything up to here has been about written rules. The following four items have no basis in law or ordinance, and no administrative fine can be charged for them. Of the three layers, they belong to the lowest one: "Requests." They are included here because these four are the ones travellers actually ask about most, and because every one of them can be explained by a single question—what happens to the person who comes after you. Once you understand the reason, there is no need to memorise fine points of etiquette.

On Trains and Buses

Please keep phone calls for when you have exited the vehicle and ensure your ringtone is set to silent. Because the interior of a vehicle is a confined space, sound travels much further than you might expect. It is not that talking is forbidden, but rather a matter of volume control.

If the vehicle is crowded, take your backpack off your back and hold it in front of you or place it on the floor at your feet. Kept on your back, it will keep bumping into people behind you where you cannot see. Sound leaking from earphones is the same: you are the only one who cannot hear it.

Managing Trash

There are very few public trash cans outdoors. It is easiest to carry a small plastic bag in your luggage and take your trash back to your hotel or a convenience store.

Places where you can dispose of trash usually have clear sorting instructions. They use icons and text to separate items like "cans/bottles/PET bottles," "plastics," and "paper." Note that the bins next to vending machines are for containers you drank on the spot, not a place for trash you have been carrying around.

Public Restrooms

Restrooms in stations, parks, convenience stores, and commercial facilities are usually free to use and are stocked with paper. This system relies on the cooperation of both the cleaners and the users.

Do not take toilet paper or soap with you. Only flush toilet paper down the toilet. If you use the sink, wipe up any water you might have spilled. A good rule of thumb is to check if the space is in the same condition as when you entered.

Accommodations

Hotels and traditional Japanese inns (ryokans) may have thin walls or floors. In many ryokans, rooms are separated only by sliding doors (fusuma or shoji), meaning there is no solid wall between you and your neighbor. Standing conversations in the hallway at night, video calls in your room, or the sound of suitcase wheels carry much further than you think.

Bathrooms (daiyoku-jo) and lounges are shared spaces. In addition to keeping your voice down, always check for signs regarding photography. Since bathing areas are places where people undress, it is best to avoid bringing any cameras into the area.

Manners are between "Rules" and "Requests"

For more information on dining etiquette, see our Japanese Food Guide. For emergency contact information, see Emergency Assistance.