Avoiding Unwanted Attention While Visiting Japan: Ensuring Proper Attire for Your Trip
In the land of the rising sun, Japan, tourists can immerse themselves in a unique blend of tradition and modernity. As the country experiences an unprecedented boom in tourism, it's essential for visitors to understand and respect the local customs, particularly when it comes to clothing and behaviour.
Dressing appropriately is the first step to fitting in. While casual attire is acceptable, it's essential to maintain a neat and tidy appearance. The Japanese, especially women, tend to dress more formally, even on casual days, so dressing neatly is appreciated.
For women, it's advisable to cover shoulders and collarbones to avoid unwanted attention or stares. Covering up is also recommended for comfort and cultural respect. In the hot and humid summers, wearing bike shorts or longer shorts underneath skirts or dresses is practical to prevent chafing.
When dining out or attending special occasions, it's a good idea to have a few dressy items like a nice shirt, ankle boots, or jewelry. It's also important to avoid wearing green clothing if visiting places with green screens, such as Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour, to prevent blending into the background.
In terms of behaviour, there are several etiquette rules to observe. Removing shoes when entering homes, traditional guesthouses, temples, and some stores is customary and a sign of respect. This is often indicated by a step or raised flooring at the entrance. If bathroom slippers are provided, it's important to put them on only inside the bathroom and remove them before returning to the main area.
On public transport, carrying backpacks on your back can be seen as impolite. Instead, hold them in front or place them at your feet. Pointing directly at people or things is impolite; instead, use an open hand gesture to indicate direction or objects. Blowing your nose openly is considered rude and unsanitary, so it's better to use a tissue discreetly or go to a private space like a bathroom.
Feeding babies with messy food directly at the table is seen as impolite to others. Using a spoon or feeding in private areas like a hotel bath is recommended. In restaurants, presentation, in the form of good personal hygiene and neat clothing, is extremely important.
In conclusion, tourists in Japan should aim to dress neatly but comfortably, respect shoe removal customs, avoid revealing too much skin, and observe polite behaviours like no pointing or public nose blowing. Bringing a couple of nicer outfits is advisable for dining out, and practical considerations for the humid climate should be kept in mind. It's important for tourists to be considerate guests and learn these etiquette rules ahead of time.
While exploring the fashion-and-beauty scene in Japan, women might prefer to follow the traditional conservative style and cover shoulders and collarbones. For home-and-garden enthusiasts, it's customary to remove shoes when entering homes, guesthouses, temples, and some stores as a sign of respect.
