Hot answers tagged etiquette
41
Since the issue is not only with food that you can spill but also with drinking coke (even if you buy it from a vending machine, you are not supposed to drink it while you walk), which is pretty much impossible to spill, this is not a hygiene issue.
The topic is much more about the respect for food at large. When Japanese people start eating, they put the ...
35
Take name cards with two hands when given to you, give them with two hands. Look at the received card, put it in front of you on the table while you are talking to the person(s).
You CAN punch with one chopstick into food and hold it with the other if it's something hard to eat (dumplings, potatoes etc). Don't stick both in however.
Do not soak your sushi ...
26
Funnily enough, I read an article on askmen.com about the top 10 Japanese etiquette mistakes.
Boiled down to bullet points, we have:
Blowing your nose in public
Pointing with your forefinger
Don't pour your own beer
Wearing toilet slippers outside of toilet
Giving gifts in multiples of four
Failing to wash first before entering a public bath
Passing food ...
20
what is expected of me while I stay there
If someone carries your luggage to your room, they expect a tip ($1 to $2 per bag). It's also customary to leave a tip for the maid ($1 to $3 per day). Otherwise, it's really the other way round: it's the job of the hotel staff to meet your expectations (within reasonable bounds) - you're paying, after all.
...
15
I'm Chinese so I can probably tell you this. As you're a foreigner they know already that you're not used to their culture. So, be yourself and you'll be fine. If anything, I guess it must be you to prepare for culture shock. As most of my foreigner friends complain about the spitting and toilets. So be prepared. Another thing is they smoke everywhere, if ...
13
It's all about education. Kids are taught the following table manners from the age of around 2:
You eat at the table
When you are done, say "Gochisousamadesu"
When you say you're done, you're done
This is reinforced at kindergarten/elementary school lunches (no snacks, school-supplied lunch that's the same for every student).
Those manners stick.
And ...
13
Mark's answer is excellent and covers all the big ones. From experience, just thought I'd add some other / my own social faux pas:
Eating in public whilst walking
Crossing your legs in front of your superiors (boss or manager, usually)
Wiping your face with 'oshibori' (moist cloth given before a meal to clean your hands)
Stabbing food with chopsticks ...
11
People in CS can tell on their profile which is the maximum number of nights they want to host, so I think that filtering on that you will be able to identify the kind of hosts that fit your travelling policy.
In my personal experience, being member of CS since the beginning of 2009 and living in Pisa (so, a lot of requests every day), people ask for 1 to 3 ...
11
Some interesting stats were done in 2008 which found that the average length of stay is 2-3 days. Indeed I've heard of many being turned down for one-night stays - hosts often host because they want to get to know people, not just be a couch for the night.
As for longer stays, often you'll find it's cheaper and more sensible to find someone with a spare ...
10
I usually round up to the next 5 dollar increment, with a minimum of 15%. If paying by credit card, I'll usually just use the automatic 20% button (the smallest offered), out of laziness.
This WSJ Article claims that the average in NYC is 18-19%. Which is above the national average by a little, but not much. That's a pretty decent number to target, but I'll ...
10
So, if you're just joining them for dinner, you're NOT expected to bring a plate.
However, even for a situation like that it's often expected to bring a wrapped gift for your hosts, so certainly if couchsurfing I'd consider bringing something.
Ideally, gifts that can't be purchased in Japan would be a nice idea, and it'd be very special if from your home ...
9
You'll find that it varies from host to host, and this is often indicated on their profile.
Some are excited to meet new people, but can't actually host - so they'll often just say they want to meet you in town for a coffee or similar.
Others will have a bed and a spare room, and can be amazingly generous.
However they do understand that you're ...
8
Japan, birthplace of the camera phone, is relatively photo-friendly if you are taking candid pictures for your personal use with your own camera (i.e. not for publication or resale and not using a tripod or professional equipment). Places where photography is expressly forbidden will be marked by signs. By and large, these are the same places where you can ...
8
You're not going to "offend" anybody by giving them an unwrapped gift, but careful packaging will definitely increase the gift's perceived value and the brownie points you get for giving it, and yes, this extends to "just" snacks.
Quick primer: http://www.korea4expats.com/article-gift-giving.html
If you're staying in a hotel, reception can probably wrap ...
7
Often Ryokans will either make dinners mandatory and exclude single guests if they feel a too big impact from this. Specially during festivals the rules might be even more strict.
If your Ryokan does not exclude single guests and does not include the dinner in the price, you are normally free to come as a single guest and also skip dinner. Of course you ...
5
The first thing to know about Couchsurfing is that it is completely free. You are not required to "pay" for your stay offering a dinner, bringing a gift, etc.
The only rule that applies is to behave politely. You are not even required to spend some time with your host, even though in some cases this could fall in the "unpolite behaviour".
This said, the ...
5
If you are a foreigner then it is ok, you can show them or hide them no one will actually care. It is not something common there for middle easterners to have but people do not judge foreigners for having or showing them.
Regarding Egypt in particular, it is common for criminals and people who been prisoned to have them, so that will be the first ...
5
In Japan you will notice that outdoors or at other public places it is very clean, even in places with very few garbage cans. Traditionally Japanese are very clean and respectful of others. If you are eating while walking it is sometimes difficult not to make a mess or drop something.
Also there are so many restaurants that it is unnecessary to eat while ...
4
I'm not Japanese but have a lot of Japanese friends. I think bow is the best way to show respect to people. If you go into a restaurant, the manager or waitresses will bow to you should bow back and that should be ok. And the thing that will frustrate/upset most Japanese restaurant owners is that you use chopsticks to pick up a sushi or dip the rice in soya ...
3
It really depends on the host.
I try to help out with dishes and buy&prepare the food, or bring a postcard from your city and leave a nice note on the fridge before you leave. Some hosts expect you to hang out with them. I went to a bar with a local band playing in Vancouver i wouldn't have visited otherwise, and it was actually a nice evening.
Other ...
3
In addition to the other answers, I would like to share some of my recent experience.
In the subways of the large cities, one is of course expected to offer your seat to older people or pregnant women. In contrary to the Western subways I've been in, it is also expected that you offer your seat to small children. (This probably has something to do with the ...
2
Is CS intended for short (1- or 2-night) trips, or is it not unusual
to stay for a whole week or longer?
CS is "intended" for both short and long stays (the host can freely decide), and very long stays are not unheard of, but I agree with the other answers that 2 to 3 nights is the most typical.
Which kinda makes sense if you think about it. How ...
2
By default, sit in the back, not the front, of the taxi. However, this isn't so much a Japan-specific thing as an anywhere-other-than-Australia-New-Zealand-specific thing.
The most counter-intuitive etiquette advice I've received is to not thank staff. The Japanese Language & Usage question Is it proper to thank waitstaff, cashiers, etc. for their ...
1
Two additional points.
Never turn your back on someone you are communicating with, someone who is assisting you, or someone you are visiting, especially in a guest's home.
You should not make sudden movements or comments that might be considered argumentative, hostile, or of a delicate nature. You should always preface this with some introductory phrase, ...
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