Etiquette & taboos

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3 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Shinkansen and taxis: book a seat for oversized luggage, let the driver work the rear door

Do

Check which cars are non-reserved and reserved, and sit in your assigned seat
Glance back or say a quiet "sumimasen" before reclining
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, book a seat with an oversized-baggage area in advance for very large luggage; size limits are as published by JR
Take your trash with you or use the bins by the deck between cars
Sit in the back of a taxi, usually getting in and out by the left rear door
Have your destination address in Japanese ready, and check your seat and the floor before getting out

Don’t

Don't put your feet on the seat in front
Don't open or close a taxi's rear door yourself; the driver operates it
Don't exceed the vehicle's passenger capacity

Oversized luggage without a reservation may incur an extra fee and must be stowed as the crew directs, and bags over the maximum are not allowed on board; forcing a taxi's automatic door can damage it or pinch your fingers.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Explore Translation: Shinkansen manners and rules

Cultural sensitivitiesPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · Japan

On trains, give up priority seats and carry your backpack in front

Do

Give priority seats to elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers and those with small children
Near priority seats, turn your phone off when it is crowded, as railway companies ask
Take off your backpack and hold it in front, or put it at your feet or on the rack
Eating a bento on the shinkansen or limited express trains is normal
Once the door-closing chime sounds, wait for the next train

Don’t

Do not keep a priority seat when someone who needs it boards
Do not block doors and aisles with a backpack on your back
Do not eat full, strong-smelling meals on ordinary commuter trains
Do not rush onto the train as the doors close; it is dangerous

There is no penalty, but other passengers will be annoyed and station staff may remind you. Rushing the doors can get you caught in them.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Sumimasen Guide: Train and Bus Manners in Japan

Cultural sensitivitiesPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · Japan

No phone calls on trains and the shinkansen; queue to board

Do

Put your phone on silent; on the shinkansen, take calls in the area between carriages
Queue at the marked spots on either side of the train door, and let people off before you get on
Give priority seats to older people, pregnant women and passengers with limited mobility

Don’t

Talking on the phone or playing sound aloud in the train

Not illegal, but you will get looks and a reminder from the conductor.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Japanese etiquette