01線
Transport
Train etiquette in 5 minutes
The practical rules for queues, luggage, calls, priority seats, and rush hour on Japanese trains.
A local-feeling guide for first visitsSmall customs.
Small customs.
A much calmer trip.
Japan is easier when you know the quiet cues. Get clear, practical etiquette for the moments that make travelers pause.
✓ No scolding✓ No cultural stereotypes✓ Always free
Start with the essentialsThe guides worth reading
Browse all 13 guides →The guides worth reading
before you land.
02食
Dining
Chopsticks: what matters
A short guide to shared plates, rice bowls, and the gestures best avoided.
03礼
Shrines & temples
Shrines & temples
Entrances, purification, prayer, photography, and the important difference between custom and rule.
04湯
Onsen
Your first onsen
The complete flow from changing room to bath, including washing, towels, hair, and tattoos.
05宿
Stays
Your first ryokan stay
What happens at a traditional inn and how to relax into its rhythm.
Save it for departure day16 small checks.
16 small checks.
One lighter suitcase of worries.
A tappable, save-on-your-device checklist for transport, meals, shared spaces, and everything in between.
Open the free checklist ↗From our studio · Future tool
Coming later — no purchaseGood manners are one part of a good trip.
We’re exploring a simple Japan trip-planning companion. It is not available to buy or use yet.
Our editorial promiseCulture needs context,
Culture needs context,
not commandments.
Specific, not sweeping
We separate common custom from actual rule, and avoid presenting Japan as one uniform culture.
The venue gets the final word
Signs and staff instructions always outrank general travel advice. We tell you when to check.
Kind to visitors and residents
Our goal is confidence and consideration—not anxiety about getting every gesture perfect.