An important part of life in Japan is propriety and etiquette. It can be surprising to some tourists just how much effort goes into being polite and respectful of others and the environment. Given how widely the trains are used, it should be no surprise that people also take etiquette on trains very seriously.
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With one of the most precise and punctual train systems in the world, impoliteness and inconvenience isn\u2019t taken lightly. As such, here are a few tips to help you get by when travelling on bullet trains with your Japan Rail pass without any hassles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is good manners anywhere, but in Japan, it\u2019s crucial that you\u2019re willing to share space with others. Taking up too much seat space and doing things like having your luggage on seats next to you is considered very rude. If you have luggage, make sure that you keep it close to you, on you, or on the shelves that are overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the majority of cases, eating and drinking in public is not polite in Japan. This goes for the train, as well. However, long-distance train rides are considered an exception. If you\u2019re unsure as to where the boundary is, look to see if there are trays and cup holders on your seat. Here, you can buy food on the train or bring your own. However, you should avoid foods with strong smells. Water is allowed on public transport, but not other kinds of drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some long-distance trains, such as the Shinkansen, have designated smoking cars that you can use. Otherwise, however, smoking is prohibited. In fact, smoking in public is not very common in Japan outside of designated smoking areas or restaurants and bars that allow it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Japanese trains can be crowded, and often people are using them to commute to and from work, so a lot of noise would be very detrimental to their trip. As such, you should do what you can to avoid making too much noise. Playing music or media, talking loudly with your companions, or making a commotion is considered very impolite. If you\u2019re wearing headphones, make sure it\u2019s low enough so that sound from them isn\u2019t audible to the closest passengers.
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Whether it\u2019s a tablet,.smartphone, or portable gaming device, you will see plenty of people using mobile devices on trains in Japan. However, you should use it only in a way that will not disturb the other passengers. Keep your phone on silent mode. If you\u2019re listening to audio, then use your headphones. Similarly, you shouldn\u2019t make phone calls unless you\u2019re on the designated phone area of the shinkansen. If you\u2019re near the priority seating area, you should turn your phone off so that there is no potential interference with pacemakers that older passengers might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are priority seats that are near the door on most Japanese trains. If there are few people on the train, then you can sit here if you like. However, these seats are designated for elders, people living with disabilities, pregnant women and young children. If they board the train, you should give up your seat from them. Indeed, it\u2019s common courtesy to give up your seat if there are no priority seats left to those who are in greater need of it, just as it is in many countries of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some commuter trains will have cars that are distinctly labelled as being for women only. Often, this signage will be bright pink, be in multiple languages, or use the standard Venus\/female symbol (\u2640). If you are a male, you should not board these cars. If you do board one accidentally, don\u2019t step off the train, simply move to the next car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When your stop is coming up, it\u2019s standard practice to begin moving towards the doors. This is so that you can get off the train quickly. Most people will automatically move out of the way, but you can catch their attention if they fail to notice you by giving a slight nudge and saying \u201csumimasen\u201d, or \u201cexcuse me\u201d, in Japanese. As with everywhere in Japan, it\u2019s rude to leave anything behind you, especially trash, so carry it with you until you find a bin.
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Hopefully, the tips above help you get along without hassle on the Japanese public transport system. Riding the trains and seeing just how punctual they are isn\u2019t just convenient, it\u2019s a tourist activity by itself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An important part of life in Japan is propriety and etiquette. It can be surprising to some tourists just how much effort goes into being polite and respectful of others and the environment. Given how widely the trains are used, it should be no surprise that people also take etiquette on trains very seriously. With…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[35],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Travel-Railway-Train-Shinkansen-Bullet-468035.jpg?fit=1280%2C853&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/what-is-the-japan-rail-pass-and-how-does-it-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":117,"position":0},"title":"What is the Japan Rail Pass and how does it work?","date":"18th April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"So, you\u2019ve decided you want to go to Japan on holiday and discover there are are lots of places across the country you want to visit. 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