Clothing Tips Most Japanese offices tend to be rather conservative regarding work attire. You will usually be expected to keep your shoulders covered, so tank tops, camis and dresses with thin straps are best left for the weekend.

6. There’s no strict dress code for visiting temples and shrines, but you will feel out of place in shorts or outfits with modest skin coverage. Casual clothes, including jeans, are fine for sightseeing. Remember to remove your shoes when entering temples.

Factory workers in the company will still be required to wear uniforms and sales staff will still be expected to don business suits as per regulations in the existing dress code but, for everyone else (about 3,700 workers), the choice of clothing is optional — or, optional up to a point.

Pack clothes that aren’t too flashy and make sure they’re appropriate for the activities and the season you have planned. Bring a dressier outfit if you plan on eating somewhere nice. When NOT to Visit Japan (And When to Go Instead!)

For most people, yawning is involuntary. In Japan it’s considered rude to yawn openly. Happily, you at least get to cover your mouth if you can’t stop that yawn, but too much yawning shows fatigue or boredom, which is why it’s considered taboo.

In Japan, smiling is a way to show respect or to hide what you’re actually feeling. Although, in Japanese culture, nonverbal expressions use the eyes more than the mouth. It’s often our default facial expression, at least when other people are watching.

The Japanese consider it rude to leave food on your plate, whether at home or at a restaurant. If you don’t want to eat more food, consider leaving a little behind to let the host know you have had enough.

Before eating, Japanese people say “itadakimasu,” a polite phrase meaning “I receive this food.” This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the food in the meal.

Arigatou / Arigatou Gozaimasu Both “arigatou” and “arigatou gozaimasu” can be used to thank someone doing something for you, for example, to a waitress refilling your water, and “doumo arigatou gozaimasu” to thank someone for a bigger favor or when you have received a gift.

gochisosama deshita

When saying thank you for the food you can use the Japanese phrase ‘Gochisou sama deshita’ which literally means it was a feast and is used to say thank you for the meal, or you can use ‘oishii’ to say delicious.

Before eating, you say, Itadakimasu” (いただきます), which means Let’s eat or Bon Appétit, and at the conclusion of your meal, you say Gochisosama (ごちそうさま), which means thanks for the delicious meal.