This article was written by the NIPPON VISA & LIFE editorial team based on information from public organizations such as the national government and local governments. Rules and fees may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live.
Daily life in Japan has rules that are set by law and manners (customs) for not causing trouble to the people around you. In this article, we summarize the basics by situation: at home, outside, on trains and buses, at hot springs, with your neighbors and more. Where there is a more detailed article, we also give you the link.
Three Important Ideas First
- Follow the designated place, day and method: There are rules for each place, such as how to put out garbage, where you can smoke, and where to park your bicycle.
- Be careful about loud sounds and voices: In Japan, loud sounds and voices are considered a nuisance to the people around you. Be especially careful in apartments and condominiums, and on trains and buses.
- If you do not know, ask or look it up: Rules may differ by city, ward, town or village, and by building. Ask the city office, your landlord or real estate agency, or people at your workplace or school.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
Map by Situation
| When… | What to know | Detailed article or information |
|---|---|---|
| At home | Garbage, noise, shoes, toilets, cooking oil | Section 1 below |
| Walking outside | Using a smartphone while walking, littering, prohibition signs | Section 2 below |
| On trains and buses | No phone calls, order of getting on and off, backpacks | Section 3 below |
| At hot springs and public baths | Wash your body before getting into the bath, do not put towels in the bath | Section 4 below |
| With your neighbors | Greetings, neighborhood associations | Section 5 below |
| Protecting your home and belongings | Locking up, streets at night | Section 6 below |
| Alcohol and tobacco | From age 20, no drunk driving, where you can smoke | Section 7 below |
| On days off | Government offices and banks may be closed on national holidays and during the New Year period | Section 8 below |
1. Rules at Home
Garbage
Put out garbage at the designated place and on the designated day (day of the week) for each type. Follow the rules of the city, ward, town or village where you live for where to put out which type of garbage. In general, put out garbage on the morning of the collection day. Garbage that is not the designated type, or garbage put out somewhere other than the designated place, will not be collected. In some areas, you must use paid bags specified by the city, ward, town or village.
Do not pour oil used for cooking down the kitchen sink. Soak it up with paper or harden it with a solidifying agent, and throw it away following the rules of your city, ward, town or village.
- Basics of sorting and putting out garbage: How to Sort and Put Out Garbage in Japan: Basic Rules for Burnable, Recyclable and Oversized Garbage
Noise
Be careful that loud conversation, parties, and the sound of the TV or music do not disturb your neighbors. Also be careful about loud sounds such as doing laundry, vacuuming or taking a shower early in the morning. In apartments and condominiums (multi-unit housing), you need to be especially careful.
Shoes
In Japanese homes, you take off your shoes at the genkan (the entrance of the home) before going into the rooms. Do not go into the rooms with your shoes on.
Toilets
With flush toilets in Japan, use the paper provided in the toilet and flush the used paper down the toilet. If you use the paper provided in the toilet, the paper will rarely clog it. Toilets at stations and department stores have many buttons, but the button that flushes the water is often labeled “流す (FLUSH)”.
For the rules when you rent a room (how to use hallways and balconies, not letting people you have not reported live with you, etc.), see How to Rent an Apartment and Move in Japan: Finding a Home, Contracts, Move-in Costs, Moving In, House Rules and Moving Out.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Apartment Search Guidebook”)
2. Walking Outside
- Do not use your smartphone while walking: You may bump into other people and injure them, or injure yourself, so do not operate it while walking.
- Do not use it while driving: Operating a mobile phone while driving a car or riding a bicycle is prohibited by law.
- Do not litter: Do not throw away garbage anywhere other than the designated places. You may receive a criminal penalty. Many cities, wards, towns and villages prohibit “poi-sute” (throwing empty cans or cigarette butts on the street) by jorei (ordinances: rules made by cities, wards, towns, villages and so on).
- Follow prohibition signs: There are signs showing that something “cannot be done”, such as “No swimming”, “No smoking” and “No mobile phones”. Where there is such a sign, follow the rule.
The rules for riding a bicycle are summarized in Rules for Riding a Bicycle in Japan: Keep Left, Helmets, Bicycle Crime Prevention Registration, and Blue Tickets (Fines).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
3. On Trains and Buses
Trains and buses are public places that everyone uses.
- Do not talk loudly
- Do not make phone calls on your mobile phone on board (in Japan, this is considered bad manners)
- Listen to music at a low volume and do not let sound leak from your earphones
- When it is crowded, do not keep your backpack on your back (because it bumps into other people)
- Do not push people when getting on and off; let people get off first, and get on and off in order
- When the doors are closing, do not force your way in; wait for the next train
- Do not go down from the platform onto the tracks
For how to ride, see How to Ride Trains in Japan and Use IC Transit Cards: Buying Tickets, Going Through Ticket Gates, Charging, and What to Do If You Lose Your Card and How to Ride a Local Bus in Japan: Which Door to Use, Numbered Tickets, Paying the Fare, and the Stop Button.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
4. Hot Springs and Public Baths
Hot springs (onsen) and public baths (sento: large baths you pay to use) are used by many people. Follow these rules.
- Wash your body before getting into the bathtub (yubune: the tub filled with hot water)
- Do not put your towel in the bathtub
- Do not wash your body or hair with soap or shampoo in the bathtub
People with tattoos (irezumi) may not be allowed in. Check with the facility before you go in.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
5. Neighbors and Neighborhood Associations
Greetings
If you greet your neighbors regularly and take part in local events, trouble with neighbors is less likely to happen. It also becomes easier for people to tell you information such as things to be careful about in that area. In a disaster, you can also help each other.
Neighborhood Associations
In Japan, people living in an area form groups themselves called jichikai or chonaikai (neighborhood associations) and carry out activities to make their town a better place to live. The members share the money for the activities. The main activities are as follows.
- Disaster drills to prepare for earthquakes and fires
- Watching over children on their way to and from school
- Activities for elderly people and people with disabilities
- Passing around notices from the city office and others (kairan: circulating notices)
- Events such as festivals and sports days
For details, contact the city, ward, town or village where you live. Preparing for disasters is summarized in Disasters and Emergencies in Japan: The Basics | Calling 119 and 110, Earthquakes, Tsunami, Heavy Rain, Volcanoes, Evacuation and Multilingual Information.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
6. Crime Prevention (So That Nothing Gets Stolen)
- When you go out, lock the windows and front door of your home
- When you park a car, motorcycle or bicycle, lock it
- Do not leave your bag or wallet somewhere you cannot see it
- At night, try not to walk on dark streets or in places with few people
- If you are worried about something, consult a nearby police station or similar office
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
7. Alcohol and Tobacco
In Japan, drinking alcohol and smoking are allowed from age 20. Driving a car or riding a bicycle after drinking alcohol is prohibited. Places where you may smoke are designated. For details, see Rules for Alcohol and Tobacco in Japan: From Age 20, Penalties for Drunk Driving, and Where You Can Smoke.
(Sources: e-Gov Law Search “二十歳未満ノ者ノ飲酒ノ禁止ニ関スル法律 (Act on the Prohibition of Drinking by Persons under 20)”, e-Gov Law Search “二十歳未満ノ者ノ喫煙ノ禁止ニ関スル法律 (Act on the Prohibition of Smoking by Persons under 20)”, National Police Agency “Eradicating Drunk Driving”, Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working”, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare “Let’s Eliminate Unwanted Secondhand Smoke!” Key points of the amended law)
8. National Holidays and the New Year Period
Japan has “national holidays”. On national holidays and during the New Year period, the counters of government offices and banks may be closed. As a rule, mail is also not delivered on holidays. Plan your procedures and bank transfers after checking which days are holidays. The list of national holidays and which counters are closed are summarized in Public Holidays and New Year Closures in Japan: List of Holidays for 2026 and 2027, and Days When Government Offices, Banks and Post Offices Are Closed.
(Sources: Cabinet Office “About National Holidays”, e-Gov Law Search “Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs”, e-Gov Law Search “Order for Enforcement of the Banking Act”, Japan Post “Frequently Asked Questions” (delivery on Saturdays and holidays))
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should I ask when I do not understand a rule?
You can ask the office of the city, ward, town or village where you live about local rules such as garbage. Ask your landlord, real estate agency or management company about the building’s rules. If you greet your neighbors, it becomes easier for them to tell you things to be careful about in the area.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
Do I have to join a neighborhood association?
Neighborhood associations (jichikai and chonaikai) are groups that people in an area form themselves. How to join, membership fees and activities differ by area, so contact the city, ward, town or village where you live.
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 12)
Information Available in Foreign Languages
- Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working”: You can read about the rules and customs of life in Japan, including the content of this article, in many languages and in easy Japanese (Guidebook on Living and Working page).
- Immigration Services Agency “Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents”: You can read information for living and working in Japan with peace of mind in multiple languages (Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents).
- Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC): It offers consultations on residence procedures, legal troubles, work and more (Foreign Residents Support Center).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working”)
Primary Sources Used for This Article
- Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” 8th edition (Chapter 12 Rules and Customs in Daily Life)
- Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” (multilingual and easy Japanese versions)
- Immigration Services Agency “Portal Site on Policies for Foreign Residents”
- Immigration Services Agency “Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC)”
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Apartment Search Guidebook” (Japanese version)
- e-Gov Law Search “二十歳未満ノ者ノ飲酒ノ禁止ニ関スル法律 (Act on the Prohibition of Drinking by Persons under 20)”
- e-Gov Law Search “二十歳未満ノ者ノ喫煙ノ禁止ニ関スル法律 (Act on the Prohibition of Smoking by Persons under 20)”
- National Police Agency “Eradicating Drunk Driving”
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare “Let’s Eliminate Unwanted Secondhand Smoke!” Key points of the amended law
- Cabinet Office “About National Holidays”
- e-Gov Law Search “Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs”
- e-Gov Law Search “Order for Enforcement of the Banking Act”
- Japan Post “Frequently Asked Questions” (delivery on Saturdays and holidays)
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
