The Japanese people, even at an early age have been educated to follow good manners and etiquettes.  They are taught to be responsible not only for themselves but for their family and for their country.  At an early age, they are disciplined to put the needs of others before their own.  They are molded to be cooperative with one another so that the flow of life will come smoothly to everyone.  That is why, showing respect to their culture and following the Japanese manners are very important to them.  Experience how the Japanese live by visiting Japan.  If you are looking for a reliable website to rent furnished apartments, please go to KaguAruoo.  Search, pick and rent furnished apartments in Japan online.

Bowing (ojigi) is a very respectful gesture in Japan.  It signifies courtesy, a greeting, an apology or a simple thank you.  A bow can be a slight nod of the head, a 30 to 45 degree bow accompanied by facing downward, a full bow together with an action of looking down and kneeling with arms and forehead touching the floor (this act is usually done on tatami floors).  For foreigners, Japanese do not assume that you are familiar with the different kinds of bows, but the effort of performing it is a sign of respect to their culture.

Giving up your seat when you are on the train is one of the most practiced Japanese etiquette.  When boarding the train, make sure that you are not seated among reserved seats for elderly, pregnant women or people with small children and physically challenged individuals.  When you see an elderly or a person who needs to be seated, please make sure that you stand and give your seat to them.

Try to avoid disturbing others.  When you are in a public place, make sure that you minimize your voice when you talk so that you will not be a nuisance to passers by.  When you are in your apartment, quiet hours are strictly enforced.  Loud noises are prohibited after 10 PM.

 

Avoid interrupting other people.  Refrain from stalling a person when they are speaking.  It is respectful to have the person finish what he/she wants to stay before you utter a word.  Japanese people do not want to interrupt people when they are talking, hence, the same manner is also expected for foreigners.

 

Japanese make sure not to offend anyone when declining an offer or an invitation.  They have indirect ways of politely saying no to the person.  Sometimes, foreigners tend to get confused on what their Japanese friend is implying as the words do not directly point to a “yes” or a “no”, so you had better read their body language as well.

Refrain from asking favors.  Although Japanese are helpful people, it is always better to seek solutions on your own.  You must at least strive to solve the problem before asking anyone for help.  It is uncommon in Japan for people to ask for favors.

Use -san together with the person’s last name when communicating with a Japanese friend.  -San is the most common honorific suffix in Japan that is used for both males and females.  Japanese people do not commonly use their first names, rather they use their last name together with -san.  This format is used with colleagues, superiors, acquaintances and new friends.  For families and close friends, the first name is used together with the suffixes -kun or -chan.

Japanese give gifts on different occasions.  Gifts in Japan are meticulously and beautifully wrapped.  Gifts of four are avoided as the number is considered an unlucky number.  When a foreigner is invited to a Japanese friend’s house, it is essential to bring a gift to show appreciation for the host family.  Use both hands when handing over the gift to the recipient.  When you are the one receiving the gift, do not immediately open the gift in front of the giver.  Rather, ask the person if it is alright to open the gift at that point.

---

Secure a furnished apartment in Tokyo or all over Japan with KaguAruoo.  All transactions are completed online.  Not only can you search for beautiful furnished apartments, but you can also communicate with the landlord for any specifics you wish to discuss before signing the leasing contract online.  The website is user friendly and provides you with excellent customer service in Japanese and English language.  With KaguAruoo, you are only 5 clicks away from moving in!