Basic rules and manners to follow when visiting a Japanese home!

 While traveling around Japan, you might be lucky enough to be invited over for a meal at a Japanese home, and just as in any home in other countries, there are rules and manners to follow when visiting a Japanese home, and today we introduce some basic rules and manners to follow when paying a visit to a Japanese home.

Keeping these rules and manners in mind, will not only help you enjoy and understand a Japanese home,
but also show a great respect to the family you visit, so make sure to take a look at the list beforehand!

Arrive right on time

Make sure to arrive right on time, but don’t arrive to early as the family inviting you maybe still cooking, cleaning up, or finishing other preparations for your visit.

Showing up late; especially more than 15 minutes, will upset the family too, so make sure to contact them beforehand if you’ll be late for more than 15 minutes.

Don’t invite others without asking

 Unlike families in the Western countries, Japanese families are very private.

Showing up with your significant others, or a friend without asking first is considered disrespectful in Japan.

Bring souvenirs

Just like when visiting a home in other countries, where people usually bring a basket of fruits, a bottle of wine, or a cake,
it is also common in Japan to bring souvenirs; usually a small gift, when visiting a Japanese home.

The souvenirs don’t have to be expensive or big, but wrapping it nicely, or putting it in a nice paper bag will be nice.

Let them know you’re there

 It is common for us to ring the doorbell, or say hello and thank the host for inviting us when entering someone’s home in many countries,
and in Japan, things work similarly. After the owner of the house opened the door for you,
make sure to say “Ojama shimasu”, which means “sorry for intruding or disturbing you” when entering the house.

Take off your shoes and wear the slippers

Unlike in Western countries, Japanese people don’t wear their shoes inside their house,
so make sure to take off your shoes and wear the slippers prepared for you before entering the house.

Offer to help before you go home

 

After enjoying your stay, make sure to offer to help cleaning up the table and washing the dishes before you go home.

You’d usually be asked to relax and make yourself at home, but offering help is a polite gesture that will go a long way.

Don’t overstay and come again

Don’t overstay until late at night, as the family inviting you to need to rest too.

Make sure to go home before 9 pm and thank them before you leave.

It is also ok to let them know that you enjoyed your stay and would like to visit them again in the future!