Manners for traveling in Japan
No shoes indoors
As a rule, you must remove your shoes before entering a Japanese home. Depending on the room, you may be expected to change into slippers. However, you must remover your slippers before entering a tatami room.
Use of washroom slippers
Sometimes there are special slippers for use only in the washroom. Please change into these before entering.
Sitting on the floor
In a tatami room people sit on their knees, with their legs folded underneath them. The proper way of sitting is to have both legs and feet together, in the seiza position. In a casual situation, you may sit cross-legged, or in another more comfortable position.
No tipping
There is no tipping custom in Japan. However, hotels, Japanese-style inns and high-end restaurants add a set service charge to the bill.
Bring Japanese yen
Only a limited number of shops in Kaga accept foreign currency and credit cards. In addition, hotels and Japanese-style inns do not exchange currencies, so you are advised to buy Japanese yen at the airport or a bank before your arrival.
Manners for the hot spring bath
Hot spring bathing is part of Japanese culture. In accordance with the proverb "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", please follow the rules for hot spring bathing.
No rowdiness
At Japanese hot springs many people share the same large bathtub. Please do not speak in a loud voice, splash one another or otherwise bother your fellow bathers.
No drunken bathing
Please take your bath before drinking, to avoid bothering other bathers and endangering your health.
Wash before bathing
Please be sure to wash yourself before entering the bathtub, even if you only take a quick shower.
No bathing suits or towels in the bath
Unless you have special permission, you are not allowed to wear a bathing suit in the bath. It is also bad manners to bring a towel with you into the bathtub.
No cooling down the water
You are not allowed to add cold water to the bath, even if it is too hot for you.
No soap or shampoo in the bath
Soap and shampoo are not permitted in a Japanese-style bathtub. Also, please be careful not to splash the person beside you when you are washing yourself.