Welcome to Culture Shock: 6 “Everyday Traps” in Japan That Confuse First-Time Visitors
It all looks normal—until you stop and think.
Scattered throughout Japan are cultural landmines that leave tourists frozen with “???” on their faces.
They’re in shrines, homes, bathrooms—everywhere—camouflaged in daily life, quietly waiting to pounce.
Here’s a look at some of Japan’s most baffling, low-key scary customs that many locals don’t even realize are weird.
1. The Squat Toilet Challenge
You thought Japan was a high-tech wonderland… but then the bathroom door opens and there it is: a hole.
Some tourists even visit three different restrooms just to find a Western-style toilet. Welcome to Japan.
Even locals aren’t thrilled about encountering squat toilets on the road. How do you use this thing? Which direction? Do you squat all the way? Put your hands down? A wrong move could lead to a tumble. For many tourists, it’s a bizarre body-contorting ritual that makes no sense.
Families with kids and elderly travelers especially struggle, with some even forced to alter their itineraries. And to the question, “Why is this still a thing in public spaces?” most Japanese simply remain silent.
2. The Silent Pressure to Take Off Your Shoes
You step into someone’s home with a cheerful “Hello!”—only to be hit with the vibe.
The moment you hit the entryway, your whole body freezes. Nobody says anything, but there’s this overwhelming, unspoken command: Take off your shoes.
Then come more rules: “Not that direction,” “Line them up neatly,” and so on.
In many cultures, entering a house with shoes on is perfectly normal. So when socks with holes come out in full view, it can be mortifying. Still, to Japanese hosts, this is just “good manners.” And so, tourists around the world continue to hesitate awkwardly at Japanese doorsteps, under invisible social pressure.
3. The Mysterious Appearance of Zabuton Cushions
You step into a tatami room, and boom—zabuton cushions are already laid out, neatly arranged. But… who put them there?
Common in ryokan inns and traditional homes, these cushions are more than just for comfort—they silently assign your seat.
Move one? That’s rude. Sit the wrong way? Prepare to be corrected: “That’s the head of the table.” Confusion ensues.
Even more mystifying: at funerals and meetings, accepting a cushion is like silently saying “yes.” Before you know it, you’re part of some cosmic zabuton-based decision-making ritual. Good luck.
4. School Lunch Duty: Japan’s Mini Surgery Team
The first time you see it, you think: lab? Surgery? Nope—it’s lunchtime at a Japanese elementary school.
Lunch duty students wear white caps, lab coats, masks, and gloves. They line up military-style and start dishing out meals. They look like a team of tiny surgeons.
Visitors who witness this often ask, “Wait, what’s about to happen?”
It’s a uniquely Japanese obsession with cleanliness, but to outsiders, it can feel more like a ceremony—or even a cult.
Adorable? Yes. A little unsettling? Also yes.
5. The Unspoken Rules of Shrine Purification Fountains
Before entering a shrine, you’re supposed to purify yourself with water. Simple, right? Not quite.
Here’s the full ritual:
- First, cleanse your left hand.
- Then your right.
- Scoop water into your hand to rinse your mouth (don’t touch the dipper).
- Finally, pour water down the handle to cleanse it before returning it.
…That’s a lot!
Even when signs explain it, tourists often skip the details and get it “wrong.” Nobody will call you out, but expect a few side-eyes and quiet judgment.
It’s a lesson in Japan’s silent surveillance culture—fail to respect the ritual, and the air around you gets heavy.
6. The Great Plastic Umbrella Confusion
It’s raining. You duck into a train station, park your umbrella… and then stare in horror. Every umbrella looks exactly the same.
Welcome to the world of transparent vinyl umbrellas. They’re cheap, easy to grab at convenience stores, and wildly popular. The downside?
Umbrella mix-ups happen all the time.
Someone grabs the wrong one? “Oh well.” Nobody scolds them. Nobody cares.
For tourists, though, it’s a trap: there’s no way to tell whose umbrella is whose. And somewhere, someone is walking through Tokyo with your umbrella—completely unaware.
RAW JAPAN’s Takeaway
At first glance, everything seems normal. But just beneath the surface are layers of unspoken rules—passed down not through words, but through glances, gestures, and silence.
That’s what makes Japan both fascinating and quietly intimidating.
So… how many of these “cultural traps” have you experienced?
You might’ve already been feeling the pressure—without even realizing it.
Photo/image: photoAC / iStock