50 Rules in Japan that Foreigners Have Trouble Understanding

Take your shoes off before entering someone’s home

This really should be at the top of the list, but you’re probably already familiar with this rule. When entering someone’s home or any place with clean floors, you need to remove your shoes first. However, some places don’t require this, such as office buildings and many restaurants, so how do you know when to take your shoes off?

One clear sign is the presence of slippers at the front door. If there are slippers, you’re supposed to put them on before stepping in. If there aren’t any, just look around awkwardly until you see someone else in shoes or slippers and follow suit.