The Unspoken Hygiene Rule That Might Catch Tourists Off Guard In Japan

One of the first things that tourists visiting Japan will notice is how impeccably clean public and private spaces are. This is because the Japanese don't mess around when it comes to hygiene. In America, where littering is illegal in many places, you can usually find a trashcan within close proximity, and street sweepers drive by frequently to keep roads clean. However, this is not the case in Japan. Public spaces are clean because residents are taught cleanliness from a young age. This ideology is present throughout all aspects of Japanese life, including areas that many Americans tend to not think about.

For example, it is well known that Japanese people, along with people of other Asian cultures, don't wear outside shoes in the home. Japanese folks typically take their shoes off before entering their homes and usually have a pair of designated indoor slippers that they wear throughout the house. But unbeknownst to most tourists, there is an additional pair of slippers to be just as mindful of: bathroom slippers. In Japan, it's not uncommon for people to switch out of their indoor slippers and into a different pair of slippers when using the bathroom, and then back again. When you think about it, this makes complete sense. Bathroom floors can be full of germs and dirt. This useful accessory, though it may seem excessive to visitors, helps make sure that you don't track all that unseen filth through your home. It takes hygiene to a new level. Keep this in mind the next time you find yourself in this beautiful country, for this is one of those embarrassing bathroom mistakes you'll want to avoid.

If you're looking to up your hygiene game, follow in the footsteps of the Japanese. Social consciousness is part of the school curriculum, and it helps Japanese children develop a sense of pride in their surroundings. Some students are even tasked with the responsibility of keeping their schools clean. So it makes sense that they want to keep everything around them pristine. The habit usually stays with them as they get older.

Along with keeping clean spaces, Japanese people tend to place importance on keeping clean bodies as well. They thoroughly wash their hands and gargle their mouths as soon as they return home from the outside world. Many toilets are equipped with bidets for maximum cleanliness. They typically don't go to bed without showering first. One in three people in Japan take a bath every day in the summer. In the winter, it's closer to one in two. The Japanese standard for hygiene extends toward technological advancements, which is why it's not uncommon to find bidets in public restrooms, cleaning robots roaming around, no-contact tech, and sustainable handwashing systems. Pay attention to these hygienic details, especially if you want to be a considerate (and clean) tourist in Japan.