Love them or hate them, you’ll definitely notice these differences in Japan
Did you know that in Japan night walks are common? Or that you can drink alcohol anywhere? Check out our list of 10 cultural differences between the US and Japan to find out more about what to expect! Since Yuki is Japanese and Hannah is American, we come from different cultural backgrounds. We compared the mindsets and experiences we’ve had and compiled the biggest differences in our daily lives.
Being with someone from different culture is like
Yuki grew up in the greater Tokyo area and Hannah grew up in the countryside of Ohio. Our backgrounds, lifestyles, and native languages are completely different. Therefore, even though we spent a lot of time talking about our relationships and communicating to understand each other, we still have a lot of miscommunication. Being with someone from a different culture is fun and gives you the chance to learn new things but you have to be patient and understanding. Most of the time you never ever 100% understand what the other person thinks.
Differences between Japanese and American culture
These 10 cultural differences between Japan and the US are just a part of our differences but please check them out. If you’re a Japanese, you might be shocked at the fact that American people can do things which Japan would never allow. If you’re an American, you’ll learn that Japan is actually less strict about somethings compared to the US.
1) Taking off shoes in the house
Something that Japanese people don’t understand in the US or other countries is a lot of people don’t take off shoes in the house. I DO NOT KNOW WHY! It just feels not right when I don’t take off my shoes off because the house could get dirty because of my shoes and I don’t know what I stepped on when I went out. Even some people go into a bedroom with shoes on and I don’t understand it. The house should be the place where I can walk around with bare feet. Don’t you think so? Make sure to take off your shoes when you live in your apartment or dorm on your own, or visit Japanese friend’s house!
2) 24h restaurants
There are a variety of 24h restaurants in Japan compared to the US, which are really useful especially, when you are out at a party and stay out the whole night and want to grab something to eat in the morning! There are a lot of fast food restaurants that are open for 24 hours such as burger, gyudon (Beef bowl), and ramen restaurants. Having ramen in the morning after a wild party is the best, and It’s a common thing for us to do! You should definitely try it!
3) Cars and Roads
Everything is opposite in Japan compared to the US. The driver’s seat is on the right side and the passenger’s on the left in Japan. Therefore, we drive a car on the left side of the road too, which is the same as the UK, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Thailand and so on. I accidentally drove on the opposite side of the road the first time I drove a car in the US. You should practice driving a little bit before going to drive up somewhere far away if you’re eligible to drive in Japan because some roads are really narrow and difficult to drive on compared to the US!
4) Drugs
Weed and other recreational drugs are completely illegal in Japan even though in other countries such as the Netherlands and some states in the US they are legal. Make sure not to bring weed or other drugs in your luggage accidentally. But smoke them as much as you want in your country before you fly to Japan. You would get in serious legal trouble if you were caught with an illegal substance in Japan.
5) Trains
There is one of the most amazing public transportation systems in the world in Japan, which many people use everyday to go to school and work. Therefore, sometimes the train is crowded and there are so many people waiting for trains on the platforms. When Japanese people wait for the train, we line up and let people who want to get off the train out once the train arrives at the platform because it’s an efficient and smooth way for both the people who want to get on and off the train.
6) Night walks
There are many dangerous and sketchy places at night to walk alone in the world even as an adult. However, there’s no such place in Japan. One of the most common things my foreign friends do in Japan is taking a walk at night. It’s very relaxing and you can feel the breeze which is really relaxing. Go for it when you’re in Japan!
7) Bathing
Most Japanese people take a bath almost everyday. My family will not take their daily bath the day that hell freezes over. You can relax and relieve your stress, so you should try it! My mom uses the water from the bathtub for washing clothes, so we don’t waste water! On the other hand, I usually took a shower every other day while in the US. A lot of people don’t wash their hair everyday in the US, Europe or other countries which most Japanese people don’t understand because we think washing hair is something that you have to do everyday to maintain good personal hygiene.
8) Gym membership price
In Japan, joining a gym is more expensive than the US. It usually costs 50-100 bucks each month with an extra fee for the first month. I remember that I paid much less in the US when I got a membership at a gym.
9) Drinking in public
Drinking laws are far more relaxed in Japan than the US. It’s fine to drink in public places such as the park or street. There’s also nothing wrong with drinking in a car if you’re not the driver. This is a nice change for many Americans who are accustomed to the strict open container laws in the US.
10) Legal drinking age
Something that I don’t understand in the US is legal drinking age. No one actually waits until they’re 21 to drink, and this doesn’t make sense at all. Fake IDs are abundant, and for those that don’t have them, drinking at private house parties is more common for young adults anyway so an ID is altogether unnecessary. Most bars/clubs will check ID, the rule is that if someone looks under 30 their ID should be checked. This is not alway followed, and college students tend to exchange info on which places are less likely to ID. However, In Japan, the drinking age is 20 and bars don’t check your ID if you look mature enough. Most clubs check ID, so don’t forget one when you go out!
Thank you so much for reading. What are some cultural differences you’ve noticed when you visit other countries, have an international partner, or have a multi-cultural family? Let us know if you’ve had surprising cultural difference experiences before. We’d love to hear your message!
Please also check this article about 7 etiquette tips are taught to every Japanese child. If you become friends with Japanese people, or are perhaps a student living with a Japanese host family make sure to take note of these so you can make a good impression. If you don’t do these things you might not even realize you’re being rude because Japanese people will not point out your mistakes.
Have a nice day!