More so now than ever, ill-mannered tourists are flocking to Japan’s capital. Here’s how to avoid being one of them.
These days, whenever anyone asks me for advice about traveling to Tokyo, I warn them to be prepared to wrangle with tourists everywhere they go. Because Japan is safe, affordable, and increasingly English-friendly–as well as full of magnificent attractions from festivals to food and nature–visitors have been coming in record-breaking numbers since the pandemic. A whopping 36.8 million tourists arrived in Japan in 2024, which is the highest number since records began in 1964.
As a result, Tokyo districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Asakusa have become year-round hotbeds for crowds. I tell travelers to be prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with passengers in the subways and face hour-long waits for popular ramen and sushi restaurants. Many tourists are first-timers to Japan or unaware of cultural nuances, which means you’re more likely than ever to encounter annoying behaviors like line-cutting and loud voices.
Tokyoites tend to be non-confrontational, so chances are that nobody will make a peep if a tourist is a boor, but if the grievance is severe enough, they’ll run up with their arms held in a cross shape, pleading “dah-meh” or “forbidden!” Visitors should never get a free pass for behaving badly: it’s basic respect to read up on cultural dos and don’ts and mind your manners. If you’re among the millions of people heading to Tokyo this year, here are ten ways to make your way around without accidentally committing taboos.
