Here Are the Do's and Don'ts of Shopping in Japan

February 24, 2025 | 05:31 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Living in Japan means you must be accustomed to the set etiquettes that apply to daily life, from eating to traveling on public transportation to shopping. Not only residents of the East Asian country, travelers must also acknowledge and abide by the rules.

In Japan, people prefer to shop online from all over the world rather than in physical stores. However, tourists need to know the unique customs of shopping in physical stores.

Many travelers already know some customs, such as not giving tips. However, some customs may be surprising. For your information, most shopping places, such as department stores, open at 10 in the morning. Meanwhile, cafes and coffee shops are mostly open from 7 in the morning and only until 10. Meanwhile, restaurants usually open at 11 or 11:30 in the morning for lunch.

Here is the applicable etiquette when shopping in Japanese stores.

1. Queueing

Queuing to enter a store is common in Japan, especially during sale periods, such as summer or winter sales, or special events for product launches, store openings, etc.

2. No eating or drinking inside the store

Many stores in Japan have warnings not to eat or drink inside. The main reason is to avoid the risk of staining or damaging the merchandise on display.

3. Place money in the tray when paying

Japanese people still heavily rely on cash, despite many of them starting to change since the pandemic. However, customs require money to be placed in a special tray, not handed directly to the cashier. Some places even have an automatic payment system, where the buyer inserts the bill without going to the cashier.

4. No haggling

Employees cannot change the prices set by the store. Haggling is considered impolite because indirectly, the buyer states that a product is worth less than its listed price.

5. Do not give tips

Do not tip every service in Japan, as this is often considered impolite. This applies to taxis, restaurants, hotels, and even places like hairdressers and nail salons. Most Japanese workers become very nervous when given a tip and feel uncomfortable due to its unexpected nature. They are likely to try to return it.

6. Do not open packaging before paying

Ask the store staff if you want to try a wrapped product. The staff would prefer to handle it. They will also pay attention to customers when trying or looking at products to ensure they are not damaged.

7. Do not bring a wet umbrella into the store

Leave the umbrella on the rack outside the store, don't worry about it getting lost. If you are still worried about getting lost, put the umbrella in the plastic bag provided at the entrance of large buildings or stores.

JAPAN TODAY | SAVVY TOKYO

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