Though they may be common all over the world, towels have especially important roles in Japanese culture. From oshibori - hand towels offered to guests before dining - to the textiles found in bathhouses (also called sento or onsen), the humble towel has long been a symbol of civility and cleanliness throughout Japan.
Many public toilets do not have hand towels or dryers as most Japanese prefer to carry their own towel or handkerchief. You may like to bring your own, or pick one up in Japan for a few hundred yen in a convenience store. Large towels are provide in all hotels and hot spring baths, so no need to bring this with you.
On the topic of towels, it's common to see bathers with wet towels on their heads. This is to prevent dizziness caused by hot blood rushing into one's head when bathing in the warm waters.
Most Japanese have a variety of handkerchiefs and take a clean one with them each day. Mothers typically remind their children not to forget their hankies on a daily basis, and some teachers even follow up when the students get to class. The one thing Japanese never use a handkerchief for is blowing their noses.
Giving handkerchiefs as presents for a wedding or normal celebration is unsuitable because it is associated with the Japanese word of “tegire”, meaning the cutting of the hand or severing of relationships. Not only does it symbolizes divorce or separation, it also means “I don't want to see you anymore”.
Revealing clothing.
Dressing modestly is important to maintain cultural customs and norms. Avoid things like tank tops, shorts, and mini-skirts. Opting for more conservative clothing is always a safe bet even if you don't plan to visit temples or shrines. It's also generally frowned upon for women to show cleavage.
Yes, in Japan parents and children bath together fully naked. And that's culturally perfectly normal. From a Japanese perspective, together tub-time is good for family bonding. As children grow older, they'll start enjoying bath time separately.
Many Japanese people take a bath more or less every day. In some parts of the world, people may refer to showering as “taking a bath,” but not in Japan. In Japan, simply showering does not count.
Not so in Japan. To the Japanese, bathing is a process. You wash yourself before you get in the bath to cleanse your body of the day's dirt and grime. That's one of the main reasons why most Japanese people bathe at night, instead of in the morning.
1. Japanese restaurants often provide a small hot towel called an oshibori. This is to wipe your hands but not your face. You may see some Japanese wiping their faces with their oshibori, but sometimes this is considered bad form.
When you go to a restaurant in Japan, it is customary that they serve customers a glass of water and an Oshibori (a wet towel for customers to wipe their hands). Cleaning your hands with a warm Oshibori makes most Japanese people feel ready to enjoy the meal with peace of mind.
What are Tenugui? Tenugui are thin cotton towels for wiping your hands after washing them, or wiping the sweat from your brow on a hot day. Generally, they are about 35 cm in width and 90 cm in length. Some towels with the same shape and purpose are called tenugui, even if they aren't made of cotton.
If you are not wearing socks, it is polite to bring a fresh pair of socks to wear after removing your outdoor shoes because entering someone's house barefoot is not considered well mannered, although acceptable in informal situations. Slippers can generally be worn anywhere except when entering rooms with tatami floor.
The Japanese like to separate what you do inside the four walls of a toilet to the rest of the outside world. That's why you'll be instructed to take off your shoes and wear slippers inside many, but not all, Japanese toilets (e.g., toilets inside ryokans, some restaurants, and all homes).
When bathing Japanese-style, you are supposed to first rinse your body outside the bath tub with the shower or a washbowl. Afterwards, you enter the tub, which is used for soaking only.
Cleanliness is a Part of Buddhism/Shinto
In Buddhism and Japanese Shintoism, cleanliness has historically been regarded as an important part of religious practice. In these religions, cleaning is believed to be a simple, but powerful way to improve good mental health through keeping one's surroundings beautiful.
When counting people who shower every day, Mexicans and Australians led significantly, followed by Americans and the French. Brits, Russians, Swedes and Germans averaged less, with Chinese coming in the least frequent.
In view of the fact that many Japanese bathe and wash their hair daily, it's essential that they take well care of it. Modern-day shampoos mostly have ingredients that strip the hair of its natural oils, for example, sulfates.
Most people in Japan think of the bathtub as washing away not only their sweat and dirt from the day but their fatigue, too. so it is typically custom to take baths every night. Everyone can experience this part of Japanese culture by dipping into onsen (hot springs) and public baths.
It is common for people to sit down while showering before entering the public bath or hot spring, so the chairs are free to use. The most important part here is an obvious one: keeping everything clean and tidy.
Most people in Japan tend to bathe at night. A morning bath is a rare thing and is usually done when vacationing at a ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) or an onsen hot springs resort.
Actually, tattoos are fine in Japan. They're not illegal in any way. You may even see some people walking around with fashion tattoos, especially in Tokyo. Although some people in Japan have tattoos, they are usually hidden underneath clothing.
Wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move in, but also are stylishly sharp. Tuck in your shirt to a well-fitting pair of jeans or shorts, and be sure to wear shoes you can easily slip on or off.
If you're walking around temples and shrines, it is a good idea to be respectful and have a top layer with sleeves and no tummy or cleavage showing. However, it is not a rule and you'll sometimes see Japanese people not following these dress-code standards.