2024 proved to be a historic year for Japan’s tourism industry. The record amounts of people led restaurants to establish a two-tier system of pricing, one of locals and one for tourists. In other cases, grocery stores found themselves without rice on their shelves. Not surprisingly, the overcrowding and hordes didn’t only bring good news.
In fact, the Japanese government recently asked residents what they found most annoying when public transport was full of tourists. The answers say a lot about both the Japanese and the tourists that visit the country.
Tourists on trains. There’s no doubt that the increase of foreign tourists in Japan has transformed the nation’s public spaces, including rail transport, one of the most used methods of transportation in the country. With more people using trains, there are also more opportunities for tourists to irritate the locals with their behavior.
That’s what the recent survey from the Japan Private Railway Association found. According to the survey, 62.9% of participants said they were annoyed by the inappropriate behavior of tourists on trains. The survey revealed the 10 most annoying and inappropriate behaviors exhibited by tourists, at least in the eyes of the Japanese. Besides shining a light on the obvious, potential bad behavior, the survey also highlights the cultural differences at play and the need for more consideration from travelers.
Here are the most annoying things about tourists on trains, according to the Japanese, starting from least annoying to most annoying.
10: Eating or drinking on the train (3.3%). Although stations are full of stores and businesses that sell food, the Japanese don’t look kindly on eating while on the train. The exception is on the Shinkansen, which is dedicated to leisure travel. Locals also expect passengers to avoid eating food with strong odors and chewing loudly. Above all, they expect people to eat snacks, not full-blown meals. Drinks are tolerated if they’re consumed discreetly, but alcohol is only seen as appropriate on tourist trains.
9: Sitting on the train floor (4.2%). While the image might be common the West, especially among young people, in Japan it doesn’t make sense. Despite how tired a traveler might be, the Japanese see sitting on the floor as inappropriate. This behavior blocks off areas of the train and projects an image of sloppiness to the Japanese. If there are no seats available, the correct thing to do is to remain standing.
8: Bad manners regarding priority seats (4.2%). This might not just annoy the Japanese. Priority seats, which are designated for the elderly, pregnant women, or people with disabilities, are a sensitive topic nationwide. Some believe that those seats should remain empty if the passenger doesn’t have a clear need, which generates tension when tourists occupy them and decline to give them up.
7: Leaving trash or bottles on the train (5.9%). In Japan, it’s common for people to take their trash home due to the lack of public trash containers. Recycling is an essential part of country in the country. However, according to the survey, some tourists leave trash on trains, which clashes with the Japanese belief of individual responsibility in public spaces.
6. Seating posture (9.6%). Crossing your legs, stretching, or sitting in a way that occupies more space than necessary is considered bad manners in Japan, especially when done on crowded trains. Tourists must maintain a compact posture to avoid making others feel uncomfortable, something that the Japanese feel is not always done.
5. Talking on the phone (10.3%). Banning this practice could cause war in certain parts of the West. However, the Japanese consider using the phone on the train to be strange given that passengers prefer silence. Many people see tourists that talk in a loud voice or play music or videos without headphones in a negative light.
4. Lack of respect when boarding the train (16.5%). According to unwritten rules in Japanese society, the process of boarding and getting off a train should be fast and orderly. Passengers should line up near the sides of the doors, wait until others get off, and avoid blocking the way. Not following these rules affects punctuality and generates frustration among the locals. We’re entering the red zone of what the Japanese hate about tourists.
3. Bad manners when walking through the station (24.8%). Train stations in Japan tend to be crowded and complex (even more so for tourists). Stopping in the middle of hallway or stairs to look at maps or talk interrupts the flow of traffic. It’s crucial to move to one side to avoid inconveniencing others. Judging by the results of the survey, this doesn’t always happen.
2. Backpacks and luggage (37.1%). There is nothing more representative of mass tourism than backpacks and luggage. Besides, it’s very common to see tourists failing to handle their luggage in the correct way. For the Japanese, big backpacks should be held in front of your body and large suitcases should be placed in the designated spaces to avoid blocking passageways. Putting all your luggage in key areas can generate problems and prevent the movement of other passengers. Apparently, it happens a lot.
1. Noise and incomprehensible behavior (51.8%). And so, we’re at the end of our list of what types of behaviors the Japanese can’t stand about tourists. The biggest complaint: the excessive volume of their conversations. Although locals don’t expect absolute silence on trains, tourists, possibly because of their excitement over their trip, often speak loudly or move with large amounts of energy, according to the survey. This tends to happen when they speak in another language, which some believe can be more disruptive.
Reflections. The survey ends with an analysis to provide a bit of context to the results. The most important takeaway is that these behaviors aren’t exclusive to foreign tourists. Some locals are also guilty of committing the faux paus on the list. However, the generalized perception that Japan is a country with high amounts of public courtesy amplifies the expectations towards visitors.
In addition, as foreigners, tourists are seen as the representatives of their country for the Japanese, which reinforces the need to be more considerate. Overall, instead of revealing the bad behaviors of tourists, the survey provides a more in-depth look at Japanese society and culture.
Images | Hardik Pandya | Andy Holmes
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