The United States and Japan are friendly nations that closely cooperate in various areas such as economy, trade, and defense. However, for the people of both countries, traveling to the other country can sometimes be challenging due to cultural differences. Particularly for Japanese tourists visiting the US, they often experience a unique sense of “confusion.” The daily habits of Americans can sometimes make Japanese people feel like they are watching an improvised performance, drastically different from the situation in Japan.
Japanese citizens can travel to the United States visa-free by applying for ESTA online at least 72 hours before departure and receiving approval, allowing them to stay in the US for up to 90 days.
An article published on the travel website Far & Wide discusses how Japanese tourists in the US may find themselves puzzled by the words and actions of some Americans or everyday phenomena, leading them to wonder, “Why do they do things that way?”
In Japan, it is common to see children walking to school alone or playing in the park without adult supervision. However, in the US, seeing an unsupervised ten-year-old can often lead to concern or even alarm. The constant adult supervision in American settings may seem overly protective to Japanese tourists, as if each child has a personal bodyguard by their side.
In Japan, taking off shoes before entering a home, school, or certain restaurants has become a deeply ingrained habit. Walking into a carpeted house with shoes on is often considered rude or unhygienic.
In the US, hosts typically do not require guests to take off their shoes, but many Japanese individuals may hesitate subconsciously.
Americans are skilled in non-verbal communication through eye contact. In Japan, eye contact is usually brief and serves a specific purpose. Excessive eye contact can be seen as provocative or intimidating.
Yet in the US, whether grabbing a coffee or attending a job interview, maintaining steady eye contact is a common practice in social interactions.
In Japan, fair skin is often associated with beauty and good self-care, a view shared by many Asian cultures.
Therefore, the American pursuit of tanning, whether at the beach or in tanning salons, may be difficult for Japanese people to comprehend.
Tipping culture does not exist in Japan. Service staff are typically paid enough to make a living and often refuse tips.
As a result, Japanese visitors may feel awkward and inefficient when faced with the expectation of calculating and adding a 15% to 20% tip at every meal in the US. Some may even worry about being overcharged.
Similar to Japanese perceptions, Europeans traveling in the US may also find the tipping culture unfamiliar.
Americans are generally willing to engage in small talk with strangers, a social convention that is expected in interactions.
For Japanese tourists accustomed to more formal or reserved forms of communication, this atmosphere of expected small talk can be exhausting and confusing.
In Japan, dining is often seen as a time to sit down and savor the meal. Even for simple foods like rice balls, people tend to enjoy them in a calm setting rather than eating on the go.
Observing Americans briskly walking while sipping coffee or eating a burrito while driving may appear disrespectful to food-loving Japanese tourists.
Rice is a staple in Japanese cuisine, while bread is considered a novelty.
In the US, bread is ubiquitous, from burger buns to breakfast toast, seamlessly incorporated into every meal.
The abundance of bread in American cuisine can leave Japanese diners feeling overwhelmed, struggling to navigate this carbohydrate-rich landscape.
Cheese plays a minor role in Japanese dishes and is often included as part of Western-influenced dishes.
In contrast, cheese has become a lifestyle in the US, melted on fries, stuffed in pizza crusts, or sprinkled on salads, embodying a cultural attitude more than just a mere ingredient.
When Americans pass by someone in a corridor or greet a cashier, they instinctively say this phrase.
However, for Japanese visitors, “How are you?” may sound like a genuine inquiry. This casual tone, coupled with a lack of further conversation, can make the phrase seem superficial, even insincere.
In Japanese schools, teachers move between different classrooms to teach, while students remain in their designated classrooms. Seeing American students roaming between classes (chatting in the hallways with backpacks on) may appear as an “ordered chaos.”
This fluidity disrupts the traditional patterns of authority and physical space.
If asked about cleaning the classroom, Japanese students may shrug, considering it a routine part of school life. Sweeping the floor, taking out the trash, and wiping tables are seen as ways to instill a sense of responsibility.
In the US, these tasks are typically handled by dedicated cleaning staff.
Portion sizes in American food can sometimes feel like a challenge rather than just a meal. When a single main course can feed a family of three, Japanese diners, who are used to moderate eating, may feel overwhelmed.
Additionally, the practice of taking leftovers home is not common in Japan.
Japanese trains are crowded daily, yet the compartments remain remarkably quiet. Passengers avoid speaking loudly and tend to keep their voices low.
In contrast, the scene in American subway cars is markedly different. Three seats away, people may be enthusiastically discussing “Fantasy Football,” while on the other side, someone might be watching a video without using headphones. This contrast is quickly noticeable to visitors.