[General]
It is customary in Japan upon entering a home to remove your shoes at the door (they can be left on in a Western-style building).Most places will accommodate you with a pair of house slippers. You also remove your slippers before entering a bathroom. You will be provided with a pair of special slippers only for use in the bathroom; when you leave the bathroom, don’t forget to retrieve your house slippers at the bathroom door.

The traditional way to bathe in Japan is not in a bathtub. Instead, you first sit on a low stool facing a pair of hot- and cold-water faucets or a bathpan. While sitting on your stool, you then proceed to pour the bathpan water over yourself, soaking your entire body. After you have completed rinsing yourself off and are soap-free, you go INTO a deep, hot tub to soak.

When greeting people, always bow before the person, and they will bow to you as well. The other person’s age, status and social connections determine how deeply he or she will bow and for how long. This is the customary meeting procedure and usuually is used in place of the (Western) handshake.

The handshake is used sometimes. If you do shake hands, do not do so forcefully - the Japanese do not share the notion that strength of grip is a reflection of one’s character.

When invited to a Japanese home, take a gift such as candy for the hostess. Do not take flowers; they are not considered an appropriate gift.

[Business]
Allow plenty of extra travel time when you have an appointment.The Japanese expect punctuality.

When addressing Japanese colleagues, it is best to use their family names with the honorary suffix “san.”

The Japanese do not like an aggressive approach to negotiations, and losing your temper or showing impatience when things are not moving along will invariably ruin your business deal.

Business cards are essential in Japan. It is helpful to have your cards printed in both English and Japanese. The Japanese like to be aware of exactly who they are dealing with. Japanese make a point of reading business cards; in fact, it would be considered impolite simly to put someone’s card inside your jacket pocket.

Gifts play a major role in Japanese business. It is customary to exchange gifts. It is considered good luck to give gifts in pairs, such as a double pen set. Do not give gifts in groups of four, as the Japanese word for four means death. Wrap the gift in pastel colors, but not white, as this color is associated with death.