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Travel Etiquette · 公開 2026-09-29 · 更新 2026-09-29

事実の最終確認 2026-09-29 · 次の見直し 2027-09-01

Japan's official travel etiquette for visitors, including what to do with your trash

Japan's tourism agency published a short guide called "Travel etiquette for the future". Here is what it asks of visitors, from trash and photos to crowds and big luggage.

A street corner with a vending machine and recycling bins
Photo: Sydney Sang / Pexels

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There are many "Japan etiquette" lists online. Japan's own tourism agency has one too. It is short, it is written for visitors, and it is the closest thing to an official answer. This article summarizes it, then covers the question almost every visitor asks: what to do with trash.

"Travel etiquette for the future"

The Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) published a guide for travelers called 未来のための旅のエチケット ("Travel etiquette for the future"), with posters and a set of pictograms for local use. Its message: manners that are obvious to locals are not always obvious to visitors from other cultures. Its main points are:

Before you go

  • Learn a little about local culture, customs and nature manners before your trip. A guide who knows the area can make the trip richer.

Basic manners

  • Do not litter.
  • Take photos with consideration for people around you.
  • Do not enter private land without permission.

Crowds

  • Popular places and peak seasons get crowded. Check in advance.
  • Avoid the busiest times, for example by visiting on weekdays, or in the morning or evening.
  • Morning and evening trains are busy with commuters and students. Be considerate of them.

Big luggage

  • Do not bring large luggage into crowded places. Use luggage storage, coin lockers or delivery services, and travel hands-free.

Cultural properties

  • Temples, shrines and other cultural properties have historical and cultural value, and are places of faith.
  • Graffiti or damage causes irreversible harm and may be subject to penalties or fines.

Trash

  • Put trash in a bin. If there is no bin, take it with you.
  • Separate cans and plastic bottles for recycling.

Supporting the area

  • Choose local crafts and meals made with local ingredients. Travel slowly and value encounters with local people.

The guide also recommends travel insurance with sufficient cover, and the Safety tips disaster-alert app.

A quiet, clean residential street under a blue sky
Photo: kazuyoshi sakamoto / Pexels

What to do with your trash

The JTA's answer is simple: use a bin, and if there is none, take your trash with you. Several places we checked say the same on their own pages. Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto asks visitors to take their rubbish home, and Kamakura City asks visitors to take trash back to their home or accommodation.

A practical way to do this:

  1. Carry a small bag for trash during the day.
  2. Throw it away at your hotel, or in the bins where you bought food or drink, where they are provided.
  3. Keep cans and plastic bottles separate from other trash.

Related

Sources