Visiting Japanese homes

"In Japanese culture, cleanliness is important as it is a form of politeness and respect towards others."

"Ryokan"

             

Slippers should not be worn when you need to step onto a “tatami” floor and can be stepped on with socks or in bare feet. Bathrooms and washrooms too have separate pairs of slippers for hygienic reasons.

It is a privilege to be invited to someone’s house in Japan as Japanese regard their homes as being too humble to entertain guests. When entering a Japanese house “ryokan”, it is a custom take off your shoes at the “genkan”, a small are at the entrance and change into slippers “uwabaki” provided by the host instead.

  

Japanese dining room with a “tatami” floor.

*Reference