Common Cultural Mistakes Malaysians Make When Travelling to Japan!(Did you kena? 🫣)

 

Hello! If you remember, our first-ever blog post shared about the key cultural notes for Malaysian travel to Japan. What we've noticed as a travel company is that most travellers don't mean to be rude, but some of their actions could unintentionally offend the locals due to a lack of understanding of Japanese culture. 😰

Hence, today we'd like to continue with more on the common cultural mistakes we've noticed from our customers when they travel here in Japan

1. No trash bin in Japan

Although this rule is commonly known to many travellers, we sometimes still receive complaints from our customers, saying that they knew about it in advance but didn’t expect it to be SO hard to find a trash bin, forcing them to carry their trash in their hands all day. 😂

Indeed, you should expect that 80% of your travels here won't give you a chance to encounter a trash bin. (the leftover 20% depends on your luck haha!)

So, what can you do instead?

• ✔️ Prepare your own trash bag in advance
• ✔️ Throw it in the trash bins located at train stations
• ✔️ Use Tabigo Chartered Service because we always prepare a trash bin for our customers 😉

Please avoid...

• ✖️ Throwing your trash into shops/restaurants (this is considered extremely rude in Japan!)
• ✖️ Throwing it into convenience stores without making a purchase
• ✖️ Leaving it in the toilet (you might see this in some toilets, but it doesn’t mean it's the correct thing to do)

2. Expect no menu customisation)

As Malaysians, we absolutely love our food culture—popping into a mamak stall and casually ordering, "Boss, mee goreng kurang pedas, lagi tak nak sayur..." with all the tweaks we want. Unfortunately, this isn't how things work in Japan. The Japanese are pretty rigid when it comes to food menus, mainly to avoid issues like allergies or food poisoning from custom orders. So, expect no customisation about 80% of the time.

That said, if you have dietary restrictions for religious or health reasons, it doesn't mean you can't ask. Instead, we suggest:

• ✔️ Checking the menu before entering the restaurant
• ✔️ Approaching with respect and understanding their culture if they decline
• ✔️ Reaching out to Tabigo Japan for our booking and reservation service—we'll handle all your special requests!

3. Restaurant unspoken rules (minimum order, otoshi)

This is the most "scammy" experience you might have if you don't understand Japanese culture. In Japan, restaurant rules like time limits, minimum orders, cover charges, and otoshi are pretty common. Some places list them on the menu, but if you're worried, always double-check with the staff about any minimum orders or per-person fees.

"Otoshi" is a sneaky rule at most Japanese izakaya. It's a compulsory appetizer served to each person as soon as you sit down (and you might be shocked to get something you never ordered 😂). You'll be charged for it, and it's considered extremely rude to reject! Wondering what to do if you don't like it or can't eat it? You can politely ask the staff if they can swap it out (though that's usually a no 😅), or just leave it uneaten—but still expected to pay for it.

Traveling to other countries is exciting because you get to experience new cultures, which really opens your eyes to the world. But it's just as important to learn and respect the local customs when you're visiting someone else's home.

At Tabigo Japan, we're more than a travel company— we believe one of our core missions is to help Malaysian travellers better understand Japanese culture. This way, we can all be polite and thoughtful visitors in Japan, and help close the cultural gaps between our two nations. ☺️

Share this out to your friends and family!