Common Etiquette

In order to enter a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine, you must first go through the proper purification ritual at the chazuya. Rinse your left hand first, then your right hand, after filling the dippers with water. After that, rinse your mouth with water that you cupped in your left hand. Avoid putting your mouth in direct contact with the dipper. Finally, use the water that is still in the dipper to rinse your left hand one more.

You might have to lug your trash around for a while before finding a trash can because there aren't many around. Japan is particularly aware of recycling, so you'll frequently see 4 to 6 of them together when you do. The majority of disposable containers are marked in Japanese with a recycling symbol that denotes the kind of material they are made of.