Taboos

Japanese people are tolerant of foreigners' etiquette gaffes because they recognize that tourists might not be familiar with all of its nuances. However, there are a few grave etiquette blunders that will be universally condemned, even by foreigners, and they must be avoided at all costs:

• Never walk on a tatami mat wearing shoes or even slippers
  
• Never leave your chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice as that is how rice is offered to the dead
  
• Never enter a bathtub without washing up first
  
• Shoes (and feet in general) are considered very dirty by the Japanese. Avoid pointing your soles at anybody (such as when sitting on the train) and try to restrain children from standing up on seats.
• Brushing your feet against somebody's clothing, even by accident, is very rude
• The Japanese consider back slaps rude, especially if they're coming from someone they just met.
• As it is not common practice in Japan, hugging should also be avoided. For Japanese people, it is typically very awkward and uncomfortable
  
• Point with an open hand, not a finger, and tell people to come by waving your hand facing down, not up
  
• Avoid shouting or talking loudly in public. Talking on a mobile phone on a train is considered rude, and many trains have signs advising you not to use them. (Sending text messages, however, is considered de rigueur)
  
• Blowing your nose in public is considered rude, much like flatulence. It is fine to walk around sniffling until you can find a private place to blow your nose
  
• World War II is a touchy and complicated topic, though perhaps not to the extent of Germany.

Swastikas, which are also used in India, China, and Taiwan, are good luck symbols used by Buddhists and do not signify anti-Semitism or Nazism. Consequently, Western visitors shouldn't be outraged if they encounter a swastika in a Buddhist temple or in the home of their host.