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Invited to a Japanese Home? Don't Make These 5 Mistakes at the Genkan

Essential Japanese Manners

Invited to a Japanese Home? Don't Make These 5 Mistakes at the Genkan

2 min

Being invited into a Japanese home is rare and sacred. Episode 7 walks you through the genkan — the entryway ritual that separates the outside world from the inside. The right way to remove shoes, what to do with slippers, where to put your bag, and the gifts that matter.

Show notes

5 mistakes to avoid: ①Stepping up before removing shoes ②Leaving shoes pointing inward (turn them toward door) ③Wearing slippers on tatami ④Forgetting to switch bathroom slippers back ⑤No omiyage gift. The genkan is a spiritual threshold, not just a foyer.