When entering a Japanese home, you should always remove your shoes at the entrance and change into slippers (surippa) provided by your host. However, never step onto a tatami mat while wearing slippers—tatami floors should only be walked on with socks or bare feet.
Toilet Slippers:
When using the toilet, don’t forget about toilet slippers. Regular house slippers cannot be worn in the bathroom—you never know what you might step in! Instead, leave your house slippers at the washroom door and switch to the toilet slippers, which are usually placed just inside. Be extra careful not to forget and wear them back into the house—this is a major faux pas!
Slippers Beyond the Home
Slippers are used in many places outside the home in Japan. If you visit a ryokan (traditional inn), you will be provided with slippers. Many traditional restaurants ask guests to wear slippers before entering, and some museums, galleries, and temples follow the same practice. Many Japanese schoolchildren also wear slippers to class.
Most Western-style hotels (often called business hotels) also provide slippers and a robe in each room. While shoes are allowed in these hotels, the slippers are there for the convenience of Japanese guests. If you want to embrace the experience, just like Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, give them a try!
How to Know When to Wear Slippers
There’s no need to panic about when to wear slippers and when not to. In most places, there are raised or lowered areas indicating where slippers are required, and you will often see rows of shoes and spare slippers for guests.
A few key rules to remember:
- Shoes should stay on the first step (or placed on shelves if provided).
- Avoid stepping onto the first step (the genkan) with bare feet or socks—this is considered impolite.
- Never wear toilet slippers outside the bathroom!
Why Do the Japanese Wear Slippers?
The slipper custom may seem unusual to Westerners, but it’s an exceptionally good way to keep the home clean, especially in houses with woven tatami mats and polished wooden floors. And let’s be honest—slippers are much more comfortable than work boots!
The tradition comes from the Japanese perspective on cleanliness, the outside world is seen as dirty, while the inside of the home is a clean and sacred space. The strict separation of indoor and outdoor footwear ensures that dirt from outside or the bathroom never contaminates the living areas.
Many Western visitors find the provided slippers too small, so if you plan to visit a Japanese home, consider purchasing a cheap pair from a discount store. Just remember you may need a second pair for the toilet!
