A quiet train is a happy train in Japan (Picture: Getty Images)
If you’ve ever taken the Tube at rush hour, you’ll know there’s an unspoken rulebook: stand on the right, let people off first, and whatever you do, don’t block the doors.
You’ll also know that tourists can be the worst offenders for breaching this code of conduct – something Japanese people apparently understand only too well.
In a new survey looking at public transport habits that grinds the gears of locals across Japan, being too loud topped the list of annoyances.
According to the research, which focused on behaviours exhibited by foreign visitors to the country, noisy, chaotic passengers are the most irritating of all.
A whopping 69.1% of the 5,202 surveyed by the Japan Private Railway Association, a body made up of 72 rail companies nationwide, said loud behaviour hugely bothers them.
In second place was large luggage, with 41.9% of respondents saying they have low tolerance for tourists carrying oversized suitcases and bags, especially when they’re plonked in inconvenient spots.
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Large luggage and standing in the way of others also made the top three annoyances (Picture: Getty Images)
Third on the list – annoying 26.2% – was a ‘sitting style that encroaches on others’. Think legs spread wide, ankles crossed into someone else’s space, or bags taking up a spare seat.
On Japanese trains – widely considered indoor spaces where volume should be kept to a minimum – silence isn’t just golden, it’s expected.
Many also have narrow aisles, and personal space at a premium during busy periods, so a badly positioned case or a ‘manspreader’ can quickly become everyone’s problem.
The public transport Japanese locals find most irritating
Noisy conversations and messing around on board: 69.1%
Carrying large items on board and placing them in inconvenient spots: 41.9%
A sitting style that encroaches on others: 26.2%
Strong scents including perfume, detergent, fabric softener and cosmetics: 24.8%
Standing near the door without moving for people to get on and off: 24.1%
Bad manners when boarding and alighting, including running onto the train and pushing in the queue: 16.4%
Not giving up designated priority seats for elderly, pregnant or disabled passengers: 10.7%
General lack of awareness, such as blocking pathways in stations: 10.6%
Littering and leaving rubbish behind: 8.6%
Coughing or sneezing without consideration: 7.6%
So, why does noise top the chart by such a large margin?
The Japan National Tourism Organization explains on its website: ‘While talking in preferably soft voices on the train is certainly acceptable, speaking at any volume on your phone is generally frowned upon while riding trains and buses. If you carry a phone, keep it on silent mode and avoid speaking on it.’
The broader concept is known as Densha manner (電車マナー). This essentially translates to train etiquette, and while it’s not written into law, it’s deeply ingrained in the country’s societal norms.
Densha manner aka train etiquette is crucial during rush hour (Picture : Getty Images)
Nicolas, who lives in Tokyo and runs the travel blog Japanetic, traces this culture of quiet consideration back to Japan’s rapid urbanisation in the 1960s and 70s.
As millions moved into cities and began relying on public transport, codes of conduct became essential to maintain group harmony, influenced by Buddhist and Confucian values. Rail companies launched campaigns promoting calm, orderly behaviour – and the message stuck.
Although Nicolas says those who break the rules are unlikely to be confronted directly, he warns they’ll likely receive what are colloquially known as ‘cold eyes’ – disapproving stares from fellow passengers.
What do you think is the most important train etiquette?
Keeping noise levels lowCheck
Organising luggage properlyCheck
Being mindful of personal spaceCheck
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Online, locals are far more candid about their frustrations.
On Reddit’s r/AskAJapanese forum, one user wrote: ‘I cringe when I see foreigners talk so loudly on the trains.’
‘What annoys me is people who are unnecessarily loud… almost yelling like it’s a nightclub except everyone can hear them,’ added another. ‘I see many tourists doing so, and as much as I understand that it’s not their custom, it does touch my nerves.’
Over on Facebook, Bailey Suzuki commented: ‘I live here and deal with this on a weekly basis. I wish people were more considerate of their surroundings.’
And confirming how this habit is perceived, visitor Christine Hebert Goodnough admitted: ‘Though I don’t remember it being silent on the train, I do remember people looking at me when I was speaking, because I probably was pretty loud. I am American and they might have been looking at me because of my accent. I don’t know… But I stood out.’
Us Brits — over 400,000 of whom visit Japan annually — are used to chatty carriages and the occasional speakerphone faux pas, so the silence on a Japanese train can feel striking.
But if you’re planning a trip, consider this your gentle heads-up: on board, keep the volume down, your luggage tucked in tight, and your phone firmly on silent. Because while you might not hear the complaint, you’ll almost certainly feel the stare.
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