Kids Web Japan

a)

The shoes are arranged facing outward. When entering a Japanese house, it is good manners to take off your shoes while facing into the house and then turn your shoes around to face the door. This makes it easier to put your shoes back on when it is time to leave. Some households use shoe cubbies instead of keeping shoes on the floor.

Usually guests are given slippers to use while inside the house. In this case, you put on the slippers when entering the house but remove them when entering a tatami-floored room. You also remove the slippers when entering the toilet. There are separate slippers to wear while using the toilet. After using the toilet, remember to remove the toilet slippers and put the house slippers back on!

When sightseeing at Japanese temples, visitors are often required to remove their shoes before going inside. On this subject, tour guides offer a bit of advice: Wear socks that look nice enough to be seen by other people!