Train etiquette: top ten inconsiderate behaviors that tick Japanese train commuters off the most

Numerous train etiquette guidelines exist in Japan, and though most people follow them religiously, even the most polite of passengers can unintentionally make their fellow commuters feel uncomfortable. But what actions, exactly, would earn you an eye-roll or a shake of the head?

The Japan Private Railway Association recently gathered information from 72 railway companies and 2,686 respondents to compile an annual list of inconsiderate behaviorcommitted at stations or in trains that exasperate Japanese passengers. Let us go through the top ten offences starting from the least to the most aggravating.

10. Eating food in crowded trains (10 percent)

In a country that prioritizes quietness when riding trains, not only will incessant chewing noises upset the heck out of people, the smell from food would, too.

9. Leaving trash or empty cans lying around (14.2 percent)

Having rubbish like slippery plastic bags or food packaging around in busy stations can be potentially hazardous, particularly during peak hours when people rush to catch their next train.

8. Putting on makeup in trains (15.1 percent)

Cosmetic products may stain commuters’ clothes, not to mention subjecting passengers to watching you perform personal grooming in front of them.

7. Riding the train drunk (15.4 percent)

Drinking is an integral part of Japanese culture, but stepping into train cars feeling buzzed and potentially inconveniencing others is not.

6. Walking while using smartphones (21.5 percent)

Fiddling with smartphones while on the move may be really convenient, but getting distracted to the point of becoming a walking disaster makes this behavior one of the most dangerous and inconsiderate in people’s eyes.

5. Playing music loud enough for others to hear through headphones (23.2 percent)

Any activity disrupting silence in trains is generally frowned upon. You might just be annoying the person next to you who is trying to read a book.

4. Rude train boarding and disembarking behavior (34.3 percent)

Refusing to give way when the doors slide open is just downright inconsiderate.

3. Inappropriate seating behavior (34.5 percent)

Spreading legs wide apart to take up more room than needed, otherwise known as manspreading, is certainly very frustrating to deal with.

2. Talking in loud voices (36.9 percent)

Whether on the phone or with friends and acquaintances, this ties in with previous points where silence is golden.

1. Bag placement etiquette (37.3 percent)

Making the top spot of inconsiderate train behaviors is the way bags are held or placed by passengers in crowded trains. Specifically, 66.2 percent of respondents indicated that rucksacks carried on the back or shoulder bags slung at the side inconvenienced them, while 9 percent did not like passengers putting their belongings on seats. Another 8.3 percent even found bags placed on the floor of train cars frustrating.