Japanese Cultural Tips: The Etiquette on Eating While Walking.

Is it okay to eat while we walk?

Angry sister eating ice cream

Last April, my sister visited me in Japan for the first time. While showing her around Arashiyama Sengen Park, we got some soft-serve from some nearby food trucks. When I told her we shouldn't eat while walking and suggested sitting near the truck, she wasn't happy. She spent the rest of the trip pointing out people eating and walking, making sure to note if they looked Japanese.

Later at home, she asked my wife if I was right. My wife said it was fine to eat and walk. Thanks for backing me up, love.

The Answer:

The answer is that it depends. The etiquette is not to eat while walking. But, there are some exceptions. And in some cases it is even encouraged. There are some things to know about Japanese etiquette on eating while walking.

Clean Street

Why Eating while Walking is Frowned Upon

For one thing––you do not litter. Littering is forbidden in Japan. It is believed that the likelihood of littering is highest when you are eating while walking. For example, when we tear a pack of cookies open we don’t really think about where that small piece of torn plastic goes. Maybe we put it in our pocket or it flies out of our hand and we do not bother to chase it. 

The second part to this scenario is the food droppings such as crumbs that fall from eating. These too are considered for the most part litter. Even if the items are “biodegradable,” it is still considered littering. The idea being if it wasn’t there before, then it doesn’t belong there at all. 

Another reason against eating and walking is the question of attention. One can say that if you are eating something while walking then you are walking while distracted. You could bump into someone or something harming them or yourself. Imagine if my sister spilled her ice cream on someone who was hurrying to an important meeting. 

These ideas come from collectivism, which means thinking about others before yourself. In Japan, people are taught to consider how their actions might affect others before doing something. They think of themselves as part of a team in society. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and how they affect others, which helps people live and work together in an organized way.

This philosophy extends to other things we do while walking that tourists and visitors from other countries may take for granted. Some rules are codified, but many are unwritten suggestions or favors requested by the different municipalities. 

For example, a smoker wouldn't think twice about having a smoke while on a walk.  For smokers there are designated areas for that––a blog post for another time. Or someone using a phone while walking. We might be holding a cup of hot coffee while on a walk. All these things and more can be seen as frowned upon in Japan.

When It's Okay to Eat and Walk

Festivals

Typical Festival in Japan

Eating while walking in Japan is okay during festivals and on certain streets. There is actually a name for it in Japanese called 食べ歩き or "tabe-aruki." During festivals there are the famous street food stalls, and there is no expectation to stop and eat in front of the tents. Some of these foods are the cheese dogs, the fried potatoes, Japanese fried chicken, baby castella, the pickles, beef skewers––the list goes on. All are food that can easily be eaten while you walk. 

During these festive times it is known to all the people going to them that you are in a safe zone. There are people who will clean-up afterwards if there is any trash left behind, on top of the practice of cleaning after oneself in Japan. There are also designated locations where you can dump trash during a festival––depending on the size of the event.

In addition, during a festival one can feel safe in assuming no one at a festival is on their way to an important meeting. Festivals are usually the times where some Japanese rules are relaxed and people can let off some steam. Without stepping on anyone else's toes. 

Famous Streets in Japan

Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan

There are also very famous places where eating while walking would be considered acceptable. For example, you can go to Dotonbori in Osaka, a place renowned for its takoyaki and kushikatsu. Or certain streets in the big cities famous for street food like the Nakamise street in Tokyo that is near the Senso-ji temple, the temple with the very big lantern. Here it is not frowned upon, however you are responsible for your own trash! Be sure to hold onto it until you find the appropriate place to discard it.

There are of course more places, but you get the idea.

Travel Tips for Japan: To eat and walk or not to eat and walk?

How to decide whether or not it is appropriate to eat and walk is simple. First, is it a festival? Then yes. Second, is it a street with a lot of street food, and nowhere to sit? Then yes. Third, are there food trucks, with tables and chairs around them? Then no, you should eat around the food truck. Is it a Tuesday afternoon on the hustling and bustling streets of Tokyo with numerous people hurrying to their jobs. Then no. Read the air, you will figure it out.

How do you know if it's okay or not eating while walking? It is simple. If people around you are giving you the same kind of side eye as someone who is wearing a hoodie at a wedding. Then either stop eating or stop walking. 

Not that any of this information will change my sister's mind.