Know the norms before you land.

A quick, honest reference for greetings, dining, business meetings, gifts, and taboos around the world. Built for travelers, remote workers, and anyone meeting people from a culture they do not know well yet.

Last updated: March 2026 48 countries 5 contexts each

Japan

Regional note: norms in Osaka are slightly more casual than in Tokyo.

Common greetings

A bow is the standard greeting. A slight bow works for casual meetings. A deeper, longer bow shows respect in business. Handshakes are common with foreigners, but wait for the other person to offer first.

Bow when you meet someone for the first time.
Use both hands when exchanging business cards.
Hug or kiss cheeks unless the other person initiates.
Rush the bow. A quick nod can feel dismissive.

Common mistakes

Sticking your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice.
Speaking loudly on trains or in quiet restaurants.
Tipping at restaurants. It is not expected and can confuse staff.

How to use this guide

Pick a country

Search or scroll to the country you are visiting. If you are meeting someone from a diaspora community, ask which region their family is from. Norms can vary a lot inside one country.

Switch context

Use the tabs to jump between greetings, dining, business, gifts, and taboos. Each tab shows the most important norms, a short explanation, and a quick do and don't list.

Print or copy

Use the print button to get a one-page cheat sheet. Use the copy button to paste the summary into a note on your phone. Both work offline once the page has loaded.

Things to keep in mind

Regional differences matter

Spain is not one uniform culture. Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Andalusia each have their own norms around language, dining times, and greetings. When we know a country has strong regional differences, we add a note at the top of the entry.

Age and setting change the rules

Younger people in many countries are more relaxed about formality. A startup in Berlin works differently from a bank in Frankfurt. Use the business tab for formal settings and the greetings tab for casual ones.

Gifts are not universal

In some cultures, gifts are expected at a first meeting. In others, they can feel like a bribe. The gifts tab tells you what is appropriate, what to avoid, and how to present it.

When in doubt, ask

The best etiquette move is often a short, honest question. "Is this okay here?" or "How should I greet you?" shows respect and most people appreciate the effort.

Questions people ask

Is this guide enough for a business trip?: It covers the most common norms, but for high-stakes meetings you should also ask a local colleague. Use this as your first pass, not your only source.
What if a country has big regional differences?: We note the most common regional variations where they matter. If you are visiting a specific region, look for the regional note at the top of each country entry.
Can I print this?: Yes. Use the print button to get a clean one-page cheat sheet for the selected country and context.
How often is this updated?: We review and update the guide every few months. The last updated date is shown at the top of the page.
Do you cover religious sites?: Yes. The taboos and dining sections include notes for temples, mosques, churches, and shrines where dress code or behavior rules are different from everyday life.