The people of Japan have, over the years, built a reputation for being rule-abiding and mindful of their surroundings. It’s still not uncommon to see locals patiently waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green, even when there are no cars in sight.

Television and social media often feature visitors who don’t follow the rules. In many cases, it’s because they aren’t aware of them; in others, they’re simply being disrespectful. Quite a few even break the rules on purpose and post it online for views, engagement, and the income that comes with it.

While I share the negative sentiments many locals have toward such visitors, I also know that we locals don’t always follow the rules ourselves. Visitors may be forgiven for their ignorance, but we don’t have that excuse. We know the rules—yet many of us still break them.

No Bicycle Parking Areas

It’s not uncommon to find bicycles parked in areas clearly marked with “No Bicycle Parking” signs. This is especially common near train stations, where it often seems like people openly ignore the rules. Authorities usually tag these bicycles with warnings, and in repeat cases, confiscate them. Locals are well aware of the rules, yet many still break them.

Bicycles Ignoring Red Lights

Bicycles often ignore red traffic lights. This stems partly from decades of treating bicycles in Japan as pedestrians—allowed to use sidewalks and crosswalks freely. Only recently has the government begun shifting bicycles onto the road and classifying them alongside motorbikes and cars. Many violations likely reflect this transition period. Starting next year, however, rules will tighten, and violators will face fines of several thousand yen. The amount isn’t huge, but hopefully it will encourage better compliance.

No Walking on Escalators

For decades, locals were taught that half of an escalator should be left open for those in a hurry to walk past. This was once considered good etiquette. Recently, however, authorities have been urging people not to walk on escalators. Research shows it’s both more efficient and less accident-prone. Posters everywhere now remind people to stand still, yet many continue walking. Some stations have even introduced narrower escalators to physically prevent “overtaking.” Old habits, though, are hard to break—especially when common sense tells us that letting people pass feels more considerate.

No Smoking on Sidewalks

This has improved in recent years, but it’s still not uncommon to encounter people smoking on sidewalks. Walking behind them can be unpleasant, with secondhand smoke becoming a real issue. Of course, one could simply walk faster to get ahead, but if everyone followed the rules, this wouldn’t be necessary.

There are designated smoking areas, but they’ve been decreasing as part of government efforts to discourage smoking. The number of smokers has gone down, but those who still smoke often struggle to find a spot—or simply don’t care. Unfortunately, some choose the latter.

Conclusion

You may have noticed that I’ve been using the terms “locals” and “visitors” instead of the more common “Japanese” and “foreigners.” This choice is deliberate. Too often, discussions about rule-breaking are framed as a “Japanese versus foreigners” issue. One political party even rode this narrative to electoral success, nudging other parties to adjust their policies in response.

Compared with many other countries, Japan remains a safe, clean, and generally rule-abiding society. We all benefit from this—whether we’re locals or visitors, Japanese or foreigners.

Let’s all do our part to keep it that way.