Please take off your shoes!

Today, I'm going to write about the biggest difference between Japanese culture and American culture. When I came to the US for the first time, I needed to get used to the culture that people don't take off their shoes inside of their house.

In Japan, in every houses, there is a place to take off your shoes. It's called "Genkan."

The picture below is Genkan in typical Japanese house. 

https://cdn.suvaco.jp/rooms/39211/wuSp2lKE0H.jpg

Right after you enter a house, there is Genkan. You take off your shoes, line up them properly and put them on the corner of Genkan. This is the manner when you take off your shoes in Japan.

http://naomi-style-sya.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/11977491_s.jpg

The reason why people take off their shoes is because Japanese house often has straw mat, which is really delicate and hard to get rid of dirt. Also, it rains often during rainy season in Japan. If you go out, your shoes will get dirty so it will make your house dirty as well without taking off your shoes. 

These days, however, the Japanese architectural style has been changing. Many of the houses are modernized and there are much less houses with straw mat. BUT, even though they don't have straw mat, there is always Genkan so be careful not to enter a house with your shoes on. 

Misaki.O