Shoe etiquette - socks?
 

This may seem like a silly question but I'd rather feel silly now than embarras myself and country later.
I know about removing shoes before entering homes, temples, etc. Our trip is planned for summer. I often wear sandals in the summer - without socks. However, it seems it could be a bit awkward being barefoot in a temple.
What is acceptable? Always wear socks? Leave my "sockless" sandals home?

why would it be awkward?

think hygiene..

You can be barefoot, in fact, in Burma, even socks must be removed in temples.

Thanks for your help - one more thing to strike from my planning list.

I actually take along cheap anklet socks with me to use at temples. I put them on when I remove my shoes, then throw them away at the end of the visit.

Wouldn't be as big an issue if I was wearing sandals, but I hate putting filthy feet back into my regular socks or shoes.

I didn't see anyone go into a temple in Japan barefoot in the 3 weeks I was there. Everyone I saw wore socks. Hope that helps!

Interesting, kja, there are obviously cultural differences between SE Asia and Japan on this matter. Where are you going, jmsvss?

We are going to Japan. I lived in Japan as a teenager and don't recall barefeet - but I was a teenager.

I appreciate the responses.

I'll have to remember to take socks when I go to Japan!

Barefoot is not a problem for sightseeing in temples, or even for small ceremony type things in small neighborhood temples. You'll find that if it is hot, most women don't wear socks...they wear high heeled strappy slip on sandals with no heel strap.

Thanks for the clarification, Kim!

What about when entering someone's home in the heat of the summer? I may have on sandals, or I may have on anklet socks and comfortable walking shoes. Do you leave the socks on/take them off/put some on if barefoot?

And just to clarify: It isn't a problem to wear open-toed sandals in the summer in any parts of Japan?

When entering a home, shoes should be removed and positioned neatly facing out (so you can easily put them on again). Do not step on the genkan (entryway) floor with your socks or bare feet - it's "outside." Inside the house, bare feet or socks are both fine. You will likely be given slippers. Wear the slippers only on flooring, never on tatami (remove the slippers before walking on tatami, leaving them neatly outside the tatami room facing out). Also, never wear the slippers in the toilet, but exchange them for toilet slippers - take off the house slippers outside the bathroom and step into the toilet slippers that are inside the toilet room.

It isn't a problem to wear open toed sandals, or any other kind of shoes or sandals in Japan in summer. Everyone does.

&quot;<i>embarras myself and country later</i>

When I do embarass myself in Japan then I say &quot;Oh, sorry&quot; in my best British accent.

Hi,
Last week I returned from visiting Thailand and Cambodia last and one of the best decisions i made while there was to discard the sandals and wear flip flops.
Most locals wear them too.

Thanks for the detailed info!

As Japanese, I very much appreciate the fact that Westerns, such as yourself, are respectful to Japanese culture and care enough to check these customs before the trip. We do cringe the sight of non-Japanese walking into the house without taking off his/her shoes…..but we understand that Westerns have different customs and we try not to get critical.

Just FYI - another thing we cringe is……..when we see Westerners pouring soy source over a bowl of rice.

I always wear sandals in the summer and my trip to Japan was no different. However I kept a pair of socks in my pocket to put on whenever I had to remove my shoes. It was no big deal.

Thanks Mochi - I appreciate your input. Maybe you can help me with this question as well - when is it okay to pick up your bowl during a meal? I've seen this in Asian countries in my past travels but it is not something I am accustomed to here in the USA.

Always pick up your miso soup bowl. If soup based dishes are served with a spoon, don't pick up your bowl. If there is no spoon, you can pick up the bowl to drink broth. You can pick up your rice bowl at any time as well. Other plates/bowls you do not pick up.