Are you allowed to eat on the train in Japan?

There is a custom in Japan where most people do not eat food outside other than when in restaurants. However, when using the bullet train or the green car, you are permitted to eat food. Normal trains and people commuting using said trains do not permit the consumption of food whilst riding the train.



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1, onboard food will be available only on the first-class green cars through a service in which passengers place orders via smartphones and other devices. The carts had been a popular mainstay on the Tokyo-Osaka Tokaido line since the bullet trains started operating in 1964.

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Bringing Your Food Aboard You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars.

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There is a custom in Japan where most people do not eat food outside other than when in restaurants. However, when using the bullet train or the green car, you are permitted to eat food. Normal trains and people commuting using said trains do not permit the consumption of food whilst riding the train.

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People don't usually eat or drink anything other than water while on the train. When riding the Shinkansen or on a long train ride in a green car (reserved seating) you are allowed to eat and drink. The seats actually have tables and cup holders. There are also food, drinks, and snacks being sold in these train cars.

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Eating while walking is a big no-no for most Japanese–even children enjoying an ice cream are often told to sit down before consuming food.

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While on the train, your phone should be on silent mode and you should avoid making or receiving phone calls. Keep conversations to a minimum. Much like phone etiquette, if you are riding with friends, family, or coworkers, you can typically talk but do so quietly. Don't eat or drink.

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Especially when visiting large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, you will want to avoid traveling during rush hour. Throughout Japan, rush hour typically lasts from 7 AM to 9 AM each morning, and 5 PM to 7 PM each evening. These are the times when many residents and going and coming from secular employment.

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The availability of toilets on trains in Japan depends on the type and class of the train, as well as the specific route. While many long-distance and high-speed trains, such as the shinkansen (bullet trains), are equipped with toilets, some local and commuter trains may not have them.

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Don't leave food behind. It's considered bad manners to leave even grains of rice behind, so be sure to clean your plate! If there are some foods you cannot eat, ask to have them left out of the dish. Do use the opposite end of chopsticks to pick up food from a shared dish.

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Any journey on the Shinkansen – Japan's bullet train – is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an ekiben, the iconic bento filled with an assortment of delicacies tucked into a container and eaten in bite-size pieces. The term comes from the Japanese words for station (eki) combined with ben for bento (or “lunchbox”).

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Refrain from eating on urban trains. However, the consumption of snacks, meals and drinks is perfectly okay at your seat on long-distance trains, but avoid bringing overly smelly food and make sure not to leave any garbage behind.

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It's generally not acceptable to eat or drink on buses either. If you are carrying a small bottle of water or something similar, then it's a good idea to wait until the bus comes to a halt at a traffic light or bus stop, before taking a drink to mimimize the risk of spilling your drink on the seat or someone nearby.

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