You arrive at a ryokan, a traditional restaurant, or someone's home in Japan. There's a small step at the entrance and a row of shoes. Here's what that means and what to do.
15-Second Answer
Remove your shoes at the entrance step (genkan) when you see any of these signs: a raised step at the door, other shoes lined up, slippers waiting, or a "no outdoor shoes" notice. Take them off, place them neatly to the side, and put on any slippers provided. In tatami rooms, slippers come off too.
What the Genkan Is
The genkan (玄関) is the entrance area found at the threshold of Japanese homes, ryokan, and many traditional buildings. It has a raised step that marks the boundary between outside and inside — shoes stay below the step, and the rest of the building starts above it.
The underlying principle is keeping the outside world out. Outdoor shoes carry dirt, and that dirt stops at the genkan. This boundary is taken seriously in Japanese homes and traditional spaces.
Places Where You Usually Remove Shoes
Always remove shoes:
- Japanese homes and apartments
- Ryokan and traditional guesthouses (minshuku)
- Restaurants with tatami seating (zashiki)
- Some temple interiors and traditional cultural spaces
Shoes stay on:
- Standard hotels
- Department stores, malls, and convenience stores
- Most modern restaurants
Use your judgment:
- Restaurants with a raised floor section or tatami area — look for a shoe removal space at the entrance to that section
- Some massage or wellness facilities
- Fitting rooms in some clothing stores — staff may ask you to remove shoes before entering
How to Take Them Off and Place Them
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1Take them off before stepping up. Don't step over the threshold with shoes on.
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2Line them up out of the way so they don't block the entrance for others. Tidy placement is part of the consideration.
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3Most ryokan and traditional spaces provide slippers. Slip them on and continue inside.
At ryokan, a staff member will often guide you through this on arrival. Just follow their lead and you'll be fine.
Slippers, Tatami, and Toilet Slippers
Tatami rooms: When entering a room with tatami flooring, slippers come off at the entrance to that room. Tatami is never walked on with slippers — only socked or bare feet. This applies even if you're already inside the building in slippers.
Toilet slippers: Many traditional facilities provide a separate pair of slippers specifically for the toilet area. Swap into them when you enter, and swap back out when you leave. Forgetting to switch back — walking into the dining room in toilet slippers — happens to everyone at least once, including Japanese guests.
How to Tell When Shoes Should Come Off
Look for any of these at the entrance:
- A raised step or platform at the door
- Other shoes lined up neatly
- Slippers waiting nearby
- A sign reading 土足禁止 (no outdoor shoes) or お履き替えください (please change footwear)
If you see any one of these, remove your shoes. If you're genuinely unsure, a quick glance at what others are doing — or a simple question to nearby staff — will resolve it immediately.
A Note on Socks
Wearing socks is generally safer and more comfortable in places where shoes come off. Walking barefoot through someone's home or a ryokan's tatami rooms is not wrong, but socks are the more expected default. If you're wearing sandals and arrive somewhere that requires shoes off, some ryokan will quietly provide socks — but it's worth packing a pair just in case.
One practical note many travelers mention: holes in socks become memorable in Japan. It's a minor thing, but worth a quick check before a ryokan stay.
Bottom Line
A raised step, shoes lined up, or slippers waiting — any one of these means shoes come off. Remove them before the step, place them neatly to the side, and put on slippers if they're there. In tatami rooms, slippers come off too. That covers almost every situation you'll encounter.
