Have you ever thought about a society without laws? Laws are supposed to help keep balance and regulate people's behavior with the purpose of coexisting peacefully within society, here is a list of some rules and social etiquettes in Japan you should know before your visit, some of them are as simple as our common home laws, and some others that may surprise you.

Craft beer production on your own is forbidden

In the land of the sake, the law forbids any kind of self-made alcoholic beverage if the alcohol content is more than 1 percent by volume, including popular craft beer. Those who ignore this prohibition will be required to pay a financial fine and may end up sentenced to five years in prison.

Japan has strict guidelines for health measures

Since 2008 there is a non-official weight control program - Japan decided to fight against heart disease, stroke, and diabetes of the citizens. The Japanese government gives its citizens special medical assistance and lifestyle change advice for weight control but without any kind of fee or punishment.

Accept extra change

If a store clerk or merchant mistakenly returns too much change from a purchase, the recipient is duty-bound to return the excess. Failure to do so (when aware of the difference of course) can be treated as fraud.

Some over-the-counter medications legal in your country may be illegal in Japan

In general, tourists are allowed to bring certain over-the-counter medicines from their country to Japan, up to two months’ worth of supply. However, there are substances present in some of these OTC medicines that may be illegal in Japan.

For instance, pseudoephedrine, which is a kind of stimulant that is usually found in allergy and sinus medications, as well as inhalers, is prohibited in the country. If you are currently taking the medication with pseudoephedrine for your medical condition, it is best to consult with your doctor to find alternatives before you fly out to Japan.

Check the website of your country’s Japanese embassy for information on which drugs are legal or illegal in Japan. It also will not hurt to call the office and talk to an actual embassy staff to provide you with accurate and updated information.

And, before you leave, make sure that you have a doctor’s prescription for all the medications you have with you and a letter that explains what they are for. Keep everything in their original bottles, containers, and packages. Place them in a transparent zip-lock bag, sealed, in your carry-on for easy access once you get to the customs and security line.

Dancing is not permitted in some nightclubs

Those establishments that have a total area of less 710 square ft, have forbidden to allow dancing on their facilities. To open a nightclub or bar, the owner must ask the proper authorities a specific authorization/license to allow the customers to dance.

In the past, dancing was banned without a license, but as of this past couple of years, the ban has been lifted with some stipulations.

Certain rules when naming newborns 

In Japan there is a strict rule about naming the newborns, this is due to the fact that Japanese people believe in the force and impact of the name on the child’s destiny. The parents have no right to choose any names which meaning might be considered ambiguous or that may carry bad energy. Back in 1993, some parents started to call their children “Akuma” (which means “evil”). These parents were sued, and the kids received a new name.

Trash Cans aren’t seen in public places

You will hardly find any trash containers on the streets. This rule is related to the Japanese culture; since at a really early age, children are taught to organize trash and throw it away at home. Another important reason may be due to the terrorist attack in 1995. Since then the government ordered to remove the trash containers as they may be used as places to hide potential weapons against citizens.

Skipping the line

If the authorities judge the act to have been accompanied by rough behavior, such as pushing, they can exercise their option of prosecuting it as an act of violence or intimidation. It’s not punishable by fines or imprisonment, but it’s highly frowned upon by the locals.

It’s taboo to visit an onsen or public pools for those who have tattoos

There is no official law about the prohibition of tattoos, however, many public places have signs that forbid the tattooed persons to visit saunas or onsen. This rule applies to Japanese and tourists as well. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and some onsens like Kinosaki Onsen, openly allow people with tattoos.

There is no army in Japan

With the purpose of keeping the path to international peace, Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution provides that the country refuses to participate in wars and also the existence of its own army of ground, sea and air forces.

In Japan, you will never run out of places to go and things to do. To have the greatest time, lots of fun and a problem-free experience to share with everyone back home, obey the laws, and respect the local customs and traditions.