Tokyo Local Custom Tips by PartyRambo

Bow first, then shake hands if offered.
Some Japanese will try to cater to your customs, but most will not feel comfortable performing customs foreign to them (like shaking hands).

Do not blow your nose in public.
The Japanese consider this rude behaviour, which is why you will see a lot of Japanese sniffing, when you think they should be blowing. If you must, do it discreetly, and turn away from the crowd.

Pedestrians wearing masks are not keeping germs in - they don't want to catch germs from others.
With such a large population in such a cramped space, germs float freely - it's a precaution against germs and pollution.

Do not spike your food with chopsticks.
They're not skewers, and they're not fork replacements. If you have difficulty using them properly, ask for a fork. It's more polite to admit failure than to offend by poking things!

Do not pass food with your chopsticks.
Germs - no different than here - within a family unit, sure - you'd feed your kids with your fork, but you probably wouldn't pass food to your friends, would you?

The Japanese store employee is subservient to you. It is their desire - their wish - their culture - their JOB - to make you feel welcome, and to help you with whatever you need. In Western society, we feel compelled to buy if a salesperson is pushy, and feel uncomfortable - but in Japan, it's more important to ensure the customer is happy, than to force the sale.
The greeting ladies at the front of department stores will bow deeply for you - it is not necessary to acknowledge them, and they'll probably be bowed down until you're well past anyway, so they couldn't see you respond.
The common greeting in almost every store or service area is a basic "welcome" - sounds like Irashayimassay.
If language is a barrier, & you need to escape, just say Thank You (Arigato) & walk away.

Unless you're braver than I, look for Western toilets.
The Japanese toilets are like a urinal planted in the floor - I don't care for squatting!

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