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Wow some of the stuff people posted on here is really helpful. It's cool to learn about manners if they're not from your own country. Thanks everyone! mrgreen mrgreen

Hmm, 1st I'd like to say that Japanese people aren't any more or less racist than anyone else. Like every country, there are people who are and people who aren't...so don't even worry about it, ya'? ^_~
Some things I didn't see up yet:
Don't go outside barefoot...its just about equal with wearing your shoes in someone's house...which, generally, you should also not do. Knowing when to de-shoe yourself is obvious - there's a step, as split level apartments/houses have, and usually a collection of shoes lined up to the side : P
With sticking your chopsticks straight up in your rice...that's not really the rude part (though it is odd). The rude part comes in when you eat the rice that you just offered to the dead (Like stomping on grave-flowers, I suppose = =??).
The American "okay" sign - with which your pointing finger touches your thumb and your other fingers are extended - means "money" in Japan. Its the equivalent of rubbing your thumb across your fingerpads in the American "pay up/money" gesture. On that note, "Thumbs up" signs are just dandy though^_~ and the "come over here" gesture is upsidedown. Cupping your dominant hand the same side of your mouth means you're telling a secret (same as U.S.), in the middle means "sorry", and to the opposite side means you're implying that someone is homosexual (use that one wisely).
Don't whistle at night. Its believed that, "if you whistle at night, a snake will come to you."...really...this one took me a few months to figure out (no one would explain crying )...people really don't like it= =;;
Oooh! Snorting the snot back into your nose is more polite than blowing your nose (Funny story there^_~)!
...and I'll cut my cultural wisdom short with: When in doubt, apologize! Apologies are taken very seriously and are given for everything. Learn then quick, learn them well, and put them to good use!

I hope you're being sarcastic, lol. rofl Generally, I found that you should eat what your given to the best of your ability, meaning eat as much as possible of what's given to you. Some apartments and houses don't have real decent garbage disposals (or none at all, including my own, which I truly miss having one), so I guess it kind of forces you to eat as much as possible because dealing with stinky food and waiting for the day when food garbage gets picked up gets bad. So, it practicality, eating most or all the food you're given is okay.

Japanese know that since you're a foreigner that the rules regarding certain customs are likely to be broken, and they will be more than happy to correct your or teach you customs. I don't think Japanese would get upset/annoyed if you're trying to learn their customs and use them intently, because I feel that shows that one pays close attention to another's culture and you can't always be perfect the first time, especially if you don't know the customs in the first place.

Big important things to remember:

Eating: Sticking chopsticks straight up and then later eating same said rice is bad, as already well explained by others here. Also, pointing with chopsticks is rude. Elbows are okay as far as I know because it can't be helped sometimes.

Houses and Bath: When entering a house, you take off your shoes and put on house slippers. This is also true if you ever go to a department store's changing room (I found that out and was amused). Also, depending on how it's set up, you may (at a home stay or something) take a traditional Japanese bath. Chances are you'll know if the tub is already full of hot water. You wash yourself and such outside the tub. The showerhead usually is long enough for such purpose. This is also why many Japanese bathrooms that have baths have a drain in the floor. After you are washed and rinsed off, you can enter the tub. The same etiquette kind of applies to an Onsen (hot spring) or sentou (public bath).

Things in public conversation: Blowing your nose in public is considered rude. Also, many Japanese know that foreigners' grasp on Japanese might not be that good. It's okay to mix your keigo and plain form sometimes. However, when asking questions or something to a person you don't know, try to use keigo. It's appreciated. But, either way, you won't be looked down upon too much if you use plain form. Really rough form or slang (common in anime) used around friends is okay, but avoid it around people you don't know. People will laugh and or think you're crazy or rude or both.

Other things: A raised pinky finger (either hand is fine I think) means "girlfriend" or "I have a girlfriend". A raised thumb (outside of the "thumb's up" gesture which is easy to distinguish from) means "Boyfriend" or "I have a boyfriend". Physical contact with the same sex is more relaxed over here than in western nations. Don't be surprised if a friend of the same sex comes and pats you or playfully pushes you when you make jokes or something.

Being used to America's public transit the first thing I did was get off the plane and onto a bus where I promptly called my family to check in.

Two seconds later the driver came over and pointed to a no cell phone sign.

Not an hour into my trip I was already a rude American -_- It seems using cell phones is fine as long as they're on mute and you're not having a conversation most of the time however.



Also a do is: DO visit stores. Even if you just browse Japan's customer service is top notch.

That's probably true.

I eat rice plain. So that's no big deal. Rice is better plain too. Shoyu on rice tastes odd. Though, shoyu, egg, and rice might taste good to some.

o.O Forgot this one. A Japanese friend of mine said that flipping someone off (givin' the bird) American style is used somewhat jokingly here, but giving someone a thumbs down (like the "thumbs up pose, just upside down") is like telling someone to go to hell here and has about the same negativeness as giving someone the bird in America.

Just for the record, a lot of my Japanese friends think I am Australian/Canadian, but they are shocked to find out there's actually cool, non-rude, not loud and non-fat Americans in Japan.