On August 16, 2026, a post titled 'Tips I wish I had known before going to Japan' was made on China's SNS Xiaohongshu (RED), garnering a strong response from Chinese netizens.

The poster wrote, 'A tip I wish I had known before going to Japan is that you have to take off your shoes in the fitting room. The first time I tried on clothes, I didn't notice the sign on the floor (asking people to take off their shoes) at all. I only saw a staff member wiping the floor at the fitting room entrance and thought, "They're quite meticulous about cleanliness." As a result, my friend and I, both wearing shoes, rushed into the fitting room with clothes in hand. While changing inside the fitting room, a staff member knocked loudly on the door and called out, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" I hastily replied, "Someone's in here! Someone's in here!" But when I opened the door, I saw a sign on the floor that read, "Please take off your shoes in the fitting room."

In response, Chinese netizens commented with remarks such as: 'I stepped in without thinking and was gestured by a staff member to 'take off my shoes,' which was incredibly embarrassing.' 'Once, the moment I put one foot into the fitting room, a staff member stopped me in a flustered manner. I apologized immediately, but it was truly awkward.' Many shared similar experiences.

Also, comments like 'I didn't know either when I first came to Japan. It was close to closing time and other fitting rooms were empty, so I just went in with my shoes on. I think that sign would be easier to understand if it were outside the door or on the floor at the entrance. Japan really has these unique little details,' were also seen.

Furthermore, comments mentioning unique Japanese manners and customs were also received, such as: 'There are quite a few stores where you have to wear a face cover when trying on clothes.' 'In high-end Japanese restaurants (ryotei), you switch to dedicated toilet slippers.' 'Many Japanese people, after taking off their shoes upon entering, turn their shoes around so they are easy to put on when leaving.'

In addition, voices also rose saying that staff sometimes respond courteously, for example: 'The inside of the fitting room has a clean, carpet-like floor, so it means 'please take off your shoes here.' For foreigners, staff sometimes explain things and even show how to use face covers.' (Translation/Editing: Iwata)