A tourist visiting Japan has shared the moment she was written up by a police officer after being reported for tucking into ice-cream in the street.
In footage re-shared by @travel on Instagram, an American called Chloe recorded herself smiling nervously at the camera as she sat on the pavement in an unspecified part of Tokyo.
She then panned the camera to a police officer wearing a cycling helmet with a clipboard in hand.
In an accompanying caption, she gave context to the video, adding: ‘Japan is great until someone calls and reports you for eating ice cream on the sidewalk.’
Though the audio had been disabled in the clip, the officer can be visibly seen giving the tourist a stern scolding as he pointed to paperwork and proceeded to write her up.
It is unclear as to whether the content creator, who goes by @kloikaaa on the social app, had been further reprimanded.
While it’s not illegal to eat on sidewalks in Japan, it’s generally considered bad etiquette in residential areas, on trains and in quieter towns or neighbourhoods, according to Alpine Elements.
One of the main reasons behind this etiquette is the nation’s respect for cleanliness.
In footage re-shared by @travel on Instagram, American traveller Chloe recorded herself smiling nervously at the camera as she sat on the pavement in an unspecified part of Tokyo.
Though the audio had been disabled in the clip, a police officer can be visibly seen giving the tourist a stern scolding as he pointed to paperwork and proceeded to write her up
Japan is known for its pristine streets, which locals take pride in maintaining, while a lack of public bins equally helps encourage individuals to take their rubbish home.
Cultural etiquette advisor, Naomi Sato, who is based in Kyoto, added: ‘Eating while walking is seen as careless or inconsiderate. It can inconvenience others – for example, if you spill food or take up space in a busy area.
‘In Japanese culture, meals are intended to be enjoyed with focus, usually in designated places.’
Eating in public spaces may be tolerated in popular tourist hotspots, such as Asakusa and Osaka’s Dotonbori.
In addition, during matsuri (festivals), or at food stalls offering quick bites, people are commonly seen tucking into food while standing.
However, in all cases, it’s still considered polite to step to one side and finish your food before continuing to walk.
To avoid any offence to locals, tourists should look out for seating areas or standing zones near food vendors, observe their surroundings, opt for compact snacks and carry a small carrier bag for rubbish to take home.
Naomi Sato added: ‘Respecting these everyday customs shows cultural awareness and thoughtfulness. Japanese people are incredibly hospitable – and courtesy is deeply appreciated.’
Japan is known for its pristine streets, which locals take pride in maintaining, while a lack of public bins equally helps encourage individuals to take their rubbish home
It comes as Redditor users describe some of the most groan-worthy etiquette errors tourists make abroad.
The discussion was kickstarted by user ‘danielgmal’, after they asked: ‘What are the biggest tourist no-nos you’ve encountered while travelling?’
From dawdling pedestrians to visitors treating local wildlife ‘like theme park attractions’… here’s a list of behaviours you might want to leave at home.
‘XenoVernix’ says they’re annoyed by people who ‘get to a scenic viewpoint or landmark with a narrow angle for the photo everyone wants, then proceed to do a full-on model shoot with dozens of poses and retakes for Instagram’.
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