If you break a rule and some self-important official person starts scolding you for it, the ONLY proper response is "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Arguing that it's a stupid rule or that the self-important official person is wrong or that you had a good reason to break the rule will only escalate the conflict. If you did have a good reason, ask, "What should I do instead?"

The part about speaking softly is true. I once met up with a former teaching colleague who was attending a conference in Tokyo, and he literally talked louder than the entire crowd at Shinjuku Station.

Don't leave your chopsticks sticking up in your rice bowl. Use the hashioki (chopstick rests) or make a little ledge out of the paper wrapping that the chopsticks come in, or lay them on the side of your bowl.

Use chopsticks only for Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food. Anything considered Western (even if it is a Japanese adaptation of a Western food) is eaten with Western utensils. Curry rice is eaten with a large spoon.

If you can't deal with the Japanese-style squat toilet in public places, be aware that most newer buildings have at least one Western-style stall and that there's a little drawing on the door of the stall to indicate it. The stall doors go all the way to the floor, so you can't figure out which stalls are unoccupied by checking for feet. Instead, knock on the door. If there's someone inside, they will knock back.

If you stay in a ryokan, minshuku, temple, or private home, remove your shoes at the door before stepping up into the main building. Put on a pair of the slippers provided and use them to walk on wooden, carpeted, or tiled floors. However, you may walk on tatami mats only in stocking or bare feet.

Arigatou!!

All though at cross-walks for Korea it should instead read "At a cross walk do not assume a car will stop, even if you are in the cross-walk"

People rarely mute their phones on busses or trains and I find it majorly annoying when someone's phone rings and everyone in the bus or the car of the train can hear it. It makes me want to yell, "Someone must think they are a very important person".