Japanese grocery store slams tourists for littering, being rude to staff, making a mess: ‘We are very troubled by these actions’

A Japanese store has criticized foreign tourists for being rude to staff, loitering and poor public etiquette.

Terrence, from California, recently came across a large sign in Tokyo berating tourists for “bad manners” and “breaking” convenience store rules.

The frame was blown up and hung next to the store entrance.

Staff often found it difficult to clean up after large groups of tourists wandered through the store, as they picked up items and put them back on the wrong shelves and opened items before paying for them.

Tourists would also become aggressive and agitated if the staff did not speak English and could not understand their requests.

A picture of the board was posted on a popular group.

It read: ‘Requests for foreign customers, we are very much affected by the many morality violations by foreigners. These are bad manners.

“(Don’t) place the item in your hand in a different location or orientation.

‘(Do not) open the packaging before purchasing the goods or bring food and drink into the store. Do not throw (any) waste in the store or in the corridors.’

The note also included information on what tourists could do to bridge the language barrier.

“Most of the staff don’t speak English, please take a picture of what you’re looking for or try to speak Japanese,” it advised.

The store also prohibited customers from returning items that were not broken.

Thousands praised the store for setting clear boundaries and complaining about how uncivilized certain tourists can be.

“Unfortunately, many foreigners do not respect Japanese culture or lifestyle,” said one. “I wish all stores had a code of conduct to protect staff from abusive customers.”

“What they ask for is common courtesy – which many sorely lack,” wrote another.

“These requests for visitors are sensible and can be applied not only to Japan, but also to other Asian countries such as Thailand, Korea and Taiwan, where most of the local people do not speak English well,” one woman wrote.

But others argued that staff “should make more of an effort” to be well aware of foreign expectations.

“I think there’s no shame in not knowing English, but everyone should at least try to learn it,” said one man.

“Why can’t I bring coffee into a supermarket?” asked another.