Visiting someone's home

Often you would hear Japanese people saying “Kondo asobi ni kite kudasai”. Roughly translated, it means, “Won’t you please come by my place sometime?” This phrase is commonly uttered as polite banter so one should be careful when you actually show up unannounced to avoid any embarrassment. Japanese are most unlikely to invite someone they barely know into their home and most meetings usually take place at a restaurant. However, in the event that you have actually been invited to visit someone’s home, it is considered polite to present a gift, usually food, to the host saying “Tsumaranai mono desu ga” or “Here is a little something for you.” Upon entering the house, shoes should be taken off at the genkan, or hallway, and slippers, provided by the host, should be put on. On entering rooms with tatami floors, all footwear should be removed.