That’s where many tourists go wrong.
Looks Free. Isn’t.
Picture this: it’s pouring, and outside the shop — a tidy row of umbrellas. No tags, no signs, no locks. Just a forest of handles waiting by the door. It’s easy to assume, “These must be for customers.”
But they’re not. They usually belong to the people already inside.
Umbrellas in Japan aren’t dumped in a corner — they’re carefully parked. Locals leave them in the rack to avoid puddles inside. Some stands even have locks. But more often, people just trust no one will take theirs. And usually? No one does. Until a tourist innocently “borrows” one.
Imagine coming out of the store, rain still pouring, only to find your umbrella gone. Not great. Especially in a country where people go out of their way to be thoughtful.
Not a Hack — Just Theft
So why the confusion?
Blame the internet. A few bloggers (who clearly skipped the research part) keep repeating the myth that “umbrellas are free in Japan.” Some tourists even post their “travel hacks,” proudly showing off the umbrella they grabbed — not realizing it belonged to someone else.
To be fair, some places do offer communal umbrellas — hotels, department stores, certain hot spring villages. But they’re clearly marked. Sometimes you’ll even find a polite note asking you to return it later. Those are the exceptions, not the rule.
So, here’s the rule: if there’s no sign, assume the umbrella is taken.
If you’re not sure — just ask.
And one more thing: don’t walk into the shop with a dripping umbrella. Use the stand by the door, or slip it into one of those plastic sleeves they provide. Yes, even umbrellas have manners in Japan.
