Taking off shoes at the door?
 

I am from Canada and we take off our shoes at the door just like the Japanese and I was wondering maybe if we had got that from the Japanese? Im not a hundred percent sure about whether or not Americans take off their shoes at the door, but from what i've seen, they don't. But like I said I do not know. I don't even notice when I take off my shoes at the door, its second nature to me. I really couldn't imagine walking around all day with shoes on. In most schools where I live, shoes are even taken off in elementary schools. I have noticed this to be simular in Japan.

I think a lot of cultures have a history of taking their shoes off.
Indians, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Arabs, some Europeans (I heard.)

So who knows.

As Kayci said, there are quite a few cultures that take their shoes off at the door. I have traveled around Canada several times, and this didn't stand out to me as something done in all parts of the country... But then again, I don't think I went into many private residences.

Chances are it is come held over cultural feature. What is the cultural background of the area where you live?

If it is somewhere far north, there is another possibility. I have read that communities in very cold areas that receive a lot of snow each year have a tendency to use stronger attempts to keep cold from being brought inside. This means removing shoes, coat, etc, in an area just inside the door and possibly going through a second door before reaching the living area.

The Dutch (in general) also take their shoes off at the door. Some people don't really care if you walk inside with your shoes on, but still it remains a habit.

I always take my shoes off. It's just what I was taught. I don't wear shoes in my own house so why would I in someone elses? But I would say that most people around me take them off. The only time I can think of that you don't take them off was if you were at a party or you were asked to keep them on.

Sometimes if we do not remove our shoes we take dirt or mud into the home-- which is not good at all.

even if there is a decent doormat-- that does not always clean the shoe well enough.

I think its a great idea to always remove shoes-- in Japan they do provide slippers to wear-- so its a sensible idea.

It's quite interesting that a fair few countries do this, I thought it was just unique to Japan and some areas of Europe. I know it's fairly common in the UK when entering a home, because it's just more comfortable and the weather being what it is it's very easy to track in mud and water, my friend's family even goes as far to provide slippers for the bathroom much like the Japanese, lol.

I think the difference seems to be that the Japanese remove their shoes for any building, not just the home. I mean I think most people outside of Asia would be rather appalled at a restaurant or public place asking one to remove their shoes, but in Japan it seems almost second-nature.

I did not know that shoes had to be removed in public buildings. Are slippers provided do you know?

Well, to be fair I don't know if it's all public buildings, but I know with many restaurants they do, and I'm fairly certain for places such as schools and some workplaces . . . I'd be interested to know where the line is drawn too, like I can't imagine places like museums or cafes asking people to remove shoes, but you never know.

I don't think slippers are provided (from what I've seen), but it's best that someone who's been in Japan answers, because I only know from what I've read and seen on the media :)

I'm from the UK and we're pretty laid back about it. If the shoes themselves aren't dirty people don't seem too worried about wearing shoes inside, though as you say, if the weather is bad then you do indeed take off your shoes! I pretty much always take mine off at my home or other peoples'. As you also say, it's just more comfortable. Other people are just as comfortable with or without, though.

As for public buildings in Japan, I never had to take my shoes off in shops or in family / fast food restaurants. However I did in most other kinds of restaurants. At work I did too. I remember at one kindergarten on one occasion stepping out of the genkan having forgotten to remove my outside shoes. The headteacher gave me a death-stare before I immediately realised my error!

I don't believe it was a habit that was "taken" from any one specific culture, but a habit that makes sense... as dogsbody pointed out, why would anyone want to carry dirt/mud/dog poops inside a perfectly clean house?

Exactly, in most public buildings you can keep your shoes on. Only in some restaurants you have to take them off.
However, I didn't visit every possible kind of public building.

You most definitely do not take your shoes off in most public buildings...
It is a home or certain restaurant sort of thing. The rule is more "Am I going to be walking on tatami?" - if so, then you will be taking your shoes off either at the door or at the edge of the tatami area. Most public buildings are not tatami, so taking your shoes off is fairly rare.
Another note - even if there are slippers provided, you never wear them on tatami. They are for walking in areas other than tatami, such as hallways, kitchen, etc. You will often see it written that you should always take your shoes off when inside, and that there are separate slippers for the toilet... But it is pretty rare to see the "no slippers on tatami (or carpet when in a private home)" thing mentioned.

We got it from being tired of having to wipe dog-shit and mud stains from our carpets.

Edit : Looks like my other fellow Canadian has said the same thing. Haha!

I don't have a specific cultural background that would make it so I had to take off my shoes, we just do it. As for public buildings, no we don't take off our shoes unless your at a doctors office or sometimes school buildings if your shoes are very dirty. It does indeed snow here but it is not cold all year round and we still take off our shoes in any weather. Like I said its second nature, and im not too sure about the other parts of Canada but seeing as people come to where I live frequently to find work, it seems like second nature to them too to take off their shoes in a home. The main factor is to not getting the floor dirty i suppose. Which makes sense cause I would not want to be cleaning up shoe marks from my floor everyday lol

I keep slippers by my bathroom door. But that bathroom is connected to my room so I only use it at night and when I shower and the slippers are really only for the winter since the tiles are cold. I also have a different pair of slippers I wear around the house but it's more so my feet stay warm.

Actually, in England, there are times when I've done the opposite and walked around outside barefoot! It's nice to do in the Summer heat, I think :p

(And I'm not the only one here to do it!)

Some Japanese companies also removed their shoes when entering certain buildings.

Japanese schools , traditional japanese ryokan, and some restaurants also will asked you to remove your shoes ..

I wonder if sometimes feet are rather smelly when shoes are removed?

I know that in schools, students wear what are known as wabaki (slippers/sandals) while on the premises.

I do remember visiting Ryoan-ji in Kyoto and I saw many sweat footprints from people on the temple's wooden floors....

Close. They are uwabaki (上履き) - most of the time they are more shoes designated for indoor use rather than actual slippers. The important thing is that they are only worn indoors.

Even here in the Philippines, we take off our shoes before getting inside the house. :)It's somewhat a tradition or routine. :) WE got used to it. And even the elders (i think also the ancestors) do this. :) It is somehow a way of showing respect to a person's house. like that :)