When Japanese people take off shoes?

Japanese people take off shoes when they;

• enter a house
• enter a traditional Japanese restaurant which has rooms with tatami mattress
• enter a temple (actual building)
• enter a public bath
• do Kendo (martial art)
• do Judo (martial art)

がんばる子

They also take off slippers in a house when you enter a Japanese room with Tatami mattress.

So that Japanese people can maintain good hygiene.

It is humid in Japan, especially in summer when shoes get dirty with mud easily. It is also hard to get socks dry if you keep wearing shoes.