Mandatory not all but wow, grabe. Nakakahiya. I observed this while I'm a sole traveler. Ayoko talaga magtravel with groups, kahit friends or family pa yan, especially strangers. If that's your thing, that's fine but it's not for me. I only like to take care of myself at mas okay ako sa oras at mga gagalaan ko.

That being said, may mga Filipino tourists dito sa Japan na akala mo nasa Pilipinas parin sila. Walang etiquette and manners. There's a group na nasa train, pinipilit isiksik yung mga tao kasi maluwag pa raw (sa upuan to, hindi sa cart mismo) Nakakahiyang pagsabihan pero alam mo yung secondhand embarrassment na nararamdaman mo. Yung sabi pa nung isa mataba daw yung nasa dulo kaya di na kasya tapos nagtawanan. Nung umalis, they snickered at sabing "Sa wakas". Nung may matandang pumasok, nagtutulakan sila para tumayo yung isa para paupuin daw yung matanda. Nung nasa next station, umalis na din yung matanda tapos natawa na naman sila kasi kahit di naman na daw umupo. Since I speak and understand Nihongo, I heard the people behind me complain about them. Typical tourist daw.

The secondhand embarrassment is real. Grabe nakakahiya. Maybe it's because naiintindihan ko sila? Idk. Hindi mo pwedeng idahilan na turista kayo eh. Ignorance might be bliss but it shouldn't justify those. Alam ko naman na hindi lang pinoy ang ganito and they're probably enjoying na nasa ibang bansa sila but there's a difference between having fun and being ignorant. Yung mga bagay na pwede sa Pilipinas, of course, di pwede sa ibang bansa. Be mindful about cultures and traditions of other countries. Idk. That's all.