Which country has the best manners in the world? Expert's answer might surprise you

Your social etiquette can make or break your trip when travelling outside your home country. A gesture that might be viewed positively in one place, can be extremely offensive somewhere else.

For instance, in the US tipping in a restaurant is mandatory and it's considered rude not to tip there. However, tipping in Japan is seen negatively and means that you are implying that someone is not paid enough and you are ignoring that providing service is a social act rather than done for financial gain. Thus, knowing the right etiquette for appropriate places is vital. But is there one place in the world where people have the best etiquette, the ideal manners? It seems so!

Which country has the best manners?

William Hanson, an expert in etiquette, is known for his videos on social media where he advises people on how to apply good manners in the modern world.

While you might be able to search and find out the appropriate table manners online, getting out of a sudden situation or just a meeting can be difficult. According to Hanson, the country with the best manners in the world is Japan. "I think I want to say Japan, they're very respectful in Japan. They're probably the only country to make the British look relaxed," he said to LADBible Stories.Not just Japan, Singapore is also "very polite as well," he added.

It's probably not a western country is the answer to this question, which as a westerner, is quite sad."

Why does Japan have the best manners in the world?

Etiquette around social status is a vital part of the Japanese language and culture. Certain greetings are reserved for those who are senior to you such as your boss. The Japanese follow the principle of 'Omotenashi' which means 'Japanese hospitality'. In practice, it combines exquisite politeness with a desire to maintain harmony and avoid conflict. From machines to humans, every part of the community practices omotenashi. People with colds wear masks to avoid infecting others, staff in shops and restaurants greet customers with a bow, and taxi doors open automatically as you approach. Even roadwork signs feature a picture of a bowing construction worker. In the Japanese culture, the more outside one's own group a person is, the more politeness is shown to them.

This is why tourists are surprised to find the culture so polite and warm. According to Isao Kumakura, professor emeritus at the research institute of Osaka’s National Museum of Ethnology, much of Japan’s etiquette originated in the formal rituals of the tea ceremony and martial arts, according to a BBC report. Similarly, politeness and compassion were core values of Bushido, the ethical code of the samurai. No matter what materialistic souvenir you take back from Japan, one thing the country instils in your soul is a will to be as kind, compassionate and loving as its people and culture.