Quote Originally Posted by Miriel View Post
The only time I've ever keep my shoes on inside a house is if I'm at a stranger's house, and even then it's only if the stranger isn't Asian. Every single Asian house I enter, even if it's a stranger's house, you have to take off your shoes. It's just a given. It's really strange and bizarre to me to keep on your shoes when you're inside. Why would you do that? Off with the shoes, on with the fluffy house slippers!
Japanese style housing is different from western style. Often they have soft floors(like mats) and tables near the ground. You sit on the floor. It would be common sense not to wear dirty shoes inside such a house. I suppose that tradition kept going even though they may have hard floors.

Its like the same reason you dont put your shoes on the couch.