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📣 Notas para viajeros

Japan is an island nation in East Asia with a unique and intricate culture influenced by both its insular nature and proximity to mainland East Asia, particularly China. While its modern cities can be exceptionally dense and fast-paced, Japanese culture traditionally emphasizes inner balance, tranquility, and natural beauty.

• New Year (Oshōgatsu) shuts down the country from late December to early January, with widespread travel and high prices.
• Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) occurs in spring (March/April), drawing massive crowds, especially in historic sites like Kyoto.
• Golden Week (late April to early May) features several public holidays, resulting in extremely crowded transport and elevated prices.
• Local festivals (Matsuri) and fireworks displays (Hanabi) are common throughout the summer.
• The Awa Odori festival takes place in Tokushima during the Obon period.
• New Year celebrations often involve large family gatherings and traveling to neighborhood temples.
• When eating, chopsticks are commonly used, but specific etiquette includes never placing them upright in rice, never passing food directly from one person's chopsticks to another, and avoiding using them to point or spear food. For cleanup, dispose of disposable chopsticks in their paper wrappers. Soups (like miso) are often drunk directly from the bowl, and local cuisine may be eaten using spoons (for ramen, curry, etc.). Guests are provided with a hot towel (o-shibori) to wipe their hands. It is customary to wait to be acknowledged by staff, addressing them with "Sumimasen." Payment should be made at the counter upon departure; tipping is not customary.