Showa Day

📣 Traveler notes

Japan is a highly structured, fast-paced culture emphasizing deep traditions and tranquility within a dense urban environment.

• Golden Week (late April to early May) results in massive congestion and significant price increases for travel and lodging.
• Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a major festival in March or April, drawing heavy crowds and higher costs in tourist areas.
• New Year's holiday (Oshōgatsu) is the most important holiday, impacting travel from late December to early January.
• Many local festivals (Matsuri) and fireworks displays (Hanabi) occur, especially during the summer.
• Visitors should anticipate greatly inflated travel prices and overcrowding during major holidays.
• Use chopsticks for meals. Avoid placing chopsticks upright in rice or passing food from one set of chopsticks to another. Utilize the provided hand towel (o-shibori) and use "sumimasen" (excuse me) when addressing staff. Pay at the counter, as tipping is not customary.