In Japan, “bathing” is not washing A key cultural difference between Japan and the West is in the relationship with hot water and bodies. More than 27,000 onsen (hot springs) dot Japan, with nearly all harvested for bath water. Yes, bathing is a serious business in Japan. Along with this vast national resource, generations of …
English—Just because it’s written doesn’t mean it’s spoken The second most common language in Japan is English, and yet, most Japanese can’t fluently speak the language of the international traveler. For English-speaking visitors, this seems odd, given that signage, directions, and even common instructions appear written in English. For the last few decades, English class …
Oshōgatsu In Japan, the New Year festival is the biggest holiday of the year. Steeped in tradition and national values, the holiday includes gift giving, eating traditional foods, drinking nihonshu (sake), and prayer. In 1873, the holiday was moved to the Gregorian calendar used by the West, setting Oshōgatsu to January 1st. Prior to that, …