CULTURE– category –

A guide to Japanese public baths from people who never had to think about any of this until someone asked. Here's something we realised while writing this article: none of us had ever been taught how to use a public bath. We asked around...

Omotenashi is usually translated as selfless Japanese hospitality. That's not wrong — but it leaves out why the word exists, what you're actually experiencing, and why service here goes rigid the moment you ask for something unusual. The...

No, you don't tip in Japan — but "why not" is the part nobody explains. A Japanese-born editor breaks down what staff are actually thinking, and the few exceptions that are quietly changing. The moment you realize something is different ...

No, you don't tip in Japan — but "why not" is the part nobody explains. A Japanese-born editor breaks down what staff are actually thinking, and the few exceptions that are quietly changing. The moment you realize something is different ...

Omotenashi is usually translated as selfless Japanese hospitality. That's not wrong — but it leaves out why the word exists, what you're actually experiencing, and why service here goes rigid the moment you ask for something unusual. The...

A guide to Japanese public baths from people who never had to think about any of this until someone asked. Here's something we realised while writing this article: none of us had ever been taught how to use a public bath. We asked around...