Cultural Experiences

Staying at NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel not only makes the historic town's heritage attractions easily accessible, guests can even integrate immersive activities during their stay while living like a local. NIPPONIA itself hosts tours of its Sawara properties, complete with guided explanations about each establishment. If you're planning to explore the town, you can travel the waterways of the Ono River on a sightseeing boat, giving you the chance to take pictures while saving yourself some tiredness from all the walking. And while you're still in the planning stages for your trip, see if you can make it coincide with the Sawara Grand Festival, held every summer and autumn. It's also known as the Gion Festival, and involves a parade of giant floats moving through the neighborhood streets that run along the Ono River.

Sawara's old neighborhoods are already full of fun and excitement, but there are also plenty of interesting things to see and do outside of it. Katori Jingu, one of Chiba's major shrines, is just a short bicycle ride away. Fans of strawberries, on the other hand, should include a tour of Sawara River Farm on their itinerary as they offer fruit-picking activities and sell strawberry jams and ice cream.

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Bowing (ojigi): It's advisable to bow to show respect when greeting someone. It can also be done to show gratitude or convey an apology.
Shoe etiquette: You must remove your outside footwear before stepping on the elevated area of the genkan (entrance) and entering a house. You should also ensure not to step on the lower area of the genkan without your shoes on. Shoes must be kept facing the entrance. If you wear socks, they should be clean and without any holes.
Slipper etiquette: It's usually better to wear fresh socks or slippers inside the house, especially for formal situations. Make sure to remove your slippers before stepping into a room with tatami mats on the floor. There should also be a separate set of slippers for the washroom.
Dining etiquette: How you hold and place your chopsticks while dining is crucial. For example, they shouldn't be held upright when eating rice. You must also place them on a holder when you're not using them. It's good to say "Itadakimasu" before starting a meal and "Gochisousama deshita" after completing it.
Tipping etiquette: Tipping isn't a common practice in Japan and may be considered rude.
Luggage etiquette: Luggage, especially those with wheels, should be carried instead of being dragged across the floor as it might damage the tatami mats or wooden flooring.
Photography etiquette: Photography rules can change from place to place, so make sure to check for signs or ask the staff before taking pictures anywhere.
Queueing etiquette: Make sure to maintain queues and never cut in line.
Onsen etiquette: Some onsens don't allow tattoos, so check with the staff before getting into one. You must also shower and be clean before entering a shared onsen bath.
Bathing etiquette: Japanese baths include separate areas for washing while the tub itself is meant only for soaking. This means bathers must first wash, scrub, and rinse themselves before entering the bath tub.