What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Kanazawa?

We asked people in Kanazawa if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...

"When visiting Kanazawa, it's important to respect the local customs and traditions to avoid any cultural faux pas. Firstly, never wear your shoes inside homes, temples, and traditional restaurants. There will usually be a place to store your shoes at the entrance. When visiting temples or shrines, follow the local customs for prayer and don't take pictures where it's not allowed. Also, avoid speaking loudly or causing disturbances as these places are often areas of quiet reflection. In restaurants, don't stick your chopsticks upright in your rice as this is a funeral ritual. Also, avoid passing food from chopstick to chopstick as this is another funeral custom. When interacting with locals, avoid making direct eye contact for long periods as this can be seen as confrontational. Also, don't hug or touch people unless they initiate it first as personal space is highly valued in Japanese culture. If you're invited to someone's home, bring a small gift as a sign of appreciation. However, avoid giving gifts in sets of four as the number four is considered unlucky in Japan. Lastly, punctuality is highly valued in Japan, so always be on time for appointments or meetings. Being late is considered disrespectful and can be seen as a sign of unreliability," explained one expat living in Kanazawa, Japan.

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