Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

2 rules found

Local customsEveryday mannersPlace-specific guidance · Germany

Germany: most shops close on Sundays

Do

Shop for food and essentials on Saturday
If you need to shop on Sunday, go to shops at railway stations, airports or petrol stations

Don’t

Planning a shopping trip for Sunday

There is no penalty — you will just find everything closed. Sunday is protected as a day of rest by the constitution, and each state allows only a few 'open Sundays' a year.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Library of Congress law blog: Germany's shop opening laws

Local customsRestaurants & barsPlace-specific guidance · Japan

An izakaya's otoshi is a cover charge

Do

Accept the otoshi as an appetiser

Don’t

Arguing with staff about it or asking for it to be taken back

There is no penalty: before you order at an izakaya, a small dish of otoshi always arrives. It doubles as the cover charge and cannot be chosen or swapped.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: drinking in Japan