Hello,

A question for those of you from Japan or familiar with Japanese tradition. My husband and I are visiting Japan for the first time over the New Year. On Dec 31, we will be staying at the Watanabe Inn, a small ryokan on Miyajima island. The innkeeper has been excellent at communicating with us and explaining how their special events will work on New Year's (Chinkasai at 6pm, traditional New Year's dinner in the ryokan at 7pm, jyoyano kane at the shrine next door starting at midnight to begin hatsumode, and Osechi breakfast on New Year's day before we depart).

I've read that it's traditional to give cards on New Year's Day in Japan (like Christmas Cards in the U.S.). Would it be appropriate to bring a card to present to our hosts on New Year's Day?