Inviting guests to your home and enjoying a leisurely meal or tea time together is a priceless experience. We would like to introduce some fun ideas for entertaining guests who have taken the time to visit your home.

What does "hospitality" mean? The term "hospitality" comes from the Japanese word "mote-nashi," with the addition of the polite prefix "o-." Its etymology is said to be "to accomplish something with things" (there are various theories). These "things" can be both visible and invisible.

For example, a beautifully arranged flower arrangement in the entrance or an array of delicious dishes on the table would be visible to the guests.

On the other hand, invisible acts include things like airing out the room before the guests arrive, preparing a cake because you know they like Western sweets, or providing soft slippers because you've heard they have sensitive skin.

The Japanese concept of "hospitality" encompasses both visible and invisible acts of care and consideration.

Unique Hospitality Ideas Now that we understand the meaning of hospitality, let's introduce some ideas for entertaining guests in a way they'll love.

Feel free to enjoy the gifts they bring In some cases, it may be considered taboo to open gifts immediately when received in a business setting. However, when inviting guests to your home, the gifts are often sweets or perishable items. Since they are likely brought with the intention of sharing, confirm by asking, "Can we all enjoy this together?" and then display it on the table.

Occasionally open windows to let in fresh air About once every 1-2 hours, open the windows to let in fresh air. Even if it's cold, it can change the atmosphere for the better. It's good to find the right timing, such as when there's a lull in conversation.

Invite guests to participate in simple cooking tasks Having guests just sit and wait to be served can make them feel more self-conscious, especially if they're close friends. Let them help with little tasks like decorating desserts or grinding coffee beans. Some guests might even offer to clear dishes once they're finished eating. Remember to thank them for their help!

Pay attention to the packaging of not only food but also sweets and drinks In addition to colorful dishes, try adding a touch of creativity to the design of other items. Preparing cute snacks or tea and coffee with unique packaging can spark conversations.

In this article, we introduced tips for making your guests' time more enjoyable. The packaging of Taisetsu Coffee's drip coffee features photographs mainly by photographers from Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido, where we live. Please enjoy a relaxing moment while admiring the cute wildlife and beautiful scenery of Higashikawa Town.