Though half a world apart in geography, history, language and just about anything else you could name, Cuba and Japan are not entirely without similarities.
Both are island countries, albeit in different stages of development, and both are in the throes of full-on tourist drives, which got me thinking: After 12 years of Japan's culture of omotenashi, which aims to scratch itches you don't yet know you have, maybe it's time to try a different kind of hospitality.
The draws of Havana are, of course, many and well documented: The capital is famous for being a time capsule, with its gleaming 1950s automobiles, authentic live music houses and stunning array of architectural styles and landmarks. But each year FITCuba, a government-sponsored tour, puts Cuba's best foot forward by showing off one of the island's many diverse regions to foreign media. In early May, the 37th FITCuba tour brought me to Cuba's eastern extremes: the provinces of Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.