Japan is relatively clean, safe, well organized (weseethisinTokyo, Osakaandotherbigcities; five, ten, twentymillionpeople, thelevelofefficiencyisexcellent), and people mind their own business.
Incredibly rich culture, there’s always something new to learn.
I have two, My most liked is the Onsen, No 2 the Japaneses culture EG. when I see school children walking home from school enjoying playing around in the snow, which is rarity in the western culture and it bring back memory of the fun we had when we had no such danger that exists in todays western culture.
Young kids out playing all day without supervision. Most of my best childhood memories come from those lazy summer days. I was happy my kids could have them as well. My brothers kids back home -all play is supervised play. I think that is quite sad.
The service is top notch, the cleanliness and orderliness of the surroundings is impeccable, and public transportation is reliable. Plus, as someone who loves to bike, the country is cyclable.
Clean toilets, conbini services, online shopping (no porch pirates), CYCLING, skiing & snowboarding is still very affordable, trains accessible almost everywhere and driving is so easy (tho the racist process of getting the license is awful).
Yes! Especially the Washlets! And the fact that outside of Tokyo, no one has an issue with you using them freely. And they are super clean. Second cleanest toilets after Dubai.
Another thing is the drinking style in Japan. You just sit lazily at a table and shout Sumimasen and the staff come and take your order. Trying to get staff's attention in the west can be a pain. Nomihodai as well. Private rooms (Koshitsu) and a place where you can remove your shoes (Zashiki)
Onsen.
Mountains. I am a mountain lover as is my wife and we love exploring tiny hamlets up in the mountains of various prefectures.
General lack of aggression and machismo. Nice people with a fundamental sense of respect.
We live in the countryside, so mountains, fresh air, super affordable land. Loads of great roads to cycle on without idiots in sports cars or a 4x4 haring round blind corners.
The chance to design and build a house (twice!). Completely unaffordable in the UK.
Snow, autumn colour, new greenery in spring.
The ability to let my kids walk (miles) to school or their mates houses without people telling me to worry about paedos.
Great internet (given that its the countryside)
Cost of living that is low enough for us to have three kids and most people to not use food banks. In Japan, we get extra benefits for child #3, in the UK you get nothing (i.e., the benefits stop at child #2).
I liked being a foreigner who can speak Japanese. It opens up conversations pretty much anywhere I go in Japan, with some pretty interesting people, and because the majority of them have never really talked to a foreigner beyond 'my name is Shota' and 'konnichiwa, Jim desu', they are often very interested in being able to talk to someone who can engage them on conversations about politics, religion, business, and cross-culture stuff etc. It's usually their first experience directly hearing comments like this, rather than something filtered through a translator.
Of course, sometimes, such as when I just wanted to catch a taxi home after a long day at the office, I didn't necessarily want to have a conversation, but more often than not, I enjoyed the interactions with people.
I also love the hotsprings, the food, and the fact that people are generally polite. You don't get a lot of a$$holes in Japan by default.
If only I'd been asked this question before! haha. This is the kind of question you get good responses for from people who have been living here a short time. After having been here so long not having been home much in that time, it's hard to objectively say. Unless convenies back home have changed a lot, I think I can safely say the convenience stores here are still bar none the best (save for ATMs and some other nit-picky things). Service for the most part at most shops is decent and staff very well-mannered, and places are pretty clean (not quite as clean as some posters make them out to be, but still).
Oh yes, some of you already mentioned this. The people. In the US and Europe, you can get punched/attacked for just looking at someone in the eyes…; generallyspeaking, that will never happen in Japan with a Japanese person…;
inJapan, people still remember the meaning of honesty and politeness…, they will bring your food to your door without licking it or stealing pieces of it and they will give you all the attention in the world when you’re in a store or in a restaurant…;
people are too aggressive in the West… this aggressiveness… the lying and the rudeness… in the West, this is automatically part of our daily lives. But this is not the case in Japan…; some people criticize honne and tatemae but (Idon’tcareaboutthoughts, Imean, they’rejust… thoughts, so) I like/prefer the non-confrontational side of Japanese people.
The first couple of things that come to mind are great and affordable healthcare and lower taxes without filing Japanese taxes. Other than that, great train transportation, healthy foods and a safe country (compared to my country).
28 Comments
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Moonraker
Being a total outsider.
rcch
Japan is relatively clean, safe, well organized (we see this in Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities; five, ten, twenty million people, the level of efficiency is excellent), and people mind their own business.
Incredibly rich culture, there’s always something new to learn.
Toilets everywhere.
John-San
I have two, My most liked is the Onsen, No 2 the Japaneses culture EG. when I see school children walking home from school enjoying playing around in the snow, which is rarity in the western culture and it bring back memory of the fun we had when we had no such danger that exists in todays western culture.
Spidey
The toilets!
S
Olive
Young kids out playing all day without supervision. Most of my best childhood memories come from those lazy summer days. I was happy my kids could have them as well. My brothers kids back home -all play is supervised play. I think that is quite sad.
Toshihiro
The service is top notch, the cleanliness and orderliness of the surroundings is impeccable, and public transportation is reliable. Plus, as someone who loves to bike, the country is cyclable.
SDCA
Food, onsen, and nature are my top 3
Garthgoyle
Clean toilets, conbini services, online shopping (no porch pirates), CYCLING, skiing & snowboarding is still very affordable, trains accessible almost everywhere and driving is so easy (tho the racist process of getting the license is awful).
Oh and yes, onsen.
Sven Asai
You make me fear. Most implies that it is only one liked thing, the most liked one, not some and also not many.
wallace
It a very difficult to put a single one first. Living my wonderful life with my spouse.
Aly Rustom
Yes! Especially the Washlets! And the fact that outside of Tokyo, no one has an issue with you using them freely. And they are super clean. Second cleanest toilets after Dubai.
Another thing is the drinking style in Japan. You just sit lazily at a table and shout Sumimasen and the staff come and take your order. Trying to get staff's attention in the west can be a pain. Nomihodai as well. Private rooms (Koshitsu) and a place where you can remove your shoes (Zashiki)
Onsen.
Mountains. I am a mountain lover as is my wife and we love exploring tiny hamlets up in the mountains of various prefectures.
Aly Rustom
Sorry. forgot to add the following:
Most important is the abundance of old traditional martial arts dojo (which is what originally brought me here decades ago)
No tipping.
24 convenience stores that sell everything you need 24/7
M3M3M3
The fact that nearly everyone is Japanese.
kohakuebisu
General lack of aggression and machismo. Nice people with a fundamental sense of respect.
We live in the countryside, so mountains, fresh air, super affordable land. Loads of great roads to cycle on without idiots in sports cars or a 4x4 haring round blind corners.
The chance to design and build a house (twice!). Completely unaffordable in the UK.
Snow, autumn colour, new greenery in spring.
The ability to let my kids walk (miles) to school or their mates houses without people telling me to worry about paedos.
Great internet (given that its the countryside)
Cost of living that is low enough for us to have three kids and most people to not use food banks. In Japan, we get extra benefits for child #3, in the UK you get nothing (i.e., the benefits stop at child #2).
Strangerland
I liked being a foreigner who can speak Japanese. It opens up conversations pretty much anywhere I go in Japan, with some pretty interesting people, and because the majority of them have never really talked to a foreigner beyond 'my name is Shota' and 'konnichiwa, Jim desu', they are often very interested in being able to talk to someone who can engage them on conversations about politics, religion, business, and cross-culture stuff etc. It's usually their first experience directly hearing comments like this, rather than something filtered through a translator.
Of course, sometimes, such as when I just wanted to catch a taxi home after a long day at the office, I didn't necessarily want to have a conversation, but more often than not, I enjoyed the interactions with people.
I also love the hotsprings, the food, and the fact that people are generally polite. You don't get a lot of a$$holes in Japan by default.
bass4funk
Not going to lie, the food was a big draw for me.
smithinjapan
If only I'd been asked this question before! haha. This is the kind of question you get good responses for from people who have been living here a short time. After having been here so long not having been home much in that time, it's hard to objectively say. Unless convenies back home have changed a lot, I think I can safely say the convenience stores here are still bar none the best (save for ATMs and some other nit-picky things). Service for the most part at most shops is decent and staff very well-mannered, and places are pretty clean (not quite as clean as some posters make them out to be, but still).
Mr Kipling
The lack of alienated immigrant populations committing crimes.
Blue sky in winter.
24 hour access to alcohol.
One in three of the population is not obese..
Mocheake
You can drink anywhere outside, the women generally look and dress nice and you can find a toilet pretty easily.
yinyang128
Too many to mention..
Kaitenzushi, yakiniku and family diner like Joyful, etc cant remember how much family time we spent with the kids here.
The cars, big fan of their kei cars and family wagonsha.
The electronics, very durable and good quality, love kotatsu in the winter
Karaoke, video games (big switch fan, fun times with the kids)
many drop in sport circles for just a few hunded yen
anime, manga
Uniqlo and Shimamura
100 yen shops like Daiso, Seria
safe , clean, good service
ETC
Okinawa, stunning beaches, great culture and nature
paypay and the likes-merkari, bought tons of used stuff still in good quality for fraction of new price
-don xiqote
-nitori
-vending machines
good quality fresh fruits, somehow the fruits just taste better than back home-SA/PA, service area parking area...gotta love the rest areas where I can shop, eat...
-the list goes on and on....
Algernon LaCroix
It's not often I agree with Strangerland, but... yeah, what he said.
Plus - onsen under falling snow.
The snow.
Generally high level of public safety
Fascinating history and culture
Izakaya
Karaoke boxes
Tonkotsu ramen
Geographic variety
Tetrapods
Ubesh
The cost-of-living is pleasant.
Food is delicious.
People are nice and friendly.
rainyday
What part of Japan are you living in where only one in three are not obese?
rcch
Oh yes, some of you already mentioned this. The people. In the US and Europe, you can get punched/attacked for just looking at someone in the eyes…; generally speaking, that will never happen in Japan with a Japanese person…;
in Japan, people still remember the meaning of honesty and politeness…, they will bring your food to your door without licking it or stealing pieces of it and they will give you all the attention in the world when you’re in a store or in a restaurant…;
people are too aggressive in the West… this aggressiveness… the lying and the rudeness… in the West, this is automatically part of our daily lives. But this is not the case in Japan…; some people criticize honne and tatemae but (I don’t care about thoughts, I mean, they’re just… thoughts, so) I like/prefer the non-confrontational side of Japanese people.
Chico3
The first couple of things that come to mind are great and affordable healthcare and lower taxes without filing Japanese taxes. Other than that, great train transportation, healthy foods and a safe country (compared to my country).