Things About Living In Japan That Will Amaze You.

There really are so many amazing things about living in Japan I cannot whittle it down to just three or five, or seven even. The problem is knowing where to begin.

The stunningly beautiful natural environment, the incredibly clean urban environment, the highly efficient transport system, the exquisite graphic art in everyday life, the bold, exciting new and traditional architecture, the extreme respect and politeness towards everybody everywhere you go, the amazingly healthy diet and delicious cuisine they all live on............The list is quite literally endless.

Ok, let’s start with cleanliness. Believe me the Japanese have made this an art form. You have never seen streets so clean. Throw away litter? You cannot even smoke in the street, and if you do you will be given an on the spot fine. You have been warned. But hey, you could eat your meal off the street it is so clean.

And this obsession is carried on into the home. When you first enter any house, and many restaurants, you must take your shoes off. And if you think that could be a bit of a pain, get a load of this. At least in our house, all domestic rubbish must be cleaned with soap and water before you throw it into the pedal bin in the kitchen!

The plastic bags we use are special bags with a government tax on them. They are the only ones we can use to dispose of rubbish. And all the rubbish has to be sorted into three different bags; organic, bio-degradable (left over food and peelings) bio-degradable paper and cardboard, and plastics. And woe betide you if you throw something into the wrong pile.

Next, sleeping on the floor. I tried it once before and I have to tell you I did not like it one little bit. But it is the norm I’m afraid and at home I have to roll with it. Even some traditional hotels have it as the norm. But hey, you don’t get dust devils or creepy crawlies under the bed. I am now getting used to it.

Eating a low carb, non-fat diet. And that is just the beginning. We eat something called nato. Wanna know what that is ? Rotting soy. It smells and tastes foul, but hey it’s good for your health. We also eat lotus plant and burdock roots, along with seaweed and the entrails of eels. A lot of what we eat I haven’t got a clue what it is. All I know is it is organic and good for your health. I feel great on it. Never been so healthy in all my life.

And all that food comes in plastic packaging. You have never seen so much of the stuff. Indeed plastic packaging is fast becoming a bit of a national crisis point. However, help is at hand. I have recently seen it announced on the news that the Japanese have invented bio-degradable plastic bags!

Next up quiet, almost subservient, politeness. The Japanese always put their hands together and bow at the end of a contact. Some even do it at the beginning. Anything less is seen as being disrespectful.

And now we come to efficiency. If you ever want an event or just routine stuff to go smoothly, ask the Japanese to do it. Let’s face it, with 128 million people on this stunning island, plus visiting tourists and business men and women, you simply cannot afford to get it wrong. There would be absolute mayhem.

And yet, there is also a culture of what the French call ‘ laissez-faire’, which means to let things run their course, to not interfere. I suppose if things are well organised in the first place then there is no need to stick your nose in and upset the apple cart.

I think all this efficiency and prosperity started after the highly damaging conflicts of the middle of the last century, the Japanese decided to not get involved in any matters of conflict beyond their own shores.

And all that money that came from efficiency and not getting involved in the business of other countries, the prosperity that that led to, rising to become a world economic super power, was very wisely spent on improving the lives of the Japanese people themselves and their own country. And you'll be pleased to know that you will be welcomed with open arms. So if you get the chance do come and visit, there's a lot to see and do, and one or two things to learn.