Japan is a fascinating country that somehow effortlessly blends the ancient traditions of yesterday with the technology and ambition of tomorrow.
It is also a surprisingly easy country to visit as a tourist or for business — even if you don’t speak or read any Japanese.
Here are four things we love:
Hygiene
It’s not just the face masks that everyone wears, there is a general awareness of cleanliness and hygiene that is quite impressive.
If you ask locals why they wear face masks they will tell you that you wear a face mask if you have a cold so that you don’t pass on your germs to anyone else, but they seem to have become a bit of a safety blanket in every respect.
You will also see a lot of hygienic wipes — whenever you are in a restaurant or a cafe, whatever you order will be accompanied by a small, disposable hygienic wipe, it become second nature to wipe your hands before every meal.
Food
Japanese food is amazing and surprisingly diverse — with big regional and seasonal variations apparent in the cuisine as you travel through the country.
While it’s hard to beat really good sushi and sashimi, my favourite is always tempura — covered in batter and deep-fried is the only way to eat vegetables.
One of the best ways to experience the huge range of local produce that is available in Japan is to visit the food markets. Tokyo’s most famous market is the Tsukiji fish market, while in Kyoto the Nishiki Market is great to explore. In Osaka head to Dotonbori — the ultimate street food experience.
Culture
Japan’s ancient traditions and customs are fascinating — whether it’s Kabuki theatre, Sumo wrestling, or their talents for garden design and calligraphy.
However it’s also intriguing to explore some of their more contemporary cultural developments such as anime and manga — the graphic art predominantly found in comics and novels. Some of the themes explored in the world of Anime can be fairly extreme and deal with subjects that might otherwise be considered taboo, with a heavy emphasis on sex and violence.
Transport
Japan is famous for its trains and the Shinkansen or “bullet train” really sets the benchmark for what train travel should be — constant departures, modern trains that are spacious and efficient. The service on the trains is incredibly professional, neatly uniformed ticket inspectors that bow politely as they enter each character and then bow politely again as they leave the carriage once all tickets have been checked.
The other main mode of transport seems to be cycling. Cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto lend themselves to cycling because they are flat and have wide pavements. Cyclists and pedestrians share the pavements which makes it particularly safe for the cyclists but a bit hair-raising for the pedestrians who have to be on their toes to dodge the numerous cycles as they wobble uncertainly along.
Whatever your interests you will find plenty to entertain and intrigue you in the weird but wonderful country of Japan.