What do you like about Japan?
 

I don't really wanna hear about all the things that are good about Japan, just the ones that you like in particular. :)

In my case, I'll list a few.

• I love that drugs are rare. In most places I've lived it was a dominant part of society, and honestly I was sick of it all.
• I love how courteous and hospitable Japanese people are. I've never met a Japanese person who turned away a chance to make my life here more comfortable in any way, it's just so welcoming and appreciated.
• I love the strong family ties here. Many families are so close and often have 3 generations living together. People take their parents opinions seriously also.
• I love that I'm not constantly being bombarded by opinions of how I should think or do, or what's right or wrong. It's not an overwhelmingly opinionated culture.
• I love that religion isn't so predominant and in my face. That I can talk about it if I want without having to worry about pissing off someone, same goes for politics.
• I love that sex isn't such a taboo thing! (I'll leave it at that... there are younger readers among us)
• I love how safe this country is, I can go for a walk at 3am through 99.999% of Japan alone with no worries about my safety. (speaking relative to other countries of course)
• I love that I can find convenient stores around every 2nd corner.
• I love that the food tastes so good and is generally healthy so I can pig out on it!
• I love that the taxes are included in the prices.
• I love the heated toilet seats with the おしり spray! (TP is barbaric...)
• I like that bikes are registered, and police do check. There are a lot less stolen bikes than in most big cities.

(This isn't a thread about what you don't like, there's already one of those.)
(I added some reasons that I remembered only after reading other people's posts ;))

Never been to Japan, so can't honestly say what makes me interested in the place as a whole. I took a course on Japanses History in colloge, that's probably where it started.

I love all the things you mentioned as well, although I do enjoy talking politics which is one of the reasons I frequent this forum!

I'll add that I love the incredible beauty of the country and it's distinct seasons. Especially up here in Hokkaido with true cold, snowy winters and nice warm summers. I've always taken more pleasure from the natural world than the human one and Hokkaido is a perfect place for that. Sort of like Alaska is to the US.

The point about not being bombarded with opinions is a good one. I think it also has to do with us being foreigners here. We are not really expected to follow all the norms this society can impose on it's own populace. This is something experienced by most expats out there in the world. It's more than that though. Australia for instance has become one hell of a 'nanny state'. There are so many rules and laws for everything and they are enforced rigorously. Here I just feel so much more free to live the life I want to live without the government trying to regulate my every move to protect me from myself.

Its secularity and uninhibitedness.

I like that GoNative and masaegu both said the same thing ;)
this bodes well for the thread!

The food handsdown.

I gained 15kg during my years stay in Japan. I'm trying hard to lose the weight but I loved everything I put into my mouth.

I think Japan's the safest country I've visited too. I never felt like I would be mugged or anything like that nor did I feel like there were places I should avoid.

I like the fact it's clean. People seem to take pride in cleanliness....

I like that people don't drop fliers on the ground.... goes to the cleanliness above....

I like that trains run on time, as a whole....

I like that the price is what you see.... no added taxes....

I love the countryside.... the beauty of nature....

I like the convenience of things.... Once I saw a 500ml glass bottle Coke dispensing vending machine in the middle of a rice field....

I like lots of things about Japan.... I'll have to think of more.... apart from what was said by others....

Oh no kidding a lot of the things you guys are posting are things I really love about Japan too but I couldn't remember at first!
Especially the cleanliness, and tax-included, and convenient stores everywhere, and the food!

The places where I've seen some vending machines blow my mind lol.

@GoNative: Yeah I'm putting on weight here too, what's worse is I'm losing muscle and still gaining weight!

Are you eating food for sumo fighters? hahahahaha
few weeks ago I was watching TV and the program that I was watching showed a restaurant specialist in food for sumo fighters, the place used to be a gimnasium in the past but the owner converted into a restaurant. Those guys eat a lot!

Ronin4hire do you usually cook your food or eat on restaurants?


About what I like:
I like the old constructions, the history in general, cars, music, games, food, the people and the fact that there aren't many thefts there.


the information boards that are everywhere, sometimes useless but still funny.

I like:

That food is seasonal.

That cycling on the pavement is generally allowed.

That clothing sizes often go by actual measurements, not some arbitrary guess by the designer.

The speed at which road repairs take place.