We can easily notice the wonderful things about other countries, but we often have a hard time noticing the good things about our own country.

There are many scenes that may seem ordinary to Japanese people, but are praised as ``wonderful'' by people overseas.

10 Amazing Things About Japanese Culture That Impress Foreigners

This time, we will introduce 10 things that foreigners find wonderful about Japanese culture, mainly things rooted in the inner self, such as behavior and customs.

Polite

The word "sumimasen" is often used by Japanese people, and is used in a variety of ways, such as to apologize, to greet someone casually, or to express gratitude.It does not have a very formal image, and is often used as a kind of casual communication.

On the other hand, overseas, the meaning of "I'm sorry" and "Excuse me" is different from the Japanese "I'm sorry" and "I apologize," and they don't use the word "apology" so easily because "apology = admitting one's fault and responsibility." For this reason, Japanese people are perceived as people who apologize often.

While talking on the phone on public transport is not uncommon overseas, in Japan it is considered bad manners. Don't shout on the train or bus, and keep your voice down when talking to friends. From an overseas perspective, these things are also seen as consideration to avoid causing a nuisance to those around you.

In Japan, you often see people wearing masks due to hay fever and other conditions, but this is not only for self-protection, but also as a consideration to prevent spreading a cold to those around you if you catch one.

In Europe and the United States, masks are only used in medical and cleaning settings, and you rarely see people wearing them on the streets. For this reason, many people seem surprised at the high rate of mask wearing among Japanese people.

This natural behavior that makes everyone feel comfortable is appreciated as a sign of Japanese politeness towards others.

Line up neatly

When Japanese people wait in line, they look for the end of the line and line up there. It is rare to see people boldly cutting in line.

At the train platform, you line up according to the marks painted on the floor, wait for passengers to get off the arriving train, and then board in order.

However, in other countries, people don't seem to pay much attention to queueing, and if they see a crowd of people, they'll go to the front to see what's going on, and then join the queue without any ill intentions. Also, sometimes people who have been lining up properly will tell them off, which can lead to arguments.

For this reason, many people highly praise Japanese people who line up neatly and in accordance with equal rules, while being considerate of those around them.

Trains and subways arrive on time

In Japan, trains run on time, and if a train is delayed, a delay certificate is issued. In contrast, overseas, it is rare for trains to arrive on time, so people are often impressed by Japanese trains that are punctual.

In the past, a Japanese news story about a railway company apologizing for a train departing just a few seconds too early became a hot topic overseas. This caused a lot of surprise in Japan, but it just goes to show how strictly Japanese train schedules are managed.

The hospitality culture permeates every corner

Japanese hotels, restaurants, and other establishments have been praised overseas for their excellent hospitality. People seem to appreciate the polite service, such as when restaurant staff crouch down to take orders or when bank staff help customers when they are confused.

They are also impressed by the small details of service, such as the free provision of water and wet towels at restaurants, and the fact that when shopping on rainy days, plastic bags are placed over paper bags to keep items dry.

There is no tipping custom

Despite the extremely polite service, people are surprised to learn that tipping is not a custom in Japan. When a foreigner leaves a tip on the table after a meal in Japan, the waiter, thinking it was left behind, comes back to return it.

Whether or not there is a tip, it makes you realize once again how wonderful Japanese service is, with its attentive hospitality.

The security is excellent

Japan is ranked in the top 10 for safe countries. However, sleeping on a train abroad can make you a target for pickpockets, so people are surprised to see Japanese people sleeping defenselessly on the train.

Furthermore, the sight of people leaving goods and money at unmanned vegetable stands and other places speaks to the honesty of the buyers, the trust in the sellers, and the good public safety of Japan.

Vending machines are everywhere

Japan is said to be the world's largest "vending machine powerhouse" when it comes to land area and population ratio, and vending machines are found everywhere. There is a wide variety of products, not only drinks but also food, cigarettes, umbrellas, and more, and people are often surprised by the sheer number and variety of products.

In other countries, there are cases of items and money being stolen from vending machines, but in Japan, where the security situation is good, such incidents are rare, which is one of the reasons why vending machines have become so popular.

It seems unusual for foreigners to have both hot and cold drinks in one machine.

Clean toilet with washlet

Many people are impressed by Japanese toilets for their cleanliness and functionality. Washlets, in particular, are not commonly seen overseas. People are amazed by the convenient features such as washlets, heated toilet seats, and sound-blocking toilets, as well as clean spaces such as powder rooms, even in hotels, restaurants, and recently in shopping malls.

For Japanese people, cleanliness of toilets when out and about is something that is taken for granted, and it would be nice if such things were appreciated overseas as well.

The students clean the school themselves

Did you know that in many countries around the world, cleaning of schools is done by cleaners? In Japan, students clean classrooms and toilets, but this seems like a very unusual sight to people from other countries who are not used to this custom.

Cleaning time is set aside as part of education, and the spirit of cleaning up the places you use has been cultivated in Japan for a long time.

If you lose or forget something, it may be found later.

I often hear stories of foreigners who lost something in Japan and were thrilled when it was returned safely.

If you lose or forget something overseas, the chances of it being returned are almost zero, so this point is also attracting a lot of attention.

I'm sure there are many Japanese people who have lost valuables but had them returned, and the joy they felt at that time may lead them to take the action of turning something they lost into the police if they find it themselves.

summary

If you think deeply about the "10 Great Things About Japan" introduced this time, it seems that consideration for others is what they act on. Perhaps the reactions from overseas have made us realize once again that Japanese people are a nation that thinks not only about themselves but also about others, and values cooperation.

I want to continue to cherish and preserve this wonderful culture so that we can rediscover the wonderful things about Japan and always be proud to be Japanese.

This article has been partially re-edited by KARUTA from an article originally published on "Nihongo Biyori."
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