There are a lot of posts about negatives aspects of living in Japan (and pretty much every country online). So, can you share some things you like about living here? Perhaps we might find some sense of community and appreciation for this place.
Edit: appreciating the comments so far. There’s a good mix and plenty to value.
33 comments
Kotatsu
Amazingly cheap food and drinks when eating out
Rakuten points
Yaki Niku – the best.
I like the Weekly Praise Thread, where this should be posted.
I can walk down a pitch dark alleyway with ¥5万 in my pocket and not worry about getting rolled. I can leave my car unlocked and everything will be there when I get back. I hardly lock my apartment if I am going out to lawson or family mart for a quick bite
Apart from the obvious ones, I really appreciate that (most) people don’t make their own problems other people’s problems. This happens quite a lot in certain societies and just creates negativity.
The fish/seafood.
Washlets (although you can start finding them in other countries)
1. The relative safety from opportunistic crime. It isn’t that dangerous back home as well, but still there were people who can’t mind their business.
2. Speaking of that, people in Japan just mind their business. No small talks, no random encounters. It’s good more often than it’s not.
3. The attitude to food and eating. People love eating. Plenty of cheap eateries, plenty of different food, can be picky if you want.
4. Transport infrastructure. From the extensive train network to the highways. I don’t like highways next to my home, but I absolutely love travelling on them.
5. Speaking of travel, the sheer amount of mind blowing travel destinations within Japan.
6. The attitude towards alcohol. I don’t even drink that much at all, but there’s something liberating in this almost Mediterranean easiness towards alcohol.
7. Weirdly, the economy. It might not be the most exciting economy in the world, but still it is quite active with plenty of opportunities.
8. Finally the climate, although it’s valid for Tokyo only. It’s so warm and sunny! Compared to Northern Europe at least.
I like the food here , always new stuff in konbini, McDonald’s coming out. Anime, manga , people are normally considerate . Customer service better than most countries. The convenience and safety. Rent is quite cheap compared to the Uk.
Last week, Amazon put the stuff I ordered in front of my door for 3 days and when I got back, it was still there.
I, for one, like the sub 1% mortgage which is closer to 0% once you factor in the income tax breaks
It’s literally free money
Convenience store everywhere with very accessible prices.
Cheap restaurant.
My purse once fell out of my bag in a Baskin Robbins and one of the employees sprinted after me to return it. It had both of my cards plus like 20,000¥ :’)
Also, rent is so much cheaper- student accommodation wise. My accommodation last year in the UK was £6800 for 43 weeks of pure hell (I had awful flatmates). It was nice accommodation other than the shitty people, en-suite bathroom and that. But I stay in my Japanese exchange university’s most expensive accommodation and it’s like £3400 for the entire year. Shared bathroom but my flatmates are really nice and we all take turns cleaning and stuff. In my university city back home I don’t think I could get a cardboard box for £3400
Significantly less air pollution than my home country China. It’s getting better back there, but still.
Comic/anime culture. Their working environment is shitty as hell, though.
There is so much thing to praise for. As someone who read about Japan from when I was a small child I always want to experience the Japan life. Living here for more than 4 years and I would say It’s not a disappointed experience.
Probably the thing I love the most is how well keep everything is. No trash, beautiful nature. Clear skyline even there are so much tall buildings.
Cost of living being reasonable.
No street crime.
Convenience in going to and from work.
On top of my head right now: breathable air, walkable cities and towns, karaoke, food.
Four seasons. Did someone already take that one?
I like not having to think about guns. Like ever.
Nature, food, convenience even in the countryside, nature, public transport for when I don’t wanna drive, cheap cost of living outside of lame Tokyo
Green tea and onsens
Sooo clean. Low crime. Super convenient. Amazing food.
I’d say the variety of natural beauty here is unparalleled
People leave you alone for the most part
Mortgage rates are insanely good
No-one buys second hand houses so you can get decent value for money on the houses
Train network
Postal network
Safety
Ryokans/onsens
Awesome people. Great workers (at my place of business). Lots of convenience. Great food. Fun bars. I don’t have to drive. Things are affordable.
The food, safety and convenience stores 😂💕
I can walk out the door and not worry about
1. Are my peers going to kill/rob me?
Or
2. Are the police going to kill/rob me?
Really helps with quality of life not having to worry about those things and the adjustments you have to make to everyday life to avoid it.
Yeah, Japan gets too much criticism. I think there are only a few countries that are better than Japan overall. Cleanliness, security, infrastructure, these are the most important things in life. How many developed countries can you think of that are better than Japan in these areas?
Men
I’m not treated like a 2nd class citizen for not being able to drive.
Matcha and Bookoff. I love Bookoff.
The lack of tweakers. Goddamn it’s hard going home and seeing how bad things have gotten.
Japanese people keep their drug use to themselves. I’ve never had to shoot some blanks into the air to get the tweakers out of the shed. Never had our catalytic converter sawed off in the middle of the night. Never had to put locks on our garbage cans.
Crimes happens. But in my day to day life…it’s so peaceful.
I like Japan for it is not a boring country and because it has a lot of inventions to make life easier.
Don’t need a car, most cities. From Canada, every adult needs to piss away $10000 USD/y average.