Japan culture and travel: 13 lessons we can learn from the Japanese

The Japanese show incredible attention to detail in all aspects of their lives, from the way packets of food are presented at a convenience store to the way a piece of paper is folded, or the way flowers are arranged, or the way an outfit is put together. This tendency towards perfectionism seems to smooth away a lot of life's little annoyances.

Itadakimasu!

It's only a very small thing, but before many Japanese people begin eating, they'll press their palms together and say, "Itadakimasu!" It's a little bit like saying grace, only less formal – a way of paying respect for the food you're receiving, respect for the cooks, respect for the farmers, respect for nature and the universe that provided it.

Use of public transport

One of the reasons Japan has such an incredibly good network of public transport is that so many people are prepared to use it. Contrast this with Australia, where people are still obsessed with their cars – in Japan everyone takes the subway, or the train, or the bus, or they cycle. The result is a system that caters for that need, and it's an extremely good one.

Small footprint

You might say Japanese people's small footprint is borne of necessity – there are, after all, 127 million people living on a series of quite small islands. But still, there's something to be said for the compact nature of the Japanese life: the small homes, the small cars, the scant possessions, the tight personal space. There's beauty in minimalism here, in simplicity. As the world's population grows, that's something we could learn from.

Interest in good, fresh, seasonal food

Which vegetables are in season right now? Which seafood is best eaten in the winter months? Chances are, most of us Australians wouldn't have a clue. There's no focus here on eating seasonally appropriate ingredients – we just import what we don't have from other countries. In Japan, however, the diet is extremely seasonal and local: ingredients are savoured when they're available, and then ditched in favour of something else.

See also: Visit Tokyo's 'great wonder of the world' while you still can

No tipping

Officially in Australia, we don't do tipping. And yet, we kind of do. You round your bill up. Or you throw in a few coins. Or you find that a cheeky 10 per cent service charge has been added. In Japan there's no need to fret: there's absolutely no tipping. None at all. It won't even be accepted if you try.

Respect

This, perhaps, is the glue that binds everything great about Japan together: respect. It's part of the "society first" philosophy. You respect other people, particularly those who are older than you. You respect food and where it comes from. You respect nature and the world around you. You respect the importance of aesthetics. You respect the needs and comfort of others. Surely we could take a bit of that on.

Love for the natural world

Though it's easy to think of Japan as a series of concrete jungles – and to a certain extent it is – Japanese people have a deep love of the natural world. All you have to do to appreciate this is arrive in Japan spring, in cherry blossom season, or in autumn, when the leaves of the forests turn, and witness the mania around experiencing (and photographing) these annual events.

(Kind of) responsible drinking

In some ways, the Japanese are extremely responsible with alcohol. There are vending machines in public areas that sell beer, and yet there isn't a queue of 15-year-olds stretching around the block. In other ways, however – in the ways of post-work binge drinking and spending the night in a cheap hotel – the Japanese have no qualms about getting on it in a serious way. But still, things very rarely turn violent or ugly.

Small bars, small restaurants

Australia is slowly getting a handle on this – however, even for us, a small bar or restaurant is one that can fit 40 or 50 people. In Japan, a small bar seats four or five people. Restaurants have a 10-seat max. These places are often so hyper-specialised that you'll only be able to order one very specific style of food, or one type of drink, which will invariably be done extremely well. The atmosphere at these places is also cozy and personal.

See also: Where you will find the best small bar scene in the world

Culture of hospitality

Something Japan doesn't often get credit for is the deep commitment to hospitality. No one tips, but the service is still excellent. Sit down at a bar or in a small restaurant and even if their English isn't great, the barman or the chef will attempt to strike up a conversation, to make you feel welcome, to keep you entertained. Quite often that chef or barman will also walk you to the door when you leave, waving goodbye as you walk down the street.

The toilets

Japanese toilets are the best. They're always clean, the seats are heated, and they have more buttons and functions than your parents' stereo. Why hasn't the rest of the world caught on?

See also: Japan opens toilet museum

What do you think we could learn from Japan? What does Australia do better?

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: instagram.com/bengroundwater

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