Have you ever been to Japan? If you have, we can guarantee that there is one thing that really stood out to you compared to the rest of the world. Japan is so beautifully clean and picturesque!
Walking down the street, you are unlikely to even see so much as a cigarette butt on the sidewalk. You wouldn’t even think about finding an old potato chip packet hidden in a hedge, or beer bottles shattered on the ground.
Japan is undoubtedly one of the cleanest countries out there, and visitors are always taken aback by it. Although Singapore is equally awe-inspiring, there’s just something about Japan that pulls people in. So, why exactly is Japan so clean?
If you want to find out everything you need to know, stick around. There’s a lot that you probably don’t know yet!
Why Japan Is So Clean
In this world, it’s rare to come across a culture that takes cleanliness so seriously. Nowadays, too many people don’t care about the environment and littering, and the effect it has on the world around them.
In Japan, things are very different to United States cultures, and while visiting Japan, you will realize just how amazing it is. The cleanliness you experience while visiting most, if not all, cities in Japan will truly take your breath away.
It will make you wonder what could be, if only the rest of the world followed suit.
They Have Neighborhood Clean-Ups
Those who live in Japan will most likely take part in regular neighborhood cleanups. These cleanups are scheduled and somewhat obligatory for residents, so you know they take it seriously.
All cleanups are planned and scheduled, sometimes for as early as 7 in the morning, so working people can help too.
While on one of these cleanups, you will likely be armed with gloves, clippers, rakes, and everything else you could possibly need. Street drains are cleared, trees are cut back, and the grass or hedges are all tidied up.
Even the public toilets and parks get cleaned up. The community comes together to ensure that their area looks the best that it can be – and that’s spotless!
Greenbird – A Cleaning Organization
Greenbird is a cleaning organization spread across Japan. It invites the citizens of Japan to go through high-traffic areas like train stations, and clean up!
If you attend, you wouldn’t only be expected to be picking up empty cans or soda or food wrappers, but cigarette butts too! Nothing is too small to be noticed, and everyone knows that.
Paying so much attention to tiny things like cigarette butts might seem ridiculous to you, but it always piles up. The whole point is to clean everything up before it becomes noticeable! When people (the public) see a pristine street, they are far less likely to litter in the first place.
If you were to walk down a street or through a train station that already is filled with litter, you are more likely to simply add your can or cigarette butt to the pile.
It’s The Duty Of The People, Not the Government
You are probably noticing a theme here – it’s the people, the civilians, who are doing a lot of the work. Even in businesses, you will see the people who work there taking great care in their surroundings.
In the mornings, you will see business owners, even nurses, cleaning up the area as well as the building. People take pride in their city and neighborhood, as well as their places of work.
Recycling Is A Must
Recycling is common practice in many parts of the world, but in Japan, it’s taken to a whole new level. All garbage needs to be carefully separated for recycling, and even the neighbors will take turns to make sure everything goes smoothly.
In other words – someone will be watching you to make sure that you do the job properly. That means you will have to separate your old magazines from newspapers, and always rinse out bottles. There’s a way to do things, and you need to stay in line.
Limited Trash Cans
The fact that there are very few trash cans might make you think that littering becomes more of an issue, but it’s the opposite. Fewer trash cans encourage people to take their waste home and sort it out themselves. Japan is a country of civilian responsibility.
This only works because of Japan’s system of teaching and respect, however. From a young age, people in Japan are taught to take responsibility for your waste and always clean up after yourselves.
In school, students help clean up their classrooms and school grounds, instilling a sense of responsibility that we don’t otherwise see in the world.
You Get Bags For Everything
If you head down to the local store to buy a single can of soda, chances are, you’ll still be offered a bag for it. Why? It might feel like a waste, but by using bags for even a few items, it keeps everything in one place.
If you’re going to drink that can of soda on your way home, it better to have to carry the empty can in a bag rather than a backpack or purse. Likewise, no one wants to carry around an empty yogurt pot or something similar.
By having a bag, you can keep the waste items with you in a much easier way. This will, once again, encourage you to recycle it when you get home!
If you don’t want to get a new plastic bag, better be sure to bring your own bag! That way, you are reducing waste more, and someone who actually needs that plastic bag can have it. It’s all about being mindful.
Final Thoughts
So, Japan is a beautifully clean country, but it isn’t easy! It’s only possible for a country to be that clean with a lot of organization and mindfulness.
Educating people on the importance of recycling and cleaning up after yourself goes a long way, and the streets of Tokyo prove that.
Maybe we should all learn a thing or two from Japan?
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
