Japan: A Tourist’s Experience and the Reality of Society

Jarkko Sipilä
Sep 15, 2025
3 min read

I spent two weeks in Japan during my summer vacation, visiting my daughter who is on a student exchange there. And I was deeply impressed. The kindness of people, the calm flow of traffic, the cleanliness and aesthetics of both nature and the built environment. More than 30 million people live in Tokyo. How is it possible that the city feels safe 24/7, and the streets remain spotless even though public trash bins are almost non-existent?

Kindness as a Daily Norm

As a tourist, I was warmly welcomed. Japanese service culture, omotenashi, is based on the idea that a guest is treated with respect and their needs anticipated in advance. This is visible everywhere: in restaurants, hotels, traffic, and even in how passersby interact. It’s not just about pleasing tourists but a deeply ingrained cultural norm.

Traffic Discipline in a Megacity

Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area in the world, yet traffic operates calmly. Pedestrians follow the rules, drivers are cautious, and public transport runs with clockwork precision. Behind this lies the societal value of wa – harmony. Each individual adapts their behavior for the sake of collective order.

Cleanliness Without Trash Bins

One of the most striking things was the cleanliness of the cities. Public trash bins are rare, as most were removed in the 1990s for security reasons. Yet the environment remains clean. Why? Because people take their trash home. This reflects how powerful collective norms are: cleanliness does not come from enforcement, but from an internalized sense of responsibility.

Tourists Welcome – Immigrants Not So Much

As a tourist, I truly felt welcome. Tourism is an important source of revenue for Japan, and hosting visitors is both an economic and cultural strategy.But when it comes to long-term immigration, the picture changes. Foreigners make up only about 2–3% of Japan’s population, and permanent immigration is approached with great caution. The tourist is greeted with a smile – the permanent newcomer faces more obstacles. At the same time, Japan is struggling with an aging population and mounting debt – its debt-to-GDP ratio is the highest in the world.

Nature, Aesthetics, and Design

I was also struck by the sheer beauty of Japan’s nature. Over 70% of the country’s land area is mountainous, with landscapes ranging from steep slopes to serene bamboo forests and meticulously designed gardens. Nature is not just scenery, but an integral part of Japanese identity and aesthetics.

This is also reflected in architecture, design, and art: simplicity, harmonious proportions, and sensitivity to nature are deeply rooted in the culture. Compared to the Nordic sense of aesthetics, where practicality and clarity dominate, Japan’s way of combining beauty, nature, and everyday usability feels unique.

Experience and Facts Side by Side

When I put my experiences and the facts together, a broader picture emerges:

Kindness and order are genuine and deeply embedded in culture.
Cleanliness and discipline reflect strong social norms.
Despite the warm welcome to tourists, Japan is one of the most closed OECD countries to immigration.
Nature and aesthetics show that the experience of beauty and its appreciation are central elements of Japanese life.

In summary:

As a tourist, I experienced Japan as an open, friendly, and harmonious country. In terms of statistics, however, Japan remains cautious about permanent change and the acceptance of outsiders. At the same time, its profound sense of aesthetics and respect for nature make it truly unique. To put this experience into a broader perspective, the table below compares the strengths and challenges of Japan, the Nordic model, and the USA.