What are the things that absolutely delight you about Japan?

I'll start: I love those huge, steaming hot bowls of ramen with pork & onions that you can get anywhere for like 500 yen.  And whenever you drive around, each town & region has their own special variant: Onomichi ramen, Yamaguchi ramen, etc. etc.  Perfect meal on a cold winter day!

Heated toilet seats.

I absolutely love that Iwakuni has both Mountains and Rivers combined. I love the Japanese brand cookies!

I love that they got like 100 different flavors of Kit Kat bars, and a lot of them are seasonal. So you get Cherry Blossom kit kat in the spring & pumpkin in the fall. And you can't find them anywhere; you gotta look around & get lucky so it's real special when you find them.

The sense of welcoming and community from the wives and families stationed here and the open helpful attitude of the Japanese citizens.

Oh, and the TRAIN SYSTEM, YAYYYYY.

Here are a few that come to mind:

- No tipping (and you usually get cheerful service)
- Trains are always on time
- Yaki-anything (tori, niku, soba etc.)
- Pickled wasabi-flavor Nozawana in Nagano

Good to see a thread about the positive aspects of life in Japan (Thx ThaiGuy)

Coco Ichiban and Chu-his!

here are the things I love about japan:
1. food: like ramen (reasonable price + tasty), chicken (very tender), Mr. dougnut, sushi, sashimi (fresh), cake (not too sweet...), wasabi (i can eat with rice) ..... i can go on and on about food!

2. customer service: always be on time, always do what they promise...

3. heated toilet seats, bath, heated floor...

4. Hot spring spa, beauty salon ....

My wife & I have driven everywhere from Sasebo to Yokosuka, and we love those rest stops along the toll roads. You don't see them much around the Tokyo metro area, but once you get away from the city they are like every 10-20 km along the toll roads. They always have a little restaurant where you put yen in a machine to get a ticket for the food you want. Take the ticket to the counter and they whip up your food real quick. Price is always reasonable. We love the katsu-don, soba, curry rice, katsu-curry, tempura udon, etc. The larger rest stops have bakeries with fried chicken, funky chicken sandwiches, all kindsa baked goods which we love. Our favorite rest stops have Starbucks (we've only seen 2-3 including one at Miyajima near our home.) Many of them have a magnificent view of the ocean or countryside.

Our road trips are always at a leisurely pace, so we stop frequently and enjoy these little oases. They are very fun and relaxing!

Oh, and I almost forgot... Many of these rest stops have the most awesome coffee vending machines. They take 2-3 minutes to make your coffee, but the beans are ground fresh right inside the machine and the coffee is brewed fresh cup by cup. It costs maybe 200 yen per cup and is absolutely delicious. There's a video display showing what's going on so you can envision the whole process right in front of you. You can choose the amount of cream or sugar you want and it's always perfectly made. :-)

Time for another road trip!!

*I love that you can get anything out of a vending machine.
*I love that Japanesse people dont want to call CPS on me because I only buy ONE gift for my son for christmass.(how much I buy my son doesnt = how much I love him)
*I love that everyone takes there shoes off before the come into my home. (Do you know how much cleaning that actually saves me from, doing?)
*I love that even most of the sweets are healthy. Even some of the hard candy.
*I love the potatoe man!!! He is way better than the ice cream man.

Potato man? Ice cream man? Please explain. Have I been missing something?

Pasmo and Suica cards and the fact that they work for trains, buses AND vending machines that have cold stuff and HOT COFFEE

I have to agree about both the rest stops (especially the one close to Narita that has a great display of flight information!) and the hot/cold vending machines. It is so much more fun to wait there and relax, and shop, than to go straight to the airport lol, and the vending machines are genius

Also, I love how japanese are always polite, even if they are annoyed by you or are actually being rude (flashing their lights to say thanks as the cut you off anyone? LOL). And they will often go out of their way to help you, especially if you have a young child with you and traveling alone. I will miss that.

Best thing - even with as many vending machines as there, and so few trash cans, everything is so CLEAN. I can touch the railings at the train station without immediately wanting to grab sanitizer!

1. So clean
2. Extremely low crime
3. Houses are cheaper than comparable ones in America. (You can't buy a house in a low crime area, near a train in a big city in America for under $100k)
4. Property taxes are lower
5. My utilities were lower (but I run a cooler house in winter)
6. The homogenus society and the fact that you can discuss politics and social issues w/o trying to figure out if it's offensive to any special group.
7. Their superb immigration policy.
8. Trains and buses that make it easy not to own a car.
9. Customer service that rivals anything I've ever seen.
10. People that have pride because they do something good, and feel shame when they do something bad. In Mississippi everyone is proud, even that garbage that contributes nothing.
11. Extremely polite and courteous people. No cell phones ringing in the theater.
12. An abundance of activities, scenery and food at my fingertips.
13. Lack of drunk people that are violent, criminal a$$holes.
14. Laws that punish drunk drivers and other idiots appropriately.
15. Allowing private businesses the right to refuse service to anyone.

Not sure if I should go on, but honestly I agree with so much I struggle to find the things I don't like.

Where do I begin? We fought hard to come here and feel very fortunate to be here.

1. THE FOOD!!!!!! Ramien (I've literally been to over a hundred ramien places), izakayas, yakiniku joints, cheap yet succulent sushi, the endless supply of interesting and unique foods, the theme restaurants, the mom and pop and "one man show" restaurants where they create world class eats on nothing more than a small grill and a stove, FEST FOOD!!. (I've been here for almost three years and have yet to eat at an American chain restaurant and only eat at the "Club" for office engagements.)

2. Politeness. In this respect Japan is the most civilized society in the World. Even with the horrendous traffic, people still drive in the most polite manner.

3. The way that people take pride in what they do and the whole tipping thing.

4. The natural beauty.

5. Frequenting Japanese grocery stores. This has become a weekend ritual for us.   

6. Public transportation.

7. Expressways. We love to travel. I'm all for paying the toll if it reduces the traffic

8. That there is at least some type of festival or "goings on" every weekend within driving distance or by train. I've been to some pretty hokey matsuris, but have enjoyed every one.

9. Everyone I have dealt with has been friendly and helpful.

10. Our growing circle of Japanese friends.

11. That I have no kids, no pets and no houseplants to tie me down and that my wife speaks the language fluently.

Thai guy you dont know about the potatoe man!!!!!!!!!!!
The one that drives around my neighbor hood has one of those funny trucks. On the bed there is a cast iron stove type thing. Its in the shape of logs stacked in a triangle. He yells potatoes and something eles Im not sure what it is over his speaker. You flag him down like you would the ice cream man. Then he opens of that cast iron stove and there are fresh roastes purple sweet potatoes all cooked and warm and yummy! You pick out which potatoes you want and he weights them and you pay. They guy that drives my nieghbor hood knows me well.........i think he even makes a second lap because he knows we are done with dinner at 6:30. Love the sweet potatoes for desert. They are so sweet and warm and mmmmmmmmm.........I want one now....

焼き芋 (yaki imo - roast sweet potato)
These guys cruise around residential neighborhoods from late fall through the winter.

Their attention to detail and focus on customer service. I could name other positive attributes, but those come to mind immediately.

16. The layout of the bathroom. I especially love deep tubs that recirc and never get cold.
17. The gas stove that does everything. Why can't my American stove maintain oil temps automatically? The fish oven is perfect and so fast.
18. Storm shutters that block out all light in my bedroom.
19. Tatami floors. Soft and pleasant on my feet.
20. The feeling of additional freedom since there's no need to worry about crime. I hate the fact that criminals strip law abiding citizens of so many opportunities in America.
21. Izakaya. It is so awesome.
22. Touchscreen menus at restaurants so you don't need to bother with a waitress. Please let these take over America so we can ditch all the crappy customer service.
23. Politicians that still have backbone.
24. A lot of intelligent people. No amount of education can cure the wave of ignorance facing America.
25. The fact that they have culture and traditions, and are allowed to practicee them without debate or fear of offending a minority.

Okay... that's enough for now.

Nice list randy..
www.japanbases.com

Ok, we're on our 2nd page. Keep 'em coming! Let's overtake that "gripes" column. Surely the benefits of being in Japan outweigh the downside.

Here's one... I love those parking lot or gas station attendants that when you have to pull out into a busy street they run out & stop traffic in both directions. And then they bow to the other drivers to thank them for the inconvenience of having stopped you momentarily. It's this attitude of cooperation for the common good that is so refreshing, everywhere you look.

Been awhile since anyone showed some love to Japan on this forum.

I love that Japanese convenience stores (Lawson & Family Mart) have public restrooms & that they are always clean.

I love the trains. I always wanted to know what it would be like to live car-less in a place that had great public transportation. I had previously been blown away by Washington DC, New York, and London. Now I'm totally spoiled by the JR and Keiku lines.

Along the same "vein" of the gas station attendants bowing, the other day when I was driving home, I stopped midway in the block to allow 2 elementary school children to cross, well j-walk really. Anyway, once they had safely reached the other side of the street, they both turned and bowed. I thought, "WOW! what a country!"

I have also noticed that when cars leave a car dealership, the employee(s) will stop oncoming traffic and will bow (towards the departing customer) about 3 times with a few seconds between each bow even when the car has since passed waaay down the street.

"WOW! what a country!"

I love how quiet and calm it really is.

My apartment over looks both the Yoko-Yoko and the Keiku line, I don't hear the highway, and when sitting in my place in absolute silence it's very rare to hear the low quick and in no way obtrusive rumble of the train.

I don't hear any of my neighbors; above, below, or to the sides. Children are polite, quiet, well dressed, calm, intelligent and attentive.

I'm sure it's been said before but I love that the Japanese "welcome" you when entering their stores --so much so that you get almost a chorus when entering stores with a large staff, ha ha.

I was walking over to get takeout for my husband at the food court this evening and I got a "irashaimase" from a Japanese employee cleaning the soda fountains. I was so caught off guard I paused for a moment because that just doesn't happen on base. We're lucky to get a hello in American stores.

I love how fast the internet is. and the fact that it is everywhere.

I love the fact when I get lost I can always find my way back and even find something new!!!!!

Posted By Elizabeth on 01-20-2011 10:04 PM
I'm sure it's been said before but I love that the Japanese "welcome" you when entering their stores --so much so that you get almost a chorus when entering stores with a large staff, ha ha.

I was walking over to get takeout for my husband at the food court this evening and I got a "irashaimase" from a Japanese employee cleaning the soda fountains. I was so caught off guard I paused for a moment because that just doesn't happen on base. We're lucky to get a hello in American stores.

So my wife's shopping at Uniqlo & I'm sitting by the front door waiting.  I watch the Japanese employees folding & restocking clothes, but every time they hear a customer walk in the door they literally drop what they're doing, run up front to bow and irashai, and then go back into the aisles to resume their work.  It's fascinating to watch, they appear genuinely delighted to see each new customer, and they never seem to get tired of running back and forth.  

Such a refreshing contrast to surly American workers who view patrons as nothing but an annoyance.

These are all the things that make me so excited to move there!

lady gaga , love tokyo  tatoo 

1. insanely fresh fish
2. the fact that the food in convenience stores is fresh and delicious (and not a three-day-old hot dog rotating on a greasy grill!)
3. customer service (I love the bowing and the shouting of "welcome" and "thank you"!)
4. work ethic -- even the flagmen on the road wear uniforms and white gloves and bow to thank you for stopping!
5. sense of personal responsibility
6. the fact that school kids are expected to clean their schools every day -- no janitors
7. senbei!!
8. how safe it is to walk alone and leave your house or car unlocked
9. incredibly friendly and helpful people
10. onsen!
11. japanese bathtubs -- I miss being able to soak in a tub up to my chin!
12. tiny, fuel-efficient cars
13. cute everything! Kawaiiiiiii!
14. seasonal produce and local foods
15. fantastic public transportation
16. incredibly beautiful geography
17. respect for the elderly
18. festivals (the Kurume City Fire Festival was unbelievable!)
19. local crafts
20. sumo
21. Japanese commercials
22. rest areas on the highways
...the list could go on and on!

Here's another thing I love... Last night, I flew back to Osaka from a trip to the states. I'm riding the airport train to the Shin-Osaka station. I jump off & make my connection on the shinkansen, before realizing I left my glasses on the first train. So I call my wife, she calls her Japanese friend, who calls the JR office. JR staff tracks down the train I was on, and when it pulls into Kyoto (250 miles from my home) they find my glasses. They're sending them down to our friend overnight, and I'll have my glasses back only 36 hours after losing them. Only in Japan!!

P.S. This works with wallets, too. You lose a wallet, camera, etc. you can pretty much expect to get it back intact.

I like the dollar stores. They are so jam packed you could spend hours in there. They have 100 different types of cup hooks and a thousand little saucers and bowls. There are hundreds of kinds of paper and tape and folders. There seems to be a container/organizer for every need you will ever have your entire life. Need a stamp case? There are fifteen to choose from.

I like that people dress their age. You don't see a fifty year old woman wearing skin tight jeans and stilettos or a sixty year old spray tanned man with his shirt unbottoned to his navel.

I like that whatever job a Japanese person has they seem to take pride in it and do it to the best of their ability. The people that clean the floors at the Purdy Gym, for example, the gym floors and gleaming and there is not a dust bunny in sight. Even thought the floors already look fantastic the Japanese lady still sweeps them and I saw her spend about 2 minutes making sure the door jamn was spotless.

I like that I can let my kids go to a different place than I am at, while we are out in town, and I am not petrified that a child molester is not going to try and grab them (my youngest is 11).

Posted By ThaiGuy on 01-31-2011 10:12 PM
Here's another thing I love... Last night, I flew back to Osaka from a trip to the states. I'm riding the airport train to the Shin-Osaka station. I jump off & make my connection on the shinkansen, before realizing I left my glasses on the first train. So I call my wife, she calls her Japanese friend, who calls the JR office. JR staff tracks down the train I was on, and when it pulls into Kyoto (250 miles from my home) they find my glasses. They're sending them down to our friend overnight, and I'll have my glasses back only 36 hours after losing them. Only in Japan!!

P.S. This works with wallets, too. You lose a wallet, camera, etc. you can pretty much expect to get it back intact.

Same thing happened to my husband just the other week in Nagasaki....he lost his nice, expensive mouse to his laptop on the bus going to the airport.  After making a few phone calls, he found out that some kind, Japanese person turned in his mouse at the Lost and Found in the airport.  That would never happen in the states!  It's so nice to live in a country full of honest, thoughtful people. 

I was at a Japanese buffet restaurant near Iwakuni with my wife. It's self-serve, but the staff will bring your drinks. They always place the drink on the table, take a step back, bow, and leave. So I'm watching the waitress bring a drink to an empty table cuz the patron was at the buffet loading up. The waitress places the drink, takes a step back, bows to the empty table, then goes.

It's not so much the deferential attitude that impresses me, but their sense of "doing something right" even when they think no one is watching, that I find remarkable and refreshing.

Thai guy, that reminds me of the workers on the Shinkansen... the food ladies, the ticket people or any staff member, they bow when they enter the train and bow again when they leave- even though they are behind everyone and no one is probably watching them.

Seems like everything has been mentioned here... So I guess I'd say I like that anybody can wear anything without getting raped or getting laughed at. Girls would be wearing short shorts and tiny skirts and nobody cares. Harajuku girls dress up like its holloween everyday and nobody cares. You can wear whatever you want at anytime, anywhere =).

I also like it that Japanese don't really care about a person's job or status in life. They respect everybody's job. Best Customer service! If you ask a staff who doesnt know the answer to your question, they would ask their boss or manager who can answer it for you. And pretty much, if they work for jewelries, they know about jewelries, if they work for electronics, they know about electronics.

Can't get enough of that squid-on-a-stick!  Squidcicles anyone? 

My family enjoy staying at Minshukus and having traditional meals...

We also enjoy soaking away in onsens!

1. Heated Toilet seats and Heated Floors.

2.Strawberry picking farms.

3. Courtesy, politeness and honesty.

4. Cleanliness.

5. Convenience store which is really there for your convenience.

6. Bikes with baskets...

I love that when you go and have your car fixed, they not only fix it but clean and detail the inside. This is at no extra fee! Its part of teh service.

I love that they have a service that picks up your care at the airpot, stores it and then meets you at the airport when you arrive back.And its cheaper than regular airport parking......

I love that you can spend 2grand on a car and its nice and acutally works!

I love the shrimp flavored cheetos

I love the green tea flavored kitkats

I love that when you are driving and put on your blinker the person in the next land actually slows down to let you in. Not speeds up so they dont have to be behind you.

I love the fact that whenever my neighbor hood gets a new police man, he goes door to door and meets everyone. Even me.

I love the fact that every neighbor hood has their own little police station thingy. It has the same officers all the time so they know everyone in the neighbor hood.

I love the fact that you can go too the neighborhood police when you find a dog running loose with a collar and they know who the dog belongs too.

wow, thats nice about the police i n japan. I love kit kats but i don't think I will be able to eat the different kit kats.

I love how my local police officer also lets us know when it's ok for us to turn onto the major road by my house.

It's a big curve and by the time I manuver far enough to look around the bend, I'm about half-out into the road.

Did you know there is a delivery service where you can send your suitcase to the airport or hotel for one, low fixed price? I think it's by Black Cat delivery, it only costs like $25 no matter how heavy the suitcase is. This is how Japanese travel all over Japan on the train, and all they have with them is a little roller carry-on bag; they send the big stuff on ahead. In Iwakuni, you can use this service at the ITT (MWR) travel office; the other bases may take care of it as well.

I love anything that has green tea in it: green tea ice cream, green tea chocolate, and even green tea itself.

I love the train system and really missed it when we were in Okinawa on vacation.

I love the safety and the courteousness of the Japanese.

I love the pampering that you get at a Japanese hair salon.

I love the great food that you can get at 7-11 when you just want something quick to bring home.

So much more but that's it for now!

omg the purple sweet potatoe ice cream is heaven!!

I forgot to add "Potato salad"

Okinomiyaki. Just learning to say it is fun, watching them make it is a trip (or you can go to a build-your-own okinomiyaki teppanyaki restaurant). It's basically Japanese pizza made of noodles, egg, cabbage, batter, seafood or other meats, ginger and the wonderful okinomiyaki sauce.