Land of the rising sun: reflections?

What a great holiday! Amazing history sites and activities- but even more so the cultural difference in every walk of life. Made us question so many things about western culture. So many differences with all aspects of life. Supposedly due to / exaggerated by 200 years of closed borders and cultural isolation.
So polite. So kind! How many times were we greeted with a konnitchiwa and a deferential bow? Try doing it whilst you're jogging!! No crime. An embarrassment to raise your voice or loose your rag.
Personal space is respected, despite folk living on top of each other.
Houses seem to be made from cardboard. No insulation. Central heating is sitting under a blanket at a heated table.
No doors on hinges: everything slides...and don't forget to duck!
No beds! Futons, tatami mats and weird buckwheat pillows.
Where do we start with bathrooms?squashed baths. But don't shower in the bath but on the floor beside. Or better still, neither: go to the onsen( public shared baths). And make sure you're clean before going in the bath. And no clothes!
And, like first love, who will ever forget their first experience of the Japanese toilet? Unfailingly clean , welcome heated seat and an array of cleansing options - even in rural public toilets.
The beer is good, but let's face it , sake is best left for cleaning paintbrushes.
Expect to eat anything and everything: its unlikely to be cooked- either you eat it raw or you cook it at the table. I doubt you'll see a knife and fork. But stumbling through a meal with chopsticks slows everything down and increases the enjoyment. The diet is so healthy: obesity rates were something like 3% ( wrt 30% in the uk). Lots of oldies - many still "occupied" with road sweeping/ managing diversions/ driving local buses.
Don't ever jay walk. And don't walk on escalators ( except in Tokyo). Despite all this, everything works: everything's on time. The only thing that was delayed was our Quanta's flight on departure!
No bins- take your rubbish home! Yet so much plastic packaging! And who needs so many individually packaged wet wipes?
Books read backwards- why not? And arguably preferential for a leftie. 3 Japanese alphabets!!
Loved the minimalist art and architecture- although the zen garden left me thinking... why? Everything is meticulously chosen or placed, yet nothing is quite "perfect"- that's wabi sabi. Perfect imperfection.
What a great country!Read more