Japan is living in 2050: 5 things to learn from it

Near Tokyo Skytree

I recently returned from Japan, where I went on summer break with my family.

Here are 5 things I am bringing back, and would like to share with all of you.

1. Sincerity

There is no tipping culture in Japan. Unlike the West, and really everywhere else in the world, Japanese people don't expect tips. They are sincere and will go out of their way to help and accommodate you, without expecting anything in return.

The train captain says it all. Every time he starts the train, he points his fingers at the controls, verifies each one, and then points forward when he is ready to go. All of it in one smooth motion, in about two seconds. He looks at his watch before leaving. And it is not just the trains. Even the buses run exactly on time.

2. Civic sense

People follow the systems to the dot. They cross roads only on the zebra crossings, even when there is no traffic in sight. They line up in neat queues to board trains and buses everywhere.

You see it on escalators too. Everyone stands on one side, leaving the other side clear for people in a hurry. Nobody tells them to. It is simply understood.

Even noise is handled with care. On trains, people keep their phones on silent and barely speak, so the whole carriage stays calm and quiet. A small thing, but it tells you how much they think about the people around them.

What we really need is this civic sense. Everyone has to do their bit.

3. Politeness

Every country has its own charm that attracts people. Switzerland has the beautiful Alps. Italy has Rome, Tuscany, Milan and the Vatican City. India has its culture and festivals. The Maldives has its water resorts.

What makes Japan unique is its people. Humble, polite, sincere, disciplined, kind and respectful. The common theme we saw across the country was how mindful and sensitive people were. Everyone bows and says "Arigato gozaimasu", thank you very much. You hear it constantly.

4. Kindness

At our Airbnb in Kyoto, our neighbour was an old lady. She would greet us every morning, say something warm in Japanese to my little daughter, and laugh kindly. On the day we were leaving, she greeted us once again and offered us some sweet potatoes, fresh from the farm. She was not our host. We had done nothing for her. But that simple act of giving to strangers made me appreciate the quiet joy of sharing.

From Kyoto we moved to the Hakone region, and the kindness followed us there. Our host offered to help with our huge bags by receiving them as a courier from Kyoto. She guided us through the local courier service, Yamato, so we could send our suitcases ahead. She received those bags at her own house and later brought them to our Airbnb.

We thanked her a lot, and invited her to dinner with us, which she kindly agreed to. She enjoyed the ready-to-eat pav bhaji we prepared that evening. What stood out was how she went out of her way to support us and make us feel at home. She even drove us to a nearby garden to show us Mount Fuji from a viewpoint we could never have found on our own.

This one is for Toshie Tashiro. Here is her Airbnb link in case you are planning a trip to Japan: https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/1152772662100634928

5. Cleanliness

People in Japan pay attention to the small things. Almost every house had its own little garden, or a few pots where they grew plants, with beautiful flowers and carefully maintained leaves.

Cleanliness is close to godliness is something you truly learn in Japan. Everything is spic and span.

How do they do it? Everyone makes the effort. It is not seen as the job of the government or the municipality. Their job is simply to collect the trash from outside people's homes, or to fine those who do not leave it properly. Keeping the city clean is treated as a personal responsibility.

Here is the part that seems contradictory. There are very few public bins. People usually carry their trash with them all the way back home and dispose of it there. And still, no trash on the streets.

One last thing: Tokyo just works

From Hakone we went to Tokyo. I loved Tokyo, and honestly I would love to spend the rest of my life there.

Tokyo is a fast-moving metro, yet things work well despite the massive size of the city. People are busier here. But instead of building one city centre, Japan built multiple. That is unlike every other mega city I have visited.

Japan is not living in the future because of its technology. It is living in 2050 because of its people.

There are so many more stories I hope to share with you when we meet. If you have been to Japan, share your fondest memories with me, because I just can't get over Japan.