Japan has 47 prefectures, and the prefecture I live in is ranked ninth most attractive in the 2024 edition of the Local Brand Survey conducted by the Branch Research Institute. I live in Shizuoka and I have to agree, it is a gorgeous place.
When I first came to Japan, I lived in Hokkaido, which has taken the number one spot every year for the last sixteen years. I also agree with the survey’s top choice.
I’ve traveled to many places in Japan, and I can’t say I’ve seen any ugly or dirty places. With forty-seven prefectures, one has to be number forty-seven, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a nice place.
I often hear that foreign tourists, especially those from Asian countries, like to shop in Japan. I'm not a big shopper at home or away, so I am curious about where tourists shop and what Japanese products people buy.
Interesting for me, Geelee Media Group recently conducted a survey through its website Let's Go Japan, which provides tourist information for people from Taiwan and Hong Kong who want to visit Japan. The survey received responses from 2,634 people. When asked where they wanted to shop in Japan, 89.9% said drugstores, 86.9% said supermarkets, 85.9% said convenience stores, and 76.4% said department stores.
The next question in the survey asked what daily necessities do you want to buy in Japan? The highest response was toiletries, including toothbrushes, shampoo, and bathsalts at 80.7%. Next was cosmetic items at 62.3%.
Another question asked about what types of medicinal products the respondents wanted to buy. Remedies for stiff shoulders, back pain, and muscle strain topped the list with 71.9%. Another 64.8% wanted medicine for insect bites and skin inflammation. 64.3% listed fever reduction and pain relief items, and 62.9% said eye drops. Only 1.8% said they don't plan to buy medicinal products when visiting Japan.
Do you shop for things when you are traveling? What do you buy to take back home? I buy snacks or souvenir treats for my friends, but never the kind of things people responded about in this survey. I wonder if this means Japanese products are excellent or maybe it is the current exchange rate.
The travel website Good Luck Trip recently conducted an online survey, asking people who have visited Japan what kind of inconveniences or problems they encountered. Of the 891 responses (106 using English, 102 Korean, 103 simplified Chinese, and 580 traditional Chinese), the website has released the top ten results.
1. Wi-Fi environment (31.5% of respondents)
2. Not being able to communicate with facility staff (20.2%)
3. Lack of non-Japanese signage and difficulty understanding it (17.5%)
4. Difficulties using public transportation (approximately 16%)
5. Lack of trash cans (approximately 16%)
6. Difficulty using mobile payment apps (approximately 15%)
7. Difficulty using credit/debit cards (approximately 15%)
8. Lack of places to smoke/understanding where to smoke (approximately 14%)
9. Exchanging currency (approximately 14%)
10. Discount train/subway tickets (approximately 9%)
Granted, I don't know where the respondents to this survey came from or what their travel experience has been, but I may have responded differently. Here is what I think about these answers:
Wi-Fi seems to always be available in hotels and convenience stores, but free wi-fi isn't as available in other places as in the US and Europe. I have a rental pocket wi-fi gadget, so public free wi-fi hasn't bothered me. Many airports offer rental pocket wi-fi gadgets on a short term basis. If a tourist is used to free wi-fi everywhere, Japan's lack of it would be a surprise.
Lack of English skills in facilty staff. In cities and many tourist areas this hasn't been a problem. Even in out of the way places, people try to express the basics in English. Also, Google Translate is very helpful. I would not consider this a problem. Even when I broke my arm when I was vacationing in Okinawa and the hospital staff there didn't speak English, I didn't think it was a problem.
Lack of non-Japanese signage and difficulty understanding it. In cities and most tourist areas this hasn't been a problem. In hotel rooms, it might be difficult to figure out the kanji signage (such as how to use the television or air conditioner), but again, Google Translate is very helpful. Museums often have only basic signage in English and none in other languages, but offer audio headsets or other language help.
Difficulties using public transportation. I would disagree with this for the most part. There are always picture signs for how to board and pay for the bus. It is very easy to buy local train tickets by machine. The one thing I have found difficult is buying a shinkansen (bullet train) ticket from a machine. Most places have a person who can sell the ticket, but twice in Tokyo, there were only machines, and that would have been difficult to do on my own.
Lack of trash cans. This is totally true, but not a problem. In Japan you are expected to take your trash home with you. Many/most drink machines have a place to put your empty PET bottle.
Difficulty using mobile payment apps. This has not been a problem for me because I don't use any mobile payment apps. Many people have told me they love using payment apps, but I don't have a phone and I am happy to use cash for most everything.
Difficulty using credit/debit cards. I don't use credit cards for day to day purchases (like I did in the US). If I buy something online or something big, like a plane ticket, I use a credit card.
Lack of places to smoke/understanding where to smoke. I don't smoke, so I don't pay attention to where smoking is allowed. In large train stations and airports, I see glassed in areas for smoking.
Exchanging currency. This might be a problem for foreign tourists. I have seen currency exchange places in airports and some hotels, but since I live here and deal with yen, I don't look for where to exchange currency.
Discount train/subway tickets. Travel/tourist websites offer this kind of information. Also, tourist information places in or near train stations can tell you about these things. Some places have an all day unlimited use ticket or a discounted weekend ticket.
Even with some minor inconveniences, Japan is still the best! Service people are incredible and there is not the culture of tipping in Japan.
If you have been to Japan, did you have any problems or inconveniences? What about in other countries?
Japan has one of the longest life expectancy rates in the world, and as of September 1, 2022, there were 90,526 people over 100 years living in Japan. According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan Hospice Palliative Care Foundation in September 2022, with 1,000 respondents in Japan aged 20 to 79, only 22.0% (16.5% of women and 27.6% of men) said they wanted to live to be 100 or older.
Reasons given for wanting to live to be 100 years old were: "want to enjoy life for as long as possible" (68.2%), "want to see children and grandchildren maturing and growing up."
Reasons given for not wanting to live that long included, "don't want to cause problems for others" (59%), "it would be hard physically" (48.2%) and "financial concerns" 36.7%.
Another question on the survey was if they would rather pass on before their spouse of partner, if they could choose. More than 60% of men in all age groups said they would. More women wanted to pass on after their spouse or partner.
I thought this was an interesting survey. Personally, I would like to live as long as I am physically and mentally healthy. What do you think about living past 100 years?
I read an interesting article on nippon.com about parental involvement in youth sports in Japan. The study, conducted by the Sasakawa Sports Foundation, on parental involvement in youth sports in Japan found that mothers did more than fathers in all categories. The survey was based on the responses of 2,400 mothers whose oldest child attends elementary school.
It found that mothers looked after their child's participation to a greater degree than fathers, even when both parents worked outside the home. When the youth sport involved a team (like baseball or soccer) mothers took on even more of the duties, like transporting groups of children or preparing snacks for the team.
I don't have children and I wasn't involved in elementary school age sports myself, so I don't know who does what when it comes to youth sports. What is it like where you live? Has parental sports involvement changed any since you were a child? What would you suggest is a fair division of the youth sports tasks for parents?
The new school year in Japan began a few weeks ago and the Kuraray Company, which manufactures synthetic leather for school bags, has released its newest first grade survey. Four thousand children who just entered elementary school were asked what they want to do when they grow up. It is interesting to compare this year's dream jobs with those of twenty years ago.
(I love that # 9 on the 2022 Girls' list is worker at ice-cream shop!)
How do you think the answers of the the children's parents compare?
If you have children, what kind of job do/did you want for your children? What did you yourself want to be when you grew up? Did your ideas for your children or yourself change?
I really like reading about the surveys taken in Japan. Market research company Rakuten Insight conducted a survey of of Japanese aduts aged 20 to 60 about their end of life planning.
About 70% said they intend to make end of life preparations at some point, with the most common examples being "managing household goods" at almost 61%, and "managing PC or smartphone data" at just under 40%. It is surprising to me that these two were so much higher than preparing a will or funeral and grave arrangements.
I suppose no one really wants to think about their own death and that is the reason many people don't make any plans. The problem with that is, if you don't make plans, someone else who knows less about your stuff, has to handle it after you are gone.
Another question on the survey was whether they wanted to keep or delete items that are part of their "digital estate" after death. About 70% of those surveyed wanted to delete everything.
I don't have any social media accounts, like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, so I never gave any thought to this. I would like my blog to stay. What do you think? Do you want your digital estate deleted after you die? Who will take care doing that?
