Three Things That Surprise Tourists in Japan: What My Guests Say
My guests come to Japan looking forward to temples and shrines, beautiful scenery, history, and delicious food. But during our tours, they are often just as surprised by ordinary scenes from everyday life.
Based on conversations with the guests I guide in Hiroshima, here are three things that surprise tourists in Japan more often than any others. Let me share them with you.
1. Clean Streets—even with Few Trash Cans
Many guests first notice how clean Japan is. What surprises them even more is that it is not only the famous tourist areas. Small streets, train stations, residential neighborhoods, and quiet country roads are usually clean too.
Finding a public trash can, however, can be surprisingly difficult. Guests often tell me, “There are no trash cans, but there is no trash on the street. How is that possible?”
A major turning point was the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. After the attack, many trash cans and coin lockers were closed or removed from railway stations because they could be used to hide dangerous objects.
Some trash cans later returned with a safer design. At some railway stations, you may notice transparent bins near the ticket gates or on the platforms. They allow staff to see what is inside, although their number and location vary by railway company and station.
Security is not the only reason trash cans remain scarce. Collecting and sorting waste costs money, and public bins can attract household or business waste. As people became used to taking their trash home, many removed bins were never replaced.
Today, popular tourist areas sometimes have overflowing trash cans when there are many visitors. Some destinations are introducing smart bins that measure how full they are, compress the waste, and notify staff when collection is needed.
We even have them in Miyajima. The smart bins there can compress waste to about one-fifth of its original size. They also help prevent litter and reduce the risk of deer eating discarded waste.
My simple advice is to keep a small plastic bag in your day bag, as many Japanese people do. You may need to carry your trash for a while.
2. Reliable and Well-Organized Public Transportation
Another thing my guests often mention is Japan’s public transportation. Trains, buses, trams, and ferries are connected through detailed timetables, and they usually operate very close to the scheduled time.
For Japanese people, checking the departure time and arriving at the platform just before the train comes feels normal. For many visitors, however, seeing a train arrive exactly when the timetable says it will is impressive.
Careful planning, regular inspections, and close coordination among staff help keep the system running on time.
Of course, transportation in Japan is not always perfect. Heavy rain, snow, earthquakes, accidents, and safety inspections can cause delays. Japan is also a mountainous country, so deer, wild boar, and other animals sometimes enter railway tracks, particularly in rural areas. Yes, an animal can delay even a Japanese train!
In Hiroshima, we may use trains, streetcars, buses, and ferries during a single day—and they are all part of the experience.
3. Clean, High-Tech Public Toilets
Japanese toilets are famous around the world, but seeing one in person still surprises many of my guests.
They often cannot believe that public toilets can be so clean. At stations, parks, museums, shopping centers, and tourist sites, toilets are generally free to use and regularly cleaned. The people who maintain them do an important job, and users are also expected to leave the space clean for the next person.
Then there are the buttons. Wash functions, water-pressure controls, sound effects, automatic lids, and warm seats can make a first visit confusing. In winter, guests especially love the heated toilet seats. Some guests love them so much that they say they do not want to go home!
At rest stops along Japan’s expressways, the toilets can be especially impressive. They may have large, bright facilities, changing tables, accessible toilets, and electronic signs showing which stalls are available. A highway rest stop may not sound like a sightseeing attraction, but its toilets can be an experience of their own.
High-tech toilets are common in Japanese homes too. According to a 2025 survey by Japan’s Cabinet Office, more than 80 percent of households had a warm-water washing toilet seat. However, the functions vary, and traditional toilets can still be found in some older buildings.
Things That Surprise Tourists in Japan—and Start Great Conversations
These small surprises often lead to some of the most enjoyable conversations on my tours. A question about trash cans, trains, or toilet buttons may sound simple, but it can reveal a lot about how people live in Japan.
I love it when my guests ask, “Why?” No question is too small or too unusual. Sometimes we talk about history and culture, and sometimes we laugh together over a confusing toilet control panel. Both are part of discovering Japan.
With MOMIJIMARU JAPAN, you are not simply taken from one sightseeing spot to another. I want you to feel comfortable, ask anything, take your time, and enjoy the day together. If you visit Hiroshima, Miyajima, or Tomonoura, I would be happy to share both the famous places and the everyday side of Japan with you.
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