The
Japanese are not only polite and friendly, they appear to be a very clean
people. We have f.i. seen how deliberately they wash themselves
before stepping into an 'onsen' (hot public bath). But they are not
only clean on themselves, they are so on their environment as well.
F.i. it is as if there are only brand-new cars in the streets. But no,
very often you can see people washing and rubbing their cars on a
parking lot. The result is shining car paint all over.
Then the
most striking thing to me is that there is absolutely no litter on
the streets. There's no scrap of paper, cigarette-but, empty
softdrink-can or bottle whatsoever to be found. Very nice and
agreeable, we have seen otherwise in other parts of the world.
Now you
would expect lots of garbage bins on lamp posts, railings etc. But
again no, there are none! None at all. We don't quite understand how
they do it. When we buy our coffee and sandwiches etc. to take away
the only place where we can dispose of the packing and empty cup is
in the shop where we bought it. We do see other buyers do the same.
That's
it, you will find no garbage bin ever in a Japanese street, neither
will you find any litter.