Everyone I know that has been to Japan has never come back to me saying they were not impressed. It always leaves an impressionable imprint to those who visit, leaving you lusting to go back and experience it once more.
It starts with the simple greetings and bows of respect their people will give you in any establishment you go to. And somehow you find yourself bowing to them back! The hospitable culture is never forgotten despite the societal pressure and busy lives they lead.
They help strangers in need even though language barrier hinders them from communicating. They help as if it is the most natural thing to do - whether you are a traveler lost in your way or a drunk salaryman passed out on the streets.
The respect for others is so ingrained in their culture and tradition to a point that it is enviable. Even in public areas like trains, not one talks loudly nor disturb other riders with the sounds playing on their phone.
And same goes for the respect of their old traditions as we witness their locals embracing their traditions by performing Temizu at temples and wearing traditional garbs like kimonos, practicing Yabusame (the Japanese horseback archery), and many more.
Culture and tradition are tricky. They change throughout time and they are unique to every country and every race. As our time advances forward, leaving nothing but memories of the past and forces you to transform with it, we tend to forget where we came from and why things were how they were back then. But Japan was able to preserve theirs amidst the continuous industrialization and modernization of time. I couldn't expect otherwise.
As a stranger from the outside looking in, many countries can learn from Japan. Learn to keep their identity, the local culutre, and tradition, not just conforming to whatever is dictated or following what is on trend.
