Letters | How to win over tourists and make them come back, the Japanese way

Regardless of whom one asks in Hong Kong what their favourite holiday destination is, the most common response is bound to be “Japan”. What’s the appeal of the country?

Answers vary, but the most common reasons given range from the delectable cuisine and good hygiene standards, to the hospitable shop assistants and convenient transport system. In fact, it all boils down to two things – the meticulous attention to detail and hospitality of the Japanese. I experienced those two things first-hand on a recent trip there.

I was taking a stroll in Osaka when one of the nose pads for my glasses snapped and came off. I found an optician’s shop but hesitated whether to ask the staff there for help, worrying that I would be seen as an irritant.

To my surprise, the shopkeeper not only helped to replace both nose pads, he asked me enthusiastically afterwards to try my glasses on to make sure they fit. I was about to take out my wallet and pay when he just waved it off, saying the service was free. He smiled and bowed to me as I left the shop.

My experience may have been just a trivial one, but it said a lot about the attitude of the Japanese.