Japan: the land of 1,000 conveniences, from heated toilets to revolving train seats
Olympic-goers gearing up for their 2020 trip to Tokyo who have yet to experience the country’s quirks and charms can look forward to a plethora of public services and pragmatic devices that make people’s lives more bearable
Heated toilets that spray users clean, train seats that revolve so passengers can admire the scenery and a convenience store on every corner: welcome to Japan, where hospitality and customer service form part of the country’s DNA.
Visitors readying to flock to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics can expect a dizzying array of services in Japan where quirky, futuristic gadgets and everyday conveniences ease people’s passage through the stresses of daily life.
“Attention to others is at the root of Japanese culture,” says Kazuhiro Watanabe, a consumer trends analyst at consulting group Nikkei BP.
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There is even a word for it in Japanese: omotenashi, or a focus on hospitality. “Here, we anticipate customers’ desires,” Watanabe says.
Don’t believe it? How about this typical – if not exhaustive – day in Tokyo.
The alarm goes off. Bleary-eyed, you head to the washroom. It is chilly but don’t worry: the toilet seat is heated.
