Since Japan reopened to foreign visitors, it has been on the top of the priority list for the starved tourists all over Asia. Over 90% of Hong Kong people have put Japanese cities as their first and preferred destinations. The likeableness of Japan is self-evident, as
thousands have rushed to pack their luggage for a Japanese holiday since October. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, ..., are all on the booking list. Airlines have been resuming flights to Japanese cities as first-tier destinations, amidst the slowly recovering flight capacity. Other Asian cities apparently don't get a proportionate share!
As a post-pandemic observation, countries having this level of charm do reflect a cultural strength and soft power that took years to build. The variety of attractions Japan offers is amazing, from beef rice bowls to fine omakase dining, concert halls to vinyl cafes, designer brands to vintage, city walk to natural scenic hike, homestay to hot spring resorts, and general to subcultural interests, all representing a very unique destination for visitors with different interests. More importantly, Japanese society is generally admired by visitors for being polite, patient, friendly, fair, and subtly sophisticated. The many small details, which people could hardly recall one by one, have added up to make people feel the comfort and peace of mind, including the friendly facilities, the aestheticity of Japanese design, advanced yet subtle technology, clean and calm environment, the feeling of safety, etc. You don't get to see people shout in subways or dance with noisy loudspeaker music in parks or public squares!
It's interesting to probe a bit into what makes a country so likeable, or on the contrary so unlikeable! After the three years of the pandemic, we clearly see the differences and find part of the answers being rooted in the way a country is run, how people are educated and what values they hold.
December 28, 2022
