My first visit to Japan a few weeks ago amused and amazed me. We witnessed the splendour of sweet, pink flowering cherry blossoms that cover Tokyo and grab the attention of local people and travellers alike.
Stores and shops there offer hundreds of items and of high quality. I found that the country is one of the best places to shop for toys in particular.
One of my colleagues asked me to buy a plastic figurine of a fictional character for her child. What staggered us was a big toy store with shelves full of everything from cute dolls and radio-controlled cars to game boxes and electronic pets.
After minutes of digging around for the toy, we decided to ask for help. We didn't think we could make it on our own because the store offers endless choices of toys.
There was good customer service not only at that store but every other shop we visited. Shopkeepers greeted customers with welcoming and polite gestures when entering and leaving the stores. A small local handicraft shop offered gift wrapping free of charge when I bought a hand-made purse for my mum. And the wrapping style was so nice.
Stores offer a wide variety of products, and sometimes it's difficult for us to identify what each item actually is. Sometimes the only clue was a picture on its box. When we asked a storekeeper what a product was, she was willing to explain it. Her friendliness and service mindset was very impressive, but we didn't understand a word as she talked in Japanese.
The country is kept clean. The streets are tidy and public toilets are also well maintained. Each toilet is fitted with electronic seats and other features such as automatic flushing and a blow dryer. Most women, including me, are concerned about sitting on a public toilet seat. But with the comfort and advanced features it offers, it's hard to resist. And when giving it a try, the seat is warm and so comfortable. Wow!
Japan has age-old traditions and at the same time it's very technologically advanced. This combination makes the country impressive.
What's more, I like the self-service at a supermarket near the airport. When customers paid at a cashier point then they were given plastic bags. And they had to go to another nearby area to pack what they bought themselves. By doing this, it saved a lot of time for customers queuing behind.
Although most people say the Japanese are polite and have good manners, I personally don't completely agree with them. At a noodle shop, I was deeply shocked when a man who was wearing a suit and tie for work was sitting next to us loudly slurping his noodles. I know it may not be fair to blame him because things that are socially acceptable in one culture can be impolite or offensive in another. I was taught to keep as silent as possible when doing such things as eating, walking on stairs and closing doors as the noise may disturb others.
Well, Japan is not on the top of my list of travel destinations but I think I am going to return there. If I was to go back, I think I would have to take Japanese courses and practise until my language skills are strong enough to communicate to local people effectively. That would take years. Making just a quick trip to the country, I already felt frustrated because I had to rely on others. I counted on a guide who asked a shopkeeper for product details. I counted on a person who knows Japanese and helped me order a bowl of noodles when a vendor got into a panic when I firstly ordered and asked him in English if there was beef in the dish, as I don't eat beef. I trusted my memory to remember landmarks, otherwise I would get lost when travelling around on my own. Most sign posts are exclusively in Japanese.
I already started learning the language from a book by myself to ensure that my next time in Japan would be more enjoyable and fun. Sayonara.
Sukhumaporn Laiyok is a feature writer for the Life section.