Cleanliness is of great importance in Japan. It’s pristine. Outside, you won’t find cleaner streets. This applies as well to hotels, especially like Amistad. Risa tells me it’s in early education. At schools, there are 15/20 minutes of cleaning time at end of the day for the students to clean their classrooms. There are no waste bins in the streets. You take them home or find 7-Eleven to throw away! Trains are spotless. At home, shoes are left at door. Cleanliness is a priority in the lives of the Japanese. It’s common for someone to be sweeping the front of their building or home and continue along the pathway to sweep their neighbour’s path.

It is inconceivable to walk in a Japanese interior with your shoes, at home or in a shared space. Shoes are to be taken off to walk indoors, in socks or in slippers (and never barefoot, still for hygienic reasons). That is why, my wife says, it is necessary to always walk around with a spare pair of clean socks, without holes!

The students sit with their satchels on their desks, eager to get home after another long day of seven 50-minute classes. They listen patiently as their teacher makes a few announcements about tomorrow’s school timetable. Every day, the teacher’s final words: “OK everybody, today’s cleaning roster. Lines one and two will clean the classroom. Lines three and four, the corridor and stairs. And line five will clean the toilets.”

A few groans from line five, but the children stand up, grab the mops, cloths and buckets from the broom cupboard at the back of the classroom, and trot off to the toilets. Similar scenes happen at schools across Japan.

Even Japan’s football supporters are cleanliness conscious. In the World Cup football tournaments in Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018), the national team’s fans amazed the world by staying behind to pick up rubbish from the stadium. The players also left their dressing room in immaculate condition. “What an example for all teams!” tweeted FIFA’s general coordinator Priscilla Janssens.

Risa says the Japanese are very sensitive about their reputation in others’ eyes. When the World Cup was held, the Japanese team cleaned their locker room and left a note of thanks. Evidence of the Japanese attitude to cleanliness. They don’t expect you to do the same at your hotel! However, I tell the story because you will receive a high level of cleanliness and order, when you visit this fascinating and pleasing country, including The Amistad Residential Hotel.

Risa tells me that Japanese society has always held hygiene and cleanliness as a priority. This is seen when you observe citizens wearing masks, cleaning up after themselves in cafes and restaurants, or bowing to each other as they say their goodbyes. In addition to this, businesses, transport services and public attractions have created new health and safety precautions for tourists to travel safely. It is clear that every individual in Japan is doing their part to make the country as safe as possible.

The most common phrases when greeting someone familiar are “Ohayō gozaimasu” (Good morning), “Konnichiwa” (‘Hello’ or ‘Good day), and “Konbanwa” (‘Good evening’).

Written by: Richard Coles

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