Better in Japan

Here are some things, in our humble opinion, that are better in Japan:

-Fridge doors that open EITHER side. Think about it Canada! As in not an option at the time of purchase, rather everyday you can choose, shall I open the fridge right handed or left handed?

-Toto Washlets. At first these electric/automatic/super/dooper toilets were bizarre to us. They have a heated toilet seat and options include: a light butt wash, a heavy butt wash, and a bidet style wash for the ladies. After one miserable, wet and rainy afternoon trodding around temples and palaces, our rear ends greeted the toasty warm toilet seat with pleasure (that is if you can get over the feeling that someone else was sitting there for a good hour with the newspaper prior to you, blech).

-Transit. In every way, shape and form, it's better here. Way better.

-Cleanliness in Tokyo & Kyoto (and other cities too). Astonishingly clean streets, compared to Vancouver for example. Things here are kept very tidy.

-The moist napkin you receive prior to each meal in a restaurant to clean your hands.

-Customer Service. Customer Service. Customer Service. We didn't walk into a single establishment without being welcomed and thanked, sometimes profusely. Japan has this dialed. And this became especially poignant when we flew through China on our way to Bangkok. I'll leave it at that.

-People were extraordinarily helpful and willing to give us a hand whenever we asked.

-The Japanese do things right. If you pay the slightest attention to detail, you can't help but notice how well things are done/put together. This seemed to apply to most everything, most everywhere we traveled. Like the Germans, but they're more subtle about it.

-No tipping on services. We liked it because partly because things are already expensive enough, but it's so simple and hassle free!

-The fluffy down duvets at the Ryokans (Japanese style hotel). My God, these were to die for.

-The abundance of French Patisseries. My pants are very tight.

A couple of things we didn't like:

-Smoking in restaurants. It's still permitted in some restaurants, cafes and bars and frankly we just couldn't hack it. As a non-smoker it's foul when you're trying to eat.

-Packaging. It is astonishing how much plastic and paper is used here. It borders on the obscene.

-No cream for your coffee in the cafes. Milk only (mind the specialty coffees are absolutely fabulous here). Mind the milk is certainly a step above the powdered Coffee Mate I just consumed here in Bangkok.

-the Japanese Yen. The smallest note is 1,000 JPN which is equal to ~$12.00 CAD and you soon become overwhelmed with heavy coins.

-Wireless internet/internet cafes are not readily available at all. Very tough to come across.

We have to say, we love Japan and would recommend it to anyone. It's relatively easy to navigate and travel around and the residents are friendly and welcoming. One word of caution, it's expensive here. A brief list of prices for you:

-grande vanilla latte & a grande drip coffee $10.86 CAD (holy shit!)
-355 ml can of domestic beer $2.77 CAD
-1 cucumber roll & 1 tuna roll $8.84 CAD
-1 lap dance $100 CAD

We would return to Japan in a heartbeat and Tokyo especially appealed to both of us. As far as big cities go, Tokyo is fantastic!

We both want to extend our gratitude and thanks to Nick for being a gracious host. He showed us the sights and introduced us to Tokyo, opened his home to us and schooled the hell out of us in Karaoke. Then he left us with horrendous hangovers.

K & K