It’s no secret that we love Japan. The country with its unique culture and breathtaking beauty captured our hearts long before we set foot in it for the first time. These are the top 15 reasons why we absolutely love the land of the rising sun, and why YOU should too!
P.S. Don't forget to download the HHWT Travel Planner app, available on Google Play for Android and iTunes Store for iOS, to make your trip to Tokyo even easier! You can find attractions as well as halal food and prayer spaces near these attractions, so no worries on not being able to find halal food anymore!
1. There’s authentic halal local food!
We’re ever so thankful that there are more and more halal options available for Muslim travellers! From the vibrant streets of Tokyo to snowy Hokkaido, halal food is now available almost anywhere in Japan – and you can bring some home for your family and friends too!
2. There are prayer spaces available
We know that Islam is a minority religion in Japan – and that’s precisely why we absolutely love the Japanese for going out of their way to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfil their obligations to pray.
Credit: Osaka-info
Some restaurants like these two in Kyoto and these in Hokkaido even have prayer areas in them just for their Muslim patrons, so you definitely won’t miss your prayer times! Doesn't it just show how far we’ve come in terms of understanding? ?
#HHWT Tip: Visiting Osaka and Kyoto? Don't forget to check out our article on prayer spaces in these two cities!
3. Japan looks amazing in all seasons!
There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Japan in all four seasons!
From flowers bursting into bloom during spring...
...to how everything looks amazing in autumn hues...
...and how magical Japan is in winter when its covered in pure white snow...
It definitely is a destination that’s hard to beat when it comes to showing off nature’s true colours.
4. Their quirkiness is enough for your entire life’s quota!
Whether it’s inspiring the Muslim Lolita trend…
…or creating Chindogu – practically useless (but wildly creative!) inventions we can’t get enough of…
Credit: theculturemap
We’re constantly amazed at how the Japanese come up with the quirkiest of quirky things EVER!
5. Vending machines at every corner
Who would’ve thought that anybody needed THAT many vending machines at practically every turn on the street?
You’ll never be afraid of being thirsty when there’s canned and bottled drinks not more than 10 feet away, and you’d be amazed at what else vending machines are for!
From taking your food orders to selling toys and train tickets, Japan’s love for these standalone ‘shops’ is virtually a way of life!
6. Respect, courtesy, politeness and great service at all times
It’s true when they say that the Japanese are the politest and most well mannered people you’ll ever meet. Even if there are language barriers, they always go the extra mile to help. You’ll be used to bowing more than 10 times a day in no time!
Plus, their service is almost unbeatable! We love how respect is ingrained into their society, and is something that we as Muslims should always emulate too ❤️
7. Beautifully wrapped anything and everything!
Everything in Japan needs to be aesthetically pleasing and this is also true for their packaging!
They take such great care in wrapping everything up, even if it’s just a simple souvenir. The packaging is so pretty sometimes that we can’t even bear opening them up and destroying the artwork.
We also love how they use eco-friendly wrapping cloth called Furoshiki for gift wrapping, grocery shopping or practically anything, to help reduce waste from plastic bags ?
8. There’s nothing without a system
There’s no doubt about how amazing their transportation system is – they’ve got trains, subways and buses connecting almost every single region in the country!
We especially appreciate that they’ve practically thought of processes for everything under the sun, making it easy for travelers like us to get around the country with ease (If you’re ever in Kyoto and visiting the prayer area at Kyoto Tower, you’ll be amazed at how they’re kind enough to go through the processes of how to use their prayer room with you).
9. Shopping!!
It doesn’t matter whether you love shopping or not, it’s still nearly impossible to go home without bringing something home, if not for yourself then for your friends and family.
From trendy clothes to home ware, we love Japanese designs with its cross between simplicity and over the top styles.
Take on Tokyo and its kawaii capital Harajuku or shop for yummy souvenirs, we know Japan will bring out the shopaholic in you!
10. 100 yen stores and Daiso!
On the shopping note, we’re thankful to Japan for the awesomeness of 100 yen stores and Daiso that have made its way on to our fair shores as well.
We’ve never left either store without buying something or another. Who doesn’t need a little something for the bathroom or kitchen right?? ?
11. It’s so clean you wouldn’t mind rolling on the streets!
You’ll hardly see a rubbish bin in sight when roaming the streets of Japan, but surprisingly, the streets, back alleys and…practically everywhere, is almost squeaky clean!
Cleanliness plays a huge part in Japanese culture, and is also emphasized in Islam, so major points for us here!
They’re also very serious with recycling (after all that packaging, they should be!), and this is learned from a very young age. Most Japanese schools don't even have janitors!
12. Have you seen their toilets?
Okay so nobody really needs to warm their toilet seats…or do they?? We’re sure it’ll come in handy during cold winter nights ? If you’re shy, there’s even a button to play sounds so you can do your “business” in peace!
With buttons for everything you could think of to make your visit to the loo comfortable, they’ve really gotten the toilet business down to a science!
13. The Happiest Place on Earth just got better at Disneysea!
Not only does Tokyo have its own Disneyland...
...they’ve also got Disneysea! It's the one and only nautical themed Disney theme park in the world!
We’re big fans of Disney (who isn’t!!) so this is definitely in our list – plus we’ve already got you covered with our handy tips to tackle both parks.
14. Cat cafés, dog cafés…owl cafés??
From goats to penguins, there’s a whole menagerie of animal cafés in Japan for animal lovers, since many people live in accommodations that don’t allow pets in them.
Cute and cuddly cats and rabbits not up your alley? There are reptile cafés too!
#HHWT Tip: We love animals, so we can’t wait to share with you our article on animal cafes in Tokyo soon!
15. They brought us fond childhood memories that made our growing up years so unforgettable.
Ultraman...
Doraemon...
Dragon Ball...
Pokemon...
...and countless of other anime and manga characters – Who can forget these and more, keeping us glued to our TV screens and heads buried in Japanese manga after school hours? Gundam, tamagotchi, and Game Boys...without these guys, our childhoods would have been much less colourful, don’t you think?
Bonus! The Japanese flag ??
With just a red circle on a white rectangle, Japan’s flag is definitely a confidence booster for children all over the world – you can’t go wrong with this flag if you’re required to draw it! 100% marks for sure!
We could go on and on about our love for Japan, but we’ve got to stop somewhere ? Let us know what you love about this quirky country in the comments below!
Don’t forget to download the HHWT Travel Planner app, available on Google Play for Android and iTunes Store for iOS, to make your trip to Tokyo even easier! You can find attractions as well as halal food and prayer spaces near these attractions, so no worries on not being able to find halal food anymore!
