Japanese efficiency

As everyone knows, Japan is home to bullet trains and complicated toilets.  But coming here gave me a deeper sense of Japan's order, efficiency and cleanliness.  

It stands to reason that in a country where space is at a premium, there are rules about where to put your body.  Whether it was the subway, waiting for a ride at Joypolis, or watching an outdoor concert at Kyoto station, we were constantly being corrected on where to stand.  I'm not talking about us being totally clueless and not knowing you had to line up.  We were just politely guided each time to adjust our position ever so slightly.  I think Japanese people just like really neat lines, and if there are footprints painted on the ground, you really better stand on them.

Above all, Japan is all about smooth logistics.  Navigating Tokyo and Kyoto by subway and bus, we encountered polite, pleasant employees ready to help clueless tourists.  Tokyo's subway and commuter rail system was by far the most complicated we have encountered, yet it was the most pleasant.  

Our ranking of subway systems in terms of overall comfort (best to worst):

Tokyo

Kyoto

Taipei

Bangkok

Beijing

Hong Kong

Santiago

New York City

Buenos Aires

The biggest coup of our trip was managing to forward our luggage from Tokyo Station to our airport hotel so we could travel light to Kyoto.  I gather it's a fairly common practice, as luggage space is at a premium on those bullet trains.  It could not have been easier and was very affordable.  

I have to mention vending machines too.  All manner of sodas, waters, teas and coffees are dispensed on practically every street corner.  Even restaurants make creative use of vending machines. Hole in the wall places that cater to commuters sell tickets by machine for a plethora of ramen and soba combos, which you pick up inside minutes later.  Genius.

Attention to cleanliness is also ubiquitous.  In restaurants where shoes are not worn, bathroom slippers are provided.  Hand sanitizers are conveniently located in train stations, hotel lobbies, and restaurant waiting areas.  The pool bathroom at our hotel has a separate sink for eye washing, and one for gargling.  Blowing your nose in public is considered disgusting.  

Japan's orderliness reminds me a bit of Chile.  But the latter's was more grimly enforced.  Japan's politeness is like Cambodia and Laos, but our SE Asian sojourn was not marked by orderly logistics, to say the least.  China can approach Japan's efficiency in a certain mass organized way, but it needs a major attitude adjustment.  Hmmmm....is Japan the perfect country?  Possibly, especially if you value courtesy and smoothly functioning logistics.