Jizzy's Japan diary

[mightyrooster]

I would highly recommend buying a JR rail pass if you go MR as it gives you great access to travel around the country at a very reasonable price.
The level of customer service in Japan leaves everywhere else in its wake and is the safest, cleanest country I've ever visited.

Thanks for that JB. I’ll keep a note of that. Yes I’ve heard the Japanese are very meticulous and high on customer service.

[ism22]

Thanks for that JB. I’ll keep a note of that. Yes I’ve heard the Japanese are very meticulous and high on customer service.

What I like about the customer service is the attention to detail. People can say it's all fake / generic how you get all the bowing and 'IRASHAIMASE!!!' kinda stuff. However, most of that's in relation to convenience stores and fast food chains anyway.

Two examples I suppose...

- As discussed during my long rants, there's so many hole-in-a-wall venues in small towns where they'll roll out the red carpet for you, even if you're their only customer of the day. Also if you speak Japanese (or they speak English... more common in big cities) then the owner will come up and have a big chat with you. Some of Australia's like this (e.g. lotsa small town pubs and stuff will give you the same service). However a few months back I remember that my wife and I had a kid-free night so we walked to a fancy bar on the lake in our Canberra town centre (Belco). It was about 8 (place closes at 11) and there were no customers (mid-week) so the owner just sat on a bar stool twiddling with his phone. We walked in an he told us to leave because he'd decided the night was a write-off (no customers). This was just one example (not hating on Aussie customer service) but it's happened to us before. I find Japan's the polar opposite. You'll walk into some random bar at 10pm that's had no customers all night... the boss will be standing up, cleaning glasses, straightening pictures, sanitising the bar...etc regardless of how many people are there. As soon as you enter, they'll have a nice big frothie on the table for you and be rolling out a heap of free beer snacks just to get you started. They don't care if they only get $50 outta you as their Wednesday-night takings... you're a CUSTOMER and their job (which they enjoy) is to serve you as best as possible. On many occasions, small bars have had me as their only customer until 2am, had a super interesting chat with me and refused to take any sorta tip as it's about the service, not the money.

- My mum's a bit of an oldie who can be quite awkward in Japan (compares everything to her 1950's trips to Europe and has to 'westernise' every experience by venting about it to me and telling me the 'history' rather than just living in the moment). However she loves the department stores in the morning. I accept her analysis that it's a bit like walking into an old David Jones or Grace Brothers... where you've got lotsa older staff who specialise in stuff rather than small numbers of kids who are just 'doing a retail job'. Also they'll tailor your suit in-store (often as part of the purchase price). I have the option of buying full-tailored suits in Vietnam (usually Hugo Boss knock-offs that use the legit wool... dunno how... but my father-in-law can get you ANYTHING in Vietnam. Think along the lines of 'somebody at the factory gave the tailor a photocopy of the official pattern and they know which company supplies Hugo Boss with wool, so order the same stuff directly'... a mate who worked at Hugo Boss in Canberra [now a lawyer] thought I was wearing an $8000 suit, and couldn't tell the difference). However, I find that I can spend less on a better cut of (brand named) suit in Japan (usually Paul Smith) because they'll tailor it for you in-store and make darn sure it fits perfectly before accepting a dollar from you. Department stores feel a lot more 'personal' to me, and in big cities they're probably all gonna speak English too.

[mightyrooster]

Yes irasshaimase or いらつしやいませ! Well best I can do on this keyboard anyway lol. I can’t get the smaller つ and や to work there. Great stories and examples of the Japanese service. They really do aim to please and are very meticulous with the cleanliness. They also I believe like their public transport to run on time - precisely. Apart from the fact I studied the language and culture for so long, it would be a great place to visit just for the mix of modern new and heritage old. The old temples and the modern cities with all the latest tech.

[ism22]

Yes irasshaimase or いらつしやいませ! Well best I can do on this keyboard anyway lol. I can’t get the smaller つ and や to work there. Great stories and examples of the Japanese service. They really do aim to please and are very meticulous with the cleanliness. They also I believe like their public transport to run on time - precisely. Apart from the fact I studied the language and culture for so long, it would be a great place to visit just for the mix of modern new and heritage old. The old temples and the modern cities with all the latest tech.

Hahaha yep and that's a classic example of the kinda thing I don't know. Like to me it just sounds like 'irashaimase' (and I woulda heard it a million times). However when I see it written down as いらっしゃいませ (I think you'll get it by typing 'ira [enter] sshaimase'), the presence of the small tsu surprises me. In a parallel world, I'd love to go back and study it at uni in order to iron out this kinda stuff. Meh at least you've taught me that one now, so thanks! (One at a time)

I definitely think you'll enjoy the mixture of old and modern. Maybe not as glam, but I also like some of the slightly retro engineering (i.e. lotsa big, industrial-looking structures). G-Cans is one such example... but even simple things like the metro system (and how complex it all it). Guess I just love the scale of it all...

[ism22]

A few photos of the journey BTW (if anybody's interested).

https://imgur.com/a/yftxWq7