Japan 2025
As someone with a podcast in the wellbeing space, I’m fortunate to learn from some of the world’s top experts on how to live a better and happier life. Through the dedication and research of leading psychologists, economists, and scientists, I’ve been inspired to make fundamental changes for the sake of my physical, mental and social wellbeing. (And if this isn’t your first time here, I hope you’ve been inspired, too)!
But, while their insights have been invaluable, I also know that there are endless things that we can learn from the world around us, from the everyday people who have made changes to make their lives and, critically, the lives of those around them better, too. I’ve touched on these everyday stories before in conversations with other Australians - such as the story of the retired couple who helped transform Manly's Cabbage Tree Bay but what can we learn from countries and cultures further afield?
During a recent trip to Japan - a country known for its politeness, respect for nature, and healthy living into their old age - I was lucky enough that locals were open to sharing their insights into better living with me (even when we couldn’t speak the same language)!
So in this blog post, I would love to share some of my experiences and respectfully show what I learned during my time there.
Insights on wellbeing from my trip to Japan.
Generosity through small gestures.
Sometimes, the greatest kindnesses are unspoken, and this thoughtfulness for strangers was apparent during my time in Japan. For example, when hiking the Kumano Kodo trail, previous walkers had left hand-carved walking sticks at the base of stone staircases to help others navigate the steep and slippery slope.
Later, while travelling via bullet train, an old lady offered me a window seat so I could see Mount Fuji - this might seem like a small gesture, but her awareness of the strangers around her left me with a special memory.
A connection to nature.
From mountain hikes to forest bathing (or even just adding houseplants to your balcony), countless studies show the integral link between nature and mental wellbeing. And in Japan? This connection is built into their culture. Shintoism has been the leading religion in Japan for centuries, in which a core belief is that all things have a spiritual essence called ‘kami.’ Some things have more kami than others, such as mountains, forests, waterfalls, and shrines, so connecting with nature itself can be a spiritual exercise.
Nature is still a large part of many people’s lives in Japan. Despite being one of the most densely populated countries, there are still plenty of natural spaces. Even in Tokyo, you’ll never be too far from a sprawling garden or tree-lined street.
A respect for others
I couldn’t help but notice the bullet train conductors who bow whenever they enter or exit the train carriage, showing real pride in their work. Even garden maintenance teams would ensure passing walkers were shielded from flying grass clippings.
In general, Japan often feels safer, and it’s not unusual for train travellers to leave luggage in their seats while using the bathroom on long journeys, and lost wallets are often returned to their owners.
Leaving the place better than when you came.
You won’t spot rubbish in the streets, only the street-side garbage bins, and if you buy something at a store, you generally carry the rubbish with you until you reach your hotel. This leads to a cleaner, more welcoming environment.
Inclusive of the elderly
Older adults are actively integrated into society, whether working, cleaning the shrines, or volunteering in the public gardens. All Japanese citizens are an important part of society, no matter their age.
Healthy eating
On the whole, the traditional Japanese diet is healthy, leading to very low rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Healthy options are still prevalent outside of major cities, and even the small convenience stores (known as ‘conbinis’) tend to have multiple healthy options.
Of course, not everything is perfect…
When you’re lucky enough to travel to different countries for work and experience their cultures, it’s easy to glamorise your experience there - a short holiday will only give you a glimpse into Japanese culture, and certainly not portray what it’s like to live there.
While it’s easy to romanticise the work culture when visiting (for example, the fact that the trains always arrive on time, and elsewhere services are incredibly efficient), it’s worth remembering that this comes at a cost for the locals who have to carry out these tasks expertly, with little room for human error or emotion. In fact, the long hours and social expectations of workers helped contribute to “karōshi” (death from overwork) - a tragic consequence of overworking.
High expectations also lead to rising stress and depression, particularly among younger and working-age adults. While declining, Japan still has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries.
When learning from other cultures, this is a reminder to listen to locals about their real daily experiences, as opposed to glamorising the parts we experience through tourism.
Why I Chose a Walking Holiday in Japan?
Taking regular breaks throughout the year is essential, both for our wellbeing and our productivity. And, increasingly, people are taking active holidays to get a real break from our often sedentary office work days while reconnecting with nature at the same time.
Since I was already working in the Osaka area during my trip, I decided to take the long weekend to walk parts of the historic Pilgrim route of the Kumano Kodo trail on the Iseji peninsula.
The Kumodo Kodo was once an essential network of pilgrimage trails, where Buddhists, samurai, and everyday people could use these sprawling paths to connect with the various shrines that lie on their routes. Today, when hikers take on the trail through some of Japan’s most serene mountain forests, they will cross these shrines, still embedded in nature, hidden beneath canopies or standing before waterfalls. The connectedness of spirituality and nature is a beautiful way to learn about the Shinto-Buddhism culture of days past.
While the whole network expands across hundreds of miles, today, visitors can choose a short section of the hike to complete and stay with locals in mountain villages along the way.
Hiking is a brilliant way to spend a weekend away for numerous reasons:
Hiking allows you to digitally disconnect (there’s often no signal, even if you wanted to!)
You start noticing the little things you’d miss while surrounded by traffic and technology, such as the birdsong and the chirping of insects, the crunch of footsteps, and the loveliness of a cool breeze while navigating a challenging slope on a warm day.
It helps you reassess what you really need in life - while hiking, everything you need is on your back. When you have to carry everything you need in a backpack (and don’t want any dead weight), it helps you remember that most material belongings aren’t as important as you thought.
Outdoor activities are great for mono-tasking - you simply can’t walk and text.
Walking gives you time to process things (I loved the book ‘Why We Walk’ by Shane O’Mara, which goes into more details on this)