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The Travels of BBQboy and Spanky

The Travels of BBQboy and Spanky

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The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

Friendly faces and pets in Japan

If there’s one thing that we’ll never forget from our time in Japan it’s the people. Always helpful and friendly, they go out of their way to make you feel welcome as a visitor.

This photo essay covers the many friendly faces we met along the way. You’ll also see some dogs and cats. I don’t think we’ve ever seen pets as spoiled as Japanese pets.

 

school group in Japan
School group. If you’re a foreigner wandering around you’ll probably encounter them at some point. “Can we speak to you?” they’ll ask. Accompanied by a teacher they’re just trying to practice their English. In a few sites you might find yourself stopped several times…but we always made time for the kids.

 

pretty girls in Japan
You’ll also see a lot of girls wandering around in kimonos, especially in Kyoto. They’re tourists, most from other parts of Japan and wandering around in kimonos seems to be the thing to do. There are lots of stores where you can rent a kimono for the day.

 

Harajuku girls, Tokyo
Harajuku Girls in Tokyo. You’ll find them in the Harajuku section of the city, an area known for its funky fashion.

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)
Father and son in the small town of Tokayama, in Central Honshu.

 

girls in Kimonos, Japan
More kimonos in Kyoto. This photo was taken just outside the Tenryu-ji temple near the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

 


 

 

Related: “Must see” Highlights in Kyoto

 

tea ceremony in Tokyo
Our host for the Tea Ceremony at the Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo.

 

Vendor in Asakusa
Vendor in Asakusa, Tokyo

 

Friendly attendant at the Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa
Friendly attendant at the Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa.

 

 

Related: Asakusa and Ueno – why everyone should visit Northern Tokyo

 

meiji shrine, Tokyo. The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

girl in Japan
Above photos: the Meiji Shrine, one of Japan’s most popular shrines. Many people come here for various festivals and ceremonies. We were here in November and got to see young girls and boys celebrating Shichi-Go-San, a traditional rite of passage for three and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys.

 


 

 

People with their Pampered Pets in Japan

We’ve never seen as many dogs and cats dressed up in cute little outfits or being transported around in baby carriages or carried in people’s arms. A little over the top? Yes, maybe…

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

 


 

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)

 

Related: Dogs we’ve met on our travels…and the most dog-loving countries!

 

More Photos

pretty girl, Tokyo
Performer in Ueno Park, Tokyo.

 

Geisha in Tokyo
Girl dressed as Geisha,  Higashiyama district of Kyoto.

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)
Kids will always be kids, even if all dressed up in kimonos.

 

dressing up in Japan
Characters outside Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto (Central Honshu)

 


 

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)
Cook in Kyoto restaurant.

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan
Colourful kimonos at the Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kyoto.

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan
Vendor in Kyoto.

 

girls in Kimonos, Japan
Girls in Gion district, Kyoto.

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)
Above left: loved that dog, friendliest bulldog I’ve met.   Above right: Man who befriended Lissette while I was off climbing somewhere.

 


 

 

The Friendly Faces of Japan (and some pets)
Another pretty girl with kimono in Kyoto.

 

school group in Kyoto
More school kids. They were from a small town outside Osaka (photographed at the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto).

 

Robot and kid at main train station, Kanazawa
Robot and kid at main train station, Kanazawa (Central Honshu). 

 

buying Sake in Japan
Vendor at Sake store in Tokayama.

 

friendly faces in Asakusa
Friendly passerby in Asakusa district, Tokyo..

 

friendly faces in Japan

 

Japan is an easy country to photograph people – taking photos is the national sport and the Japanese don’t seem shy when asked. Photo credit to Lissette, she’s great at taking photos of people. Every single photo up above is hers.

 

Thank you Japan for your incredible hospitality and helpfulness. Your people make Japan a very special place in our hearts.

 


 

 Related: Why Nara was my favorite place in Japan

Related: Why we love Colombia

Related: Nationalities on the friendliness scale. Case study: Germans and Czechs.


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Filed Under: ASIA, JAPAN

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara

    February 22, 2018 at 1:52 am

    Look like a great trip! I laughed at that fluffy white dog in the stroller! I thought it was just American’s who really love their pets, but I guess Japanese do too!

    Reply
  2. David

    December 27, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    What a lovely photo! In those picture they are looking very beautiful. It is not surprising that they love their pets. The Japanese are always friendly and helpful. Last time when i was going to japan as a visitor they treat me as a friend. I became wonder when i saw some Japanese with their pampered pets. I had never seen before that. They are actually fond of pets.

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      December 27, 2017 at 6:23 pm

      Thanks for the comment David. Yes, they really baby their pets in Japan!

      Reply
  3. Sand In My Suitcase

    April 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm

    What delightful photos! And such lovely smiles :-). Not surprising that they love their pets (isn’t Japan home to the pink “hello kitty” fad?) In Myanmar, we also took photos of the smiling faces of the local people — we found them to be very friendly too. Some with cell phones also liked taking pictures of us as “Caucasian tourists” as we were a bit of a rare oddity in some more off-the-beaten-path places :-).

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 17, 2017 at 3:06 pm

      We actually expected some of that in Japan because we’ve met Japanese overseas who’ve wanted to take our photo – but funny enough it never even once during our 7 weeks in Japan. I guess our Western faces no longer a novelty!
      I can believe they’d be curious in Myanmar. The other place I remember them being very curious (actually very annoying) was in Sumatra when I was there back in 2004. I almost wanted to lock myself in my room.

      Reply
  4. Heather Cole

    April 14, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    We always struggle taking people photos when we’re travelling, mainly because we don’t have the balls to just go and ask, and also because we don’t like to intrude. But Japan seems to be THE perfect place for snapping away, didn’t realise it was such a friendly culture, and I think even we would manage a few photos (although have to say Lissette, your pics are ace, so don’t think we’d trump them!). As I mentioned before, Japan has never really been on our horizon, but having been following your experience, it’s actually moved up a few places on the list. So thanks for opening our eyes a little.

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 15, 2017 at 8:37 pm

      Thanks so much Heather, I’ll pass on the kind words to Lissette. She has a way of engaging people that is completely natural to her that I can’t do. That’s why I do the landscape pics 🙂

      Reply
  5. Andrew Boland

    April 13, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    what a wonderful selection of photos Frank! Love them!! So many wonderful smiles!

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 14, 2017 at 10:54 am

      Thanks Andy 🙂

      Reply
  6. Gaz

    April 13, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    A lot of great smiles! and I love the Cos Play!

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 13, 2017 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks Ric! Your Photo Essays on people helped inspire me on this post.

      Reply
  7. Anita

    April 11, 2017 at 9:04 am

    Laughed out loud at the cats in the hats in the stroller photo and had my heart stolen by whatever that big fluffy white dog was with the huge round head! We found that the peace sign was ubiquitous throughout Central and South America, even in small villages, when we traveled through there and looks like its common in Asia too. Loved all the people photos which just seemed to capture the spirit of Japan. And you’re right, the Japanese are photogenic as all get-out!

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 11, 2017 at 1:30 pm

      Yup, lots of peace signs in Japan! Didn’t know so popular in Central and South America though.
      Yes, they’re photogenic and actually seem to enjoy being photographed. No qualms about that in Japan.

      Reply
  8. Kemkem

    April 10, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    We found that to be true as well. The Japanese love being photographed and they all seem to hold up the peace sign. We didn’t see a whole lot of pampered pets, but then we weren’t looking. We did however notice there were few little children..very few..which l liked :-).

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 10, 2017 at 7:32 pm

      Yes, I know you don’t like those snot nosed little runts Kemkem. They have a real demographic problem in Japan and I’m not sure how they’ll handle it going forward since they don’t really have much immigration.
      Anyway, nice people the Japanese.

      Reply
  9. Lydia

    April 10, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    I love the vibrantly colorful kimonos and now I want one…lol! It’s great to take photos of monuments and landscapes but my favorites are always of street scenes and people. I also saw a similar pet culture in Thailand. At the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok there was a whole alley devoted to pet accessories!

    Reply
    • Frank (bbqboy)

      April 10, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      We probably don’t have enough posts on people. But I agree, looking at all those photos brings back memories, more so than just landscape shots.
      I’ve never noticed it in Thailand but will keep an eye out the next time.
      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      Reply

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Hi! We are Frank & Lissette from Canada. We sold our home in 2014 and have been travelling the world ever since.

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