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.
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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…
Related: Dogs we’ve met on our travels…and the most dog-loving countries!
More Photos
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.
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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!
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.
Thanks for the comment David. Yes, they really baby their pets in Japan!
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 :-).
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.
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.
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 🙂
what a wonderful selection of photos Frank! Love them!! So many wonderful smiles!
Thanks Andy 🙂
A lot of great smiles! and I love the Cos Play!
Thanks Ric! Your Photo Essays on people helped inspire me on this post.
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!
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.
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 :-).
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.
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!
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.