Visitors often say that Tokyo is incredibly clean.
But one thing surprises many people: there are very few public trash cans.
So how does it stay this way?
There Are Almost No Trash Cans
These are station square in the suburbs of Tokyo. As far as I can see, there are no trash cans here.
It’s in front of the station, where there’s a taxi stand and a small mall.
This is the station front with the bus stop. Many people get on and off here, but there are no trash cans.
Similarly, there are no trash cans in the small park or on the main street either.
In Japan, following the 1995 subway sarin attack, trash cans in public spaces were removed one after another.While it has become a bit inconvenient, I understand that the safety of public spaces is more important.
Once upon a time, trash cans like these were installed on station platforms, but they are rarely seen nowadays. (Photo courtesy of PhotoAC)
So What Do People Do With Their Trash?
So what do locals do? In my case, I always carry a trash bag in my bag. I put any trash I generate while out and about into the bag and bring it home with me. Then I sort it: candy wrappers go in the “burnable trash,” and empty cans go in the “cans” bin.
A trash bag in my bag pocket!
But it’s tough for travelers to carry things all the way home, right? If you want to throw away the trash from snacks bought at a convenience store, there’s usually a trash can near the entrance, so you can dispose of it there.
Cultural Habit: Not Leaving a Trace
So why don’t they litter on the streets? It’s likely due to the Japanese aesthetic sensibility expressed in this proverb:
“Leave no trace.”
From childhood, we are taught to clean up or tidy the places we use before leaving, and this has become ingrained as a way of life. Littering on the roadside goes against these virtues and feels deeply wrong.
Is Tokyo Perfectly Clean?
This is near Ikebukuro Station, where many people come and go. Huh? There’s a lot of trash lying around…
As you can see, crowded areas and downtown districts can sometimes end up like this.
Tokyo isn’t magically clean.
It stays clean because most people simply take their trash with them.
Everyday Tokyo 