This last fall, local Vanessa Janssen traveled with her daughter Liana to Japan. They were joined by Vanessa's parents, sister, and her sister's boyfriend. The reason for their family reunion? To visit their dear family friend, whom Vanessa warmly referred to as her sister, who recently relocated from Seattle to Japan.

Their trip began in the bustling city of Tokyo, home to 14.1 million people. The group marveled at skilled craft markets, ancient temples, and palaces, one of which was worth 4 trillion dollars! Vanessa noted that the palace was underwhelmingly plain, and much of the cost was due to the skyrocketing real estate. Vanessa was "underwhelmed with Tokyo" altogether.

It was in her sister's new home city of Kanazawa that she learned the true nature of Japanese culture and got an inside glimpse of the local perspective. Located 305 miles North West of Tokyo, a quick 3-hour bullet train ride away stands a well-preserved city dating back to the 17th Century. Situated on the banks of the Sea of Japan, it charmingly represents the Edo period of Japan's history and architecture. The trip to Kanazawa commenced with a beach house rental on the beautiful seashore with her family. Some other highlights included a doll museum, a visit to the local aquarium, and a 20-minute meditation session in a 400-year-old temple. "I don't know if you realize, 20 minutes is a long time, especially to sit still and not move!" says Janssen. The group was instructed to clear their minds of all thoughts until a small gong was rung alerting them that their session had elapsed.

However, it was the traditional everyday actions that appealed to Vanessa. The first thing mentioned was their sanitary practices. It was customary for all people to take off their shoes in public places like museums, temples, and other attractions such as the aquarium, to avoid contaminating public places with pollutants from the street. This custom extended to the home. Vanessa was especially impressed with the design of Japanese mudrooms, which were built lower than the rest of the home and provided convenient seating for taking off your shoes, as well as ample storage to place them. An architectural note that we here in Big Sandy would most likely all appreciate in our own homes.

"There was also no trash anywhere!" exclaimed Janssen. Japanese people take great pride in their respective towns and cities and even carry personal trash bags to avoid littering.

All in all, Vanessa found the Japanese people to be very "considerate." This was not only evident in the regular citizens' etiquette, but also customer service in everything from the airlines, to the hotels, to the shops, to the rest stops. A typical rest stop comes equipped with accommodating restaurants and areas to soak your travel-worn feet. Hotels, restaurants, and airlines welcome you with a warm towel to clean your hands, and even the most budget-friendly hotels provide many of the same amenities offered in luxury accommodations such as robes, slippers, and other toiletries.

Equally impressive was their ingenuity. In a visit to the Kanazawa Castle, Janssen recalled learning that the entire building was comprised of not a single nail, nut, or metal rod, despite being made of wood! She also got the opportunity to visit a Ninja Temple comprised of secret doors and crevices that would allow Ninja warriors to have the advantage of a surprise attack on unsuspecting enemies. Another impressive architectural feat was a sprinkler system built under the famed city to assist in melting the snow off the roads. Their skill was also reflected in their beautiful silk work creations such as kimonos and other arts.

The food culture in Japan was another notable experience for the family. Both Vanessa and Liana fully emerged in the food scene trying new delicacies such as authentic wasabi, raw fish egg roe, quail eggs, and fried seaweed. Along with these local favorites were some more commonly known dishes such as sushi, miso soup, and Japanese ramen (nothing like top ramen; a delicious soup with thick noodles, vegetables, and a savory broth).

Their favorite experience? For Liana, it was to spend time with her cousins' ages 10 & 13. Vanessa likewise cherished her time with family, especially seeing her daughter reunite with her nephew and niece.

Family Togetherness, consideration of others, practicality, and proficiency in one's work are great applications to emulate from Japanese customs in the New Year and onward.