Why are Japanese homes so clean?

Why are Japanese homes so clean? You’ve surely noticed that if you’ve ever been to Japan. The kawaii (cute) culture also plays an important role. The cleanliness of Japanese homes and offices will impress no matter how many times you visit. To find out more about my experience living in Japan and ways to keep a clutter-free home, read on!

1. They don’t like the mess

Why are Japanese homes so clean? To be honest, one good habit that everybody needs to have is taking care of things before they get out of hand or before they get totally out of hand.

Simple things like putting your household items away immediately after use are a habit that the Japanese have in their normal daily lives. Japanese people will quickly take care of their home even when it’s not dirty, so that means when something is out of place, they take it back to the right place, and the truth is, it makes life easier.

And not only does this a bit help their lives in general, it’s something that they’re so used to that it feels foreign to have a messy home. The habit of cleaning Japan doesn’t stop in the household; they also take it to public places like the neighbourhood, hospitals, market, and so on.

2. It’s a cultural thing

It may not be a cultural thing in other parts of the world, but in Japan, it is completely different. When you ask, “Why are Japanese homes so clean?” the answer is simple. They are very cultural people. When you make something your habit, it becomes a culture you must adhere to or maintain.

It is something they are accustomed to since they were very young. Students learn more about cleaning at school because they are required to take part in the activity daily. That means once they resume school that day, they have to clean their classrooms, the school compound, and everything else that needs to be tidied up.

Schools in Japan are very strict, so there is no way someone could violate the school authorities or feel that they are too big to clean up the school. But sometimes some kids disobey and are punished.

3. They don’t let just anyone into their homes when it’s dirty 

Anyone would be embarrassed if a visitor came to their house and found it in disarray, but Japanese people are extremely particular about their home’s appearance. In addition, just like in any other country, there are some households in Japan that can be filthy at times, particularly those with children.

If you visit an untidy Japanese home, you find that the residents are reluctant to let you into their home. This is because they believe a visitor will judge them based on the appearance of their home.

Even if they have children, it is never acceptable for a Japanese family to have an unclean home, and in order to avoid such disgrace, they do everything they can to keep their home sparkling clean at all times. When it comes to cleanliness, they take pride and joy in it, while they associate dirtiness with shame.

4. They tend to clean up because of mold and cold 

Mould grows in dirty homes, and this is especially common in Japan during the summer months due to the high levels of humidity.

They take their time cleaning up every single spot that needs to be cleaned throughout the summer, since humidity may quickly become an issue. They also don’t toss soiled clothes in the garbage because they know it can quickly turn mouldy.

5. They are hardly ever litter the floor

When you walk around the streets of Japan, you will almost never see any dirt. This is due to the fact that there are always garbage cans in numerous locations across Japan, and they don’t even make excuses when there is a major event taking place.

If they are attending an event, someone normally instructs them to dispose of their leftover wraps in a trash can. Over time, they develop a habit that encourages them to keep their home clean and orderly.

6. Households are responsible for keeping their surroundings clean

I know I stated how often they clean up the roadway, but I want to emphasise that they are also responsible for cleaning up the surrounding area. What exactly does this imply?

In other words, they take the initiative as members of the community to clean up the entire neighbourhood. Additionally, they don’t need to hire anybody as a cleaner to complete the task. During the weekend, and even on some weekdays, you will find the inhabitants of a neighbourhood coming together to clean up their immediate surroundings or commercial area.

They provide everyone with tools such as gloves, shovels, rakes, and clippers so that they can work together to clear drainage, remove weeds and grass, and generally clean up the area, which is one of the most remarkable things about Japan.

7. Buddhism Practice

Buddhism is a very common practise in Asian countries like Japan. This practise advises people to clean up the clutter in their home and environment because it helps mentally, too. When you think about it, it makes sense. Most people can barely work well when they have their environment upside down, so it’s only wise to clean up. Cleaning encourages peacefulness and mindfulness, and this is what the Japanese have learned from Buddhism.

Bottom line…

When you ask “why are Japanese homes so clean?” You’ll realize they are really clean because most Japanese people have made it a habit to clean their surroundings. Think about it, if I clean up the streets, schools, and my business surroundings daily then there’s a high probability my home is neat.

These are habits that have been imbibed in them from childhood and so when they become adults, they don’t see cleaning as a menial job but rather a cultural and right thing to do.

I would say apart from habit, being a cultured nation has also helped Japan go a long way with cleaning up its surroundings. What do you think about the question “Why are Japanese homes so clean?” Do you think they are clean people or is this another stereotype like many people have argued it to be?