Lessons from Japan to carry into 2026

I recently spent some time in Japan, and as the year wraps up, I keep thinking about the things the country does so well. It’s a place where calm and chaos coexist and where everyday life feels more intentional than anywhere else I’ve been. These are some aspects of Japanese life I’d like to bring back to Europe with me.

1. Wholehearted hospitality
People in Japan aren’t just polite – they’re genuinely pleased to help. Whether someone walked me to the right street or a shop assistant sent me off with a bow that felt like a blessing, there’s a sincerity to every interaction. These small acts of kindness have a way of landing softly but lasting a long time. There isn’t the same sentiment in the UK, but I’d love to bring a bit of it into other people’s days where I can.

2. Noticing the small rituals
Japan turns everyday habits into gentle rituals. Things like pouring tea, offering greetings, and removing shoes at the door –  these tiny pauses give shape to the day. They made me realise not everything needs to be rushed – some moments deserve to be acknowledged. I want to focus on both enjoying the small things in day-to-day life, and taking the time to do them properly and with purpose.

3. Respect, patience, and quiet generosity
What stayed with me most was how these things blend together in Japan. Crowds move calmly, queues form naturally, people wait their turn without impatience. There’s an unspoken respect for shared spaces, shared silence, and the people around you. It’s a way of moving through the world that makes everything feel gentler, smoother, and strangely more human. I can’t change British culture on the whole, but I can play my part by trying to move through the world with the same sense of respect.

4. Respecting food — and the moment you eat it
From neatly prepared convenience-store snacks to restaurant meals, food in Japan is treated with care. Eating feels like a moment to experience, not something squeezed in between tasks. At home, food often becomes a chore — what will we make, when will we cook? I want to take that back into my own hands and turn cooking into a small daily ritual: prepared with care, enjoyed with intention. After all, it’s something I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.

As 2025 winds down, these are the things I want to carry into 2026. If the coming year holds even a little of that, I’ll consider it a good one. If not… I suppose I’ll just have to book another flight to Tokyo.

I hope there’s something here you can relate to – maybe even something you’d like to bring into your own life.

Merry Christmas to you and your families.