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The Reason Why Gion Captures the Essence of Japanese People’s “Clean“ Character

February 26, 2018

In case you’ve been in Japan for a while, you have probably noticed that the majority of Japanese people are following many of their traditions. At the same time, you will notice that they are not afraid to express their philosophy of life.

Is it possible to preserve these philosophies and principles even in the 21^st century? Is it difficult?Well, let’s take the clean character as one of the many characteristics of Japanese people.

The clean character of Japanese people

Similar to other Asian nations, Japanese people are known for their exceptional appreciation of cleanliness. One of the main reasons why Japan is clean is the fact that people who live there like to cooperate with each other without expecting anything in return. For instance, they are often organizing neighborhood clean-ups which are scheduled on a regular basis. It’s also not unusual for them to keep small pieces of trash (for instance an empty can) with them for many miles before finding a suitable place to throw them. There are also many volunteer litter cleaning organizations all over Japan.

Gion, the most famous district in Kyoto, is the symbol of the clean character of Japanese people. Gion is able to maintain a clean atmosphere with the help of all the reasons we’ve mentioned before. Of course, the local authorities are investing a lot in cleaning because they want to attract tourists, but it’s not unusual to see ordinary people cleaning the streets themselves in the morning simply because “they don’t want to see trash there”.

An introduction to Gion

Gion is a district that managed to preserve most of the buildings in Kyoto that were built in medieval time. This means that you can find many civic structures, not only religious structures. The charming streets of Gion will make you feel excited and curious at the same time. This is the place where you can find many geishas or maikos wearing authentic dresses. Keep in mind that the basic role of geishas is to entertain people. There are many interesting stores in this area that tourists are usually visiting after they take a tour of the most popular pagodas.

If you have a chance to go to Gion, it’d be the smartest move to hire a guide because there are so many things to do and see there.

Gion represents Japanese cleanliness

The historical Gion district is always clean thanks to the residents’ and neighbors’ cooperation. They are well-aware of the importance of cleanliness and they are doing their best to keep the clean image of Gion.