I spent most of January 2023 in Japan. It was a business trip, but there was opportunity to travel as well, so I wasn’t stuck in Tokyo the whole time. I also visited Hakone, Nara, Kyoto and Yokohama. This was my fifth time being in Japan, and I got to see some new places (like the deer-filled streets of Nara), ate some different food (like the black eggs in Hakone), and met some new people. Do you know what DIDN’T change? What has never changed since I first started travelling to Japan in 2008? The super-high level of customer service and client care. It’s so consistent and it’s so refreshing. As a traveller, a visitor, it’s the best experience. People are so polite not just with their words, but with their non-verbal communication as well. Soft voice, respectful eye contact, small arm gestures, calm voice. Definitely a few things the West could learn from.

However even a rose has thorns. I’ll leave you with this counter-thought from a Tokyo guy: “yes the customer service in Japan is high level, but it’s scripted, it’s mandatory and therefore fake. The customer service you receive in Canada (or elsewhere) may not always be top-notch, but at least it’s genuine. When you receive great care in Canada, you know it’s 100% real, and it leaves a special feeling.”

Interesting point. So is the key to great customer service the overall experience, and ease, or is it the genuine heart of the experience? Maybe it’s simply how the experience and people involved made you feel.