Why Designers Are Obsessed with Japan

In much of the West, services are optimised for efficiency. The goal is to do more, faster, cheaper—often with as little human contact as possible. But in Japan, every touchpoint is treated as an opportunity to show thoughtfulness. It’s a design philosophy embedded in everyday life, and it’s profoundly resonant for anyone who’s ever sweated the details of a product or service.

Take something as simple as shopping. In London or New York, the teenager on the till usually wants to scan your item, shove it in a bag, and move you along. They don’t really want to be there, and you can feel it. In Tokyo, the experience is transformed. The shop assistant carefully wraps your purchase, carries it to the door, and hands it to you almost like a gift—bowing with gratitude as you leave. It’s the same transaction, but one feels transactional and the other feels human.

Or look at the Tokyo subway. It’s not just trains arriving on time. It’s the painted lines on the platforms showing where to queue so no one gets jostled. It’s the directional arrows on the floor that keep passenger flows smooth. It’s the signage that tells you which carriage to board if you’ve got a stroller and need quick access to the lift, or where to stand if you’re making a tight transfer. None of this is strictly necessary. The system would still work without it. But these touches mean you never feel lost, harried, or forgotten. They make you feel considered.

And that’s exactly why designers are captivated. Because this is what design aspires to do: to notice the friction points, anticipate needs, and respond with care. In Japan, that instinct isn’t fought against; it’s encouraged and institutionalised. For a designer used to being told to cut corners, to prioritise “more features shipped” over “better experience delivered,” visiting Japan can feel like stepping into an alternate reality—a place where the values you hold most deeply are shared by everyone around you.

That’s why so many designers come back from Japan buzzing with energy. It isn’t just the architecture, fashion, or technology that inspires them. It’s the lived reminder that when you slow down and think about people, the result isn’t inefficiency. It’s beauty. It’s trust. It’s care.

For designers, a trip to Japan feels like briefly inhabiting the world you always wanted to build.

Andy is currently writing A Design Lovers Guide to Tokyo based on 10+ years of him visiting that wonderful city. If you'd like to read an review draft, drop him a line.