On July 13, 2026, a post titled 'Japan is the only travel destination I truly want to visit' appeared on China's social media platform Xiaohongshu (RED), attracting a flood of sympathetic comments from Chinese netizens.

The poster wrote, "In the past year, I've traveled to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia many times, and I've also visited Europe. Among all of them, Japan was the most enjoyable and where I felt most relaxed. After a while, I find myself wanting to go again."

In response to this post, Chinese netizens expressed a rush of sympathetic comments such as, "Exactly. Once you go, you'll always want to go back," "Every time I travel to another country, I want to go to Japan even more," "I've been to Japan several times but haven't been to other countries yet. Still, I find myself wanting to go to Japan again and again," and "I've visited over 20 countries, but I still haven't found a country that surpasses Japan. You can find flaws in any other country, but Japan truly has no blind spots."

Furthermore, comments were received regarding Japan's safety and sense of security, such as, "It's the only country where I feel I can travel alone," and "Only in Japan can I travel with peace of mind. In other countries, you have to worry about theft, robbery, and scams. I once left something behind at a hotel, and Japan was the only country where it was returned properly. In other countries, you can hardly expect it to be returned. Moreover, in Japan, even in stores that are overpriced for tourists, prices are basically displayed clearly. It's much better than being ripped off later."

Additionally, comments were made expressing the reaction after returning home, such as, "After returning home, I felt truly exhausted for a while and couldn't go out for several days. The gap was too big," and "When I return home, the backlash is immense. I get irritated every time I see scenes of bad manners. But there are so many of them that eventually I become numb and lose the energy to complain." Comments considering immigration were also received, such as, "That's so true. After traveling all over the world, I finally decided to live in Japan," and "Three years ago, when I first went to Japan, I felt truly saved... After that, I went two more times, and although I couldn't go last year, maybe I should just move there this year. Dear Japan, please continue to be good friends with me..."

As for comments praising Japan's order and rules, one stated, "That's so true. For people who value order, Japan is incredibly comfortable. Some people say there are 'too many rules,' but isn't it because everyone follows the rules that order is maintained and you can feel safe? In China, if you go outside, you have to compete to get on a bus, and when you line up, people stick right behind and in front of you, so you have to be wary of line-cutting. On subways and escalators, people board without waiting for others to get off, and you have to watch out for second-hand smoke, spitting on the street, and even public urination and outdoor defecation. Every day is a constant state of alert, and you can never relax."

In response to this, sympathetic comments gathered, such as, "I also like Japan's orderly atmosphere, the appropriate distance between people, and the sense of mutual trust. Small things often make my heart feel warm," "For people who usually have good manners, traveling to Japan is truly comfortable. However, people who are used to behaving as they please in China probably feel like Japan is full of 'landmines' here and there," and "Although I can't really say it in other posts, my trip to Japan was truly the best. There's no second-hand smoke, no one spits on the street, and rules are strictly followed. It was truly comfortable."

In addition, comments regarding the cleanliness and convenience of Japanese toilets were posted, such as, "Japanese toilets are truly the cleanest in the world. Traveling in Japan is genuinely stress-free, and it's also good that it's close and easy to access," "I wish someone would understand. Even at unmanned stations in the countryside, there are clean toilets with bidet functions, which is truly a lifesaver," and "I've lived in Japan for 10 years and have traveled to other countries, but every time I return to Japan and see the clean toilets at the airport, I feel happy." (Translation/Editing by Iwata)