There are almost no public bins — so why are the streets so clean?
Public trash cans are surprisingly rare on Japanese streets, yet litter is minimal.
Bins were largely removed for security reasons, and a strong 'carry your trash home' norm fills the gap.
Why — five layers
After the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, many station and street bins were removed as a counter-terror measure.
Leaving your trash for others to deal with reads as meiwaku, so people pocket it until they get home.
School cleaning duties and community pickups make 'you clean up your own mess' a shared, early-learned habit.
International view
Plenty of cities have clean streets; what's unusual is achieving it with so few bins rather than with dense public infrastructure.
But not always
Around festivals, vending machines, and konbini you'll find bins — and some tourist spots now struggle with overflow.
What to do
Carry a small bag for your own trash. Bins at konbini are for items bought there; separate burnable, plastic, and cans/bottles.
Sources
- Reporting on post-1995 bin removal
- Municipal waste separation guides