Are you a bottled water or tap water drinker?

One thing I've always appreciated about living in Niigata is the water. I genuinely love the taste of it here, and there's something quite nice about being able to fill a glass straight from the kitchen tap and enjoy fresh water without needing to buy bottles. Easier on the hip pocket, too!

Because of that, I was interested to come across a recent survey by Panasonic, which found that bottled water is still the most popular choice for drinking water in Japan. Of the 4,700 people surveyed, 44% said bottled water was their main source, compared with 35.8% who primarily drank unfiltered tap water. Convenience was the biggest reason people opted for bottled water, followed by cleanliness and taste.

The only time I really go down the bottled water route is when I'm out and about and forgot my refillable one!

Some regional differences did emerge, with people in eastern Japan generally more comfortable drinking straight from the tap.