Things I love about life in Japan: water on the table

One small thing I genuinely love about life in Japan is how often you sit down at a restaurant and a jug of cold water is already on the table. There's no asking or waiting, or making a mental note to flag someone down later. Sometimes, it'll even be a jug of tea.

It really stands out when you compare it to my home country of Australia. While Australian restaurants will usually give you tap water if you ask for it, it's not very common for a jug or bottle to be automatically placed on the table. More often, you get a single glass, a self-serve station somewhere near the counter, or a gentle nudge toward paying for bottled water instead. Refills depend on timing, staff availability, or your willingness to ask again. It's not bad service per se, just a different default.

In Japan, the default assumption seems to be that if you're eating, you'll want water, and you shouldn't have to think about it. It's a good example of how Japanese service culture focuses on anticipation rather than reaction, and a small thing I'm very grateful for!