Public trash cans are almost impossible to find in Japan, which often surprises first-time visitors. Unlike in many other countries, Japan has very few dustbins in public spaces.

Despite being a country known for advanced technology and unique gadgets, finding a place to dispose of waste can be difficult. People are used to carrying their trash with them and disposing of it at home. Visitors are encouraged to do the same.

Occasionally, you might spot a dustbin at a railway station, but it often has a sealed lid. If you buy coffee from a 7-11 store, it's best to drink it there and return the cup. They will dispose of it for you. If you have a small wrapper, keep it in your bag until you find a place to throw it away. In Japan, people take their trash home, so when visiting, it's best to do the same.

Japan has almost no public trash cans, as cleanliness and personal responsibility are deeply ingrained in its culture. The Japanese believe in cleaning up after themselves rather than leaving trash for others to pick up. Their strict waste disposal system ensures they handle their garbage. This mindset was seen worldwide when Japanese football fans cleaned the stands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

From a young age, children in Japan learn to clean up their own spaces, whether at school, home, parks, or subway stations. Sign Boards often remind people to "take your trash home." In Japan, keeping a place clean is a sign of respect, which is why public dustbins are rare.

Why Japan has no trash cans: A 30-year-old reason

Finding a public trash can in Japan is nearly impossible, and the reason goes back to a tragic event on March 20, 1995, during the Tokyo subway sarin attack.

It all started with Chizuo Matsumoto, a pharmacist who founded the Aum Shinrikyo cult in 1984 as a yoga and meditation group. The cult followed a mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Christianity, drawing inspiration from the Hindu god Shiva.

Aum Shinrikyo believed in an apocalyptic prophecy, where only those killed by cult members would be "saved." They aimed to create their version of heaven, known as the Kingdom of Shambhala, after the apocalypse.

Over the years, Chizuo Matsumoto changed his name to Shoko Asahara. His mental health declined rapidly, but his influence grew. Aum Shinrikyo gained official religious status, and as his following expanded, so did his dangerous ambitions.

Obsessed with creating Shambhala, Asahara urged his followers to kill in its name. Suffering from hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions of grandeur, he transformed Aum Shinrikyo into a full-fledged doomsday cult.

When Asahara learned that Japanese authorities were planning a raid on March 22, he acted quickly. On March 20, 1995, he ordered five cult members to launch a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

Death in plastic bags

On March 20, 1995, five Aum Shinrikyo cult members carried plastic bags filled with liquid sarin( poisonous gas), wrapped in newspapers. Each had an umbrella with a sharpened tip to pierce the bags inside Tokyo subway trains.

They boarded different trains at different stations, placing the bags on the floor and puncturing them before quickly exiting. As the sarin evaporated into gas, it spread rapidly through the subway cars, causing passengers to cough, choke, and collapse.

Passengers soon felt their eyes burning, nausea, and dizziness. Many collapsed as the deadly gas spread. When subway doors opened, people crawled out, gasping for air, some never made it.

By the end of the attack, 12 people were dead, and over a thousand were injured. Some later died from exposure. The attack wasn't just on people, it struck at the heart of Japan's identity. Trains symbolize modernity and economic power in Japan, and this assault on public transport shook the nation deeply.

After a long legal process, Japan executed Asahara and 12 cult members in 2018 for the deadly sarin attack. To prevent future attacks, Japan removed all public trash cans.

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