It can be difficult to get out of some habits with the convenience of konbini<\/em><\/a> and the vending machines everywhere you turn. But if you plan ahead and think smart you should be on your way to a lifestyle of zero waste in Japan.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve put together some tips and tricks to help you do your best and even save some money<\/a> at the same time.<\/p>\n The first one might seem a bit obvious, but carry your own water bottle around<\/strong>. The tap water in Japan is drinkable and by carrying your bottle around and refilling when possible, you will stay hydrated and avoid the trap of the vending machines.<\/p>\n Recently, MyMizu<\/a> was launched in Japan. This is a free app that shows you all the nearest places where you can get free refills of water.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not a fan of tap water, or can\u2019t find anywhere nearby, there is the option of buying charcoal filters<\/strong> or Binch\u014dtan<\/em> (\u5099\u9577\u70ad). This is a type of vegetable coal that you can put in your bottle of tap water and it will remove up to 75% of any chlorine in the water. What\u2019s more, you can reuse the charcoal afterwards in the garden or as an air freshener.<\/p>\n If you fancy something a bit stronger – by which we mean coffee obviously! – then Starbucks<\/strong> is a good call. You can take your own coffee cup and you\u2019ll even get money off your coffee. There are also plenty of smaller independent shops that do this and we recommend them first and foremost over chain places. Here\u2019s a handy list<\/a> to help you get started.<\/p>\n Shopping in your local supermarket<\/a> can be a particularly tricky task to undertake when trying to be zero waste in Japan. If you plan ahead though, you should be fine.<\/p>\n Firstly for fruit and vegetables, it\u2019s better to shop at local greengrocer stores<\/strong> where the produce won\u2019t be packed in plastic. Secondly, you want to avoid convenience stores (yes we know) as much as possible as most of what they sell is in plastic, even the single bananas.<\/p>\n For cupboard staples, we recommend shopping at a bulk store<\/strong> where you can buy items in large quantities. Costco and METRO are a couple of examples of places you can buy everything from cereals to flour to coffee beans en mass. As such, there\u2019s less packaging and less plastic. If you can\u2019t make it to a bulk store then there\u2019s still likely to be a smaller version of these stores in your local area.<\/p>\n When it comes to zero waste clothing, of course, second hand is the way to go. While there aren\u2019t really charity shops or thrift stores like you might be used to, there are some excellent second-hand stores<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In Tokyo, in particular, Shimokitazawa, Nakano, and Koenji are all good places to find some excellent vintage clothing. A lot of the time you\u2019ll find that people will donate clothing that has barely been worn.<\/p>\n While it can be difficult to find your size as easily, it\u2019s an opportunity to get creative with your clothing. When it comes to recycling your own old clothing, if it\u2019s still wearable you can take it to a store in one of the above-mentioned areas. Alternatively, both Uniqlo<\/strong> and H&M<\/strong> have schemes where they will accept old items for recycling. H&M even offer a voucher for each bag of clothing.<\/p>\n Despite Japan\u2019s best efforts to make everything as convenient and disposable as possible, it\u2019s actually the case that a lot of traditional repair and maintenance techniques originate from Japan too.<\/p>\n Boro<\/a> stands for tattered clothing. It\u2019s also used to describe clothes that have been patched or mended but where the repairs are left visible and add to the aesthetic of the clothing.<\/p>\n Sashiko<\/a> is a type of stitching that is often a part of boro. It translates as little stabs or little pierce. It\u2019s where the thread is used as a decorative addition to an item of clothing as well as being used to mend it.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Water-refill.png\")
<\/p>\n1. Feeling thirsty<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Vegetables-in-supermarket.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Grabbing a bite to eat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Second-hand.png\")
<\/p>\n3. Getting dressed up<\/strong><\/h2>\n
As you might not be able to find everything you need in second-hand shops, try to avoid the main fast fashion stores and think ethically<\/strong> when you do need to get something new. Uniqlo is one of the better stores for this and tries to source sustainably and lower their impact on the environment.<\/p>\n4. Repair and upcycling<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Boro<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sashiko<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Kintsugi<\/strong><\/h3>\n