Compared across countries
Where do you throw your trash?
For a trip that crosses borders — the same question, answered country by country.
The pattern
Neither place runs on public bins, and the reason differs. Japan expects you to carry it until you reach a station or a convenience store; Taipei hands household waste straight to a truck at set hours. In both, the bag in your hand is the normal state of things.
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Japan
Almost nowhere on the street. The tourism board’s own advice is to carry it and take it home when there is no bin — stations and convenience stores are the exceptions, and there you sort it four ways rather than dropping it in one hole.
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Taiwan
Because household trash here goes hand-to-truck: collection happens at designated hours and locations, so the city does not run on public bins.
Japan
Taiwan