No shoes, no problem: Influencer walks Tokyo streets in white socks; viral test stuns internet

Turns out, Japan’s streets are so clean that you could practically eat your dinner off the sidewalk—or, at least, walk barefoot without regretting it. One Japanese influencer decided to put Tokyo to the ultimate test by strolling around the city in nothing but plain white socks. Yes, socks. Outside. For ten whole minutes.

The simple experiment captured the attention of millions online and prompted widespread praise for Japan’s civic responsibility and culture of cleanliness.

“One of my favourite countries for this reason,” one user commented, while another wrote, “Try that at 3 am before the trucks come to clean everything. Love Japan they work hard to keep it clean after all the drunk people go home or to their hotels.”

"I can’t even wear white socks in my living room without getting them to turn black," he added.

Tokyo is often cited as one of the cleanest cities in the world despite the absence of public dustbins in many areas. Residents are known to carry their trash home and maintain strict cleanliness habits, reflecting deep-rooted social values rather than strict enforcement.

The influencer’s viral test has become symbolic of Japan’s collective civic sense, inspiring global audiences to consider how cleanliness depends more on community behaviour than on infrastructure alone.