These essential tips will contribute to a safer and more enjoyable trip
In Japanese department stores you will find women dressed in uniforms operating the elevators. The tradition dates back to the 1920s.
Sources: (Tsunagu Japan) (Grunge)
The market for luxury high-end fruit in Japan moves a lot of money!
Examples include Densuke watermelon and Ruby Roman grapes, both of which can set you back quite a few hundred dollars.
Japanese maids and butlers sing, dance, and serve clients in specialty cafés, wearing full costumes.
If you're into anime, you're almost sure to find a café or restaurant inspired by your favorite characters.
In just seven minutes, the Shinkansen cleaning crew (pictured) manages to clean and prepare the trains for the following trip. That's fast!
In Japan, some restaurants display realistic plastic models of their dishes, so that clients have an idea of what they look like.
Hot springs are in no short supply in Japan. Free public footbaths, known as ashiyu, can be found in several places.
In Japan, you can crack open a beer and drink it on the street, anytime, anywhere.
While many people did not get familiar with masks until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, wearing a mask in Japan has been socially accepted as normal for many years.
Energy drinks and tonics packaged in small medicine-like bottles are common in Japan. Pictured is a popular one called Lipovitan D.
Purikura are photo booths where people can take pictures and retouch them on the spot. Think of it as a sort of instant Photoshop.
Nomihodai, which roughly translates to "all-you-can-drink," is a popular cost-effective menu choice for groups.
Don't be surprised if someone hands you free tissues on the street. This is actually a popular form of advertising. The concept of tissue-pack marketing is known as Tisshukubari.
Yuru-kyara are essentially mascots. The Japanese love them, and use them all the time to promote all sorts of things, from cities to events and products.
Capsule hotels, aka pod hotels, are Japan's answer to a growing population and soaring prices in busy cities. The pods are just large enough for guests to sleep in and relax. Expect to share a bathroom and other facilities.
Japan's love hotels, aka boutique or fashion hotels, are lavishly decorated and intended for those who value privacy and a unique experience. There are usually two rates: "rest" for a romantic escapade during the day, and "stay" for those looking to spend the night.
Only in Japan can you find such an array of Kit Kat flavors, including matcha, wasabi, and even sake!
These smart toilets, or washlets, are very popular in Japan. The high-tech on these can totally transform your toilet experience with their water sprays, fragrances, and even noise-canceling sounds.
Vending machines are abundant in Japan. And by abundant, we mean there are over four million of them in the country! In these machines you'll find a wide range of products for sale, from the usual sodas and coffees, to umbrellas, action figures, soup, and anime merchandise, to name a few.
In Japan, you will also find really cool themed trains. Pictured is the Genbi Shinkansen, which features installations by a number of artists.
If you're in need of human touch, head over to Soineya, a café in Tokyo where you can be cuddled while you sleep.
Toilet slippers are for bathroom use only. These can be found in some households, as well as at some traditional restaurants, ryokan inns, and chaya teahouses.
When traffic lights were introduced in Japan, the green light had a blueish tinge, and many people started to simply refer to it as blue. Since 1973, the green light has an official blue shade, so people can also call it blue.
Japanese taxi drivers can automatically open the door for passengers to get in. This catches many visitors by surprise!
A kotatsu is essentially a table with a blanket, and heating underneath. It goes back many years, but charcoal braziers have now been replaced by electric heaters.
Wet towels are often found in restaurants and used before meals to clean one's hands before eating. This towel is known as an oshibori.
These cute and sturdy backpacks are traditionally used by Japanese elementary school children. In 2022, one of these would set you back around 56,000 yen (around US$387), so expect to pay even more now.
So you think your average peak-time commuter train is packed? Think again. In Japan, professional passenger pushers known as oshiya make sure everyone gets (squeezed in) on board.
Japan is a fascinating country, but a culture shock can be experienced by visitors, especially those traveling from the West. Indeed, the Land of the Rising Sun is more than what one could hope for, and then some!
Some ideas, concepts, and customs are indeed fascinating, and in this gallery we bring you a glimpse into the quirkiness you can expect when visiting Japan. Click through to discover them.
Quirky things you can only find in Japan
The Land of the Rising Sun is quite unique!
TRAVEL Weird and wonderful
Japan is a fascinating country, but a culture shock can be experienced by visitors, especially those traveling from the West. Indeed, the Land of the Rising Sun is more than what one could hope for, and then some!
Some ideas, concepts, and customs are indeed fascinating, and in this gallery we bring you a glimpse into the quirkiness you can expect when visiting Japan. Click through to discover them.