We’ve lived in Japan going on three years now and there are characteristics here that are simply unique to Japan. Obviously, there are more then 10 things I love about Japan but the list would be incredibly long. I came up with this top ten list based on day to day aspects that truly make living in Japan fun and exciting!
Japan is incredibly clean. You rarely see trash on the side of the streets. On mainland, I think I’ve seen graffiti only a handful of times. You can go to a city like Hiroshima or Fukuoka, well over a population of 1 million and the cities are almost spotless. The streets are clean, the paint on them is almost like they’ve never been touched, it’s fascinating. Even the pigeons here are in pristine condition. I’ve never seen such clean and healthy pigeons in my life. The cleanliness might have something do to with how they recycle here or just the way the Japanese have grown up. The most fascinating thing about the cleanliness of Japan is that there are hardly any trash cans around. You could walk for an hour and not find a single trash can. I guess everyone here is just good at packing out their trash. To me, a clean city is just refreshing, it is nice to know that people care and actually make an effort to make their city clean and trash free!
Convenience Stores
Convenience Stores can be found in any country throughout the world. But the stores here in Japan are much different then any other convenience stores I’ve been to. For starters, people here rely on convenience stores. I say this because people come to them for lunch and dinner, use the ATM’s, pickup mail, and purchase almost anything else one can find at any store, it is pretty amazing! We have 7-Eleven in Japan, but without the pumps, it’s simply a convenience store. My favorite items at the convenient stores are their treats! Many times, you can find great seasonal chocolates here, really good pastries and pre-made meals, and warm fresh food at the counter. The food is not your typical hot dog and taquito that has been spinning around all day. At the 7-Eleven in Japan, you can find chicken on a stick, various types of fried chicken, steam buns, and even soups. At first, I really only went to convenience stores once in a while, now I find myself here often, especially on road trips!
English Translations
I’m not sure how companies do their English translations here. Many products here are professional products with legit labels, yet the English translations sometimes make zero sense. It is actually a hobby of mine to look at product labels and signs just to read the English translations. Jill and I always joke around that she should get a job (she has an English degree) in Japan and translate the product phrases to something a little more readable. Below are a few of my favorite English translations I’ve found so far while in Japan.
“Keep Out, Do Not Enter, a Flower is Growing“
“Because you are slippery, and this inside is dangerous, please do not enter“
“It will enjoy to cooking because hardly stick and very light“
“It is always walking on business everyday, and it gets tired“
“ParadiseCat – A pretty holiday in a cat is full of fun“
Hotels
I love staying at hotels, but I really love staying in Japanese hotels. In the States, you know what to expect when you arrive at your hotel, they all have the same layout and amenities. In Japan, almost every one is different and unique. They all have amazing bathrooms, some have very little space while others are the size of an apartment, there really is no telling. Every hotel I’ve stayed at, the room comes with awesome items to use and take home. Some items include slippers, robes, brushes, toothbrushes/toothpaste, and razors. We have a pile of these items in our home, they make for great amenities for guests. Hotels are considerably cheaper as well. It’s rare to pay over $100 for a night stay.
If you come to Japan, try and find a hotel that serves breakfast. The breakfasts are usually buffet style and come with a lot of traditional and western style food options like eggs. The breakfasts also include Japanese items like eel and other fish, potato salad, various types of noodles, rice, and even soups.
You can also find Pod Hotels in all the big cities. I stayed at one in Osaka and it was a wonderful experience. There were 4 pods in one room. The pods are actually quite comfortable and spacious, each one was equipped with a shelf, light, and even a safe.
Manhole Covers
As if Japan does not have enough fun things! Another great past time of mine, especially when visiting new cities is to look for their manhole covers. The manhole covers here vary from city to city, and usually reflect the city in some way. As an example, Iwakuni is famous for the Kintai Bridge, so the bridge is the main focus on the manhole cover. Hiroshima has a popular baseball team known as the Carp, so some of their manhole covers have the Carp mascot on them.
It is estimated that in Japan there are 6,000 unique manhole covers. Apparently in 1985 some high ranking individual allowed each municipality to design and create their own manhole cover. Since local taxpayers are paying for them, might as well make them at least appealing to the city.
There are even Pokémon manhole covers that can be found throughout certain prefectures of Japan.
Below are some of the manholes we’ve found around Japan.
Nature
When you think of Japan, I guarantee that nature is not what pops up in your mind. When I thought of Japan, I automatically thought of Tokyo and other huge concrete jungles full of crowds, lights, and technology.
I could not have been more wrong about Japan. Japan is an island and 70% of the country is mountainous, stretching from northern Hokkaido to the southern tip of Kyushu. Most of the major cities are located on the eastern side of Japan near the coasts. Between the east and west coast of Japan is mountains and forests. I still can’t believe how much nature is here in Japan. Agriculture exists, but in small quantities. It is not like other places where entire states are almost set up for agriculture. Here, you will find local farmers throughout the prefectures that have small and sustainable farms.
Japan should be world famous for their hiking and outdoor activities. In central Honshu, there is an area known as the Japanese Alps because of their resemblance to the famous European Alps. If you get tired of mountains, Japan is an island so ocean surrounds it on all sides. I think the western side of Japan facing the Sea of Japan has some of the most gorgeous beaches with turquoises water and tropical fish. Not to mention there is the southern prefecture of Okinawa with some of the prettiest beaches on the planet.
Seasonal Items
Japan surprised me when I found out you can’t buy things like apples all year long or when you go to the store to get your favorite chocolate and its gone, it wont be available until next year! At first it was frustrating but now I love it. Fruits have their seasons, so grocery stores are stocked with seasonal fruit. Mikan (mandarin oranges) season is a few months out, but once they are in season the stores will be full of them. Now you can find imported oranges that are higher in price. Candy and sweets seem to be seasonal as well. Hazelnut season is not to far out now, I am starting to see hazelnut kit-kats and other sweets that are hazelnut flavored. There will also be orange flavored chocolate come winter time. It is always changing, so if you find a flavor of Kit-Kat or other treat you like, it is probably wise to stock up, because it might not be there tomorrow and you will have to wait another year.
Toilets
There is no place else in the world that has toilets like Japan and to be honest it has ruined me, I feel I am to good now for an average western toilet. When I move back to North America or Europe, one of my first purchases will be a Japanese bidet. You can actually install them in your home, as long as you have a plugin. First, let’s start with the traditional Japanese toilet, which I have used but not a huge fan. The traditional toilets are squat toilets, which are still widely used and can be found in most outdoor public spaces. But when you are in a home, store, rest stop, or restaurant, chances are that they have a Japanese style bidet toilet and it is magical. The bidet varies by brand and obviously expense, but for the most part they include the hose that sprays you clean (option for women as well). You can also adjust the temperature of the water that sprays you, warm water is really nice during the winter months. Most bidets will also have a heated seat where the temperature can be adjusted as well. Some of the fancier bidet’s will have more advanced features. Some of the advanced features include an air dryer, so toilet paper is not even necessary. One of the coolest functions I’ve seen, is the bidet will play music or some sort of sound like waterfalls or rain droplets to mask the sound.
A little side note, not only are the toilets awesome but the whole bathrooms here are incredible, especially in public spaces. Almost every restroom has a stall with a seat for a child, you can place them here while you take care of business. The handicapped bathroom stalls are impressive as well, they come with a bed and other functions I can’t even begin to explain.
Transportation
Growing up in Germany, I got spoiled with public transportation because when I moved to the Midwest, public transportation was non-existent. I knew Japan and other Asian countries were known for their bullet trains and having great transportation, but I never knew how great the system was until I actually moved here.
Most cities in Japan have great train stations. You can use an ICOCA card (prepaid card) to board the train then sit comfortably until you arrive at your destination. Bigger cities have train stations where you literally can spend all day in. They are full of shops, restaurants, and attractions. Taking the local trains say from Iwakuni to Hiroshima is quite convenient, it’s not the cheapest option to get from one place to another but it is fast and easy. Taking the Shinkansen is a whole new animal. The Shinkansen is Japan’s Bullet Train or High Speed Rail. It is impressive, if standing on the train platform and you hear one coming, get your phone ready because it will pass you in the blink of an eye. The train can go 320 km/h or 200 mph. Once inside the train they are so spacious, clean, and quiet. The Shinkansen mainly goes through the country side, so you can stare out the gigantic window and view the beautiful nature Japan has to offer.
Vending Machines
Vending machines, another thing where at first I didn’t really rely on, simply because I never used a vending machine in the states. Oh man, they are much different in Japan. In the US, vending machines are pretty much the same everywhere you go and have the same products. In Japan, vending machines are quite the opposite, sure you will find a lot of the same products in various vending machines, but they are so much more fun and enjoyable and the stock rotates constantly. The vending machines usually have juice, energy drinks, soda, coffee, and tea. Most vending machines have cold and warm options, so you can get a hot coffee or tea on the go. There are also alcohol vending machines around town that serve sake and beer. Some of the more unique vending machines I’ve encountered in Japan are a ramen and udon machine that serves piping hot soup and I’ve also seen a vending machine that dishes out bread and other pastries.
Comments (7)
Great information. Sounds like you are enjoying your time in Japan.
We love it here. The area we live in has so much to offer, we are near the ocean and mountains.
Very interesting…..Thanks for the update….I lived there as a Air Force brat from 1954 (age10) to 1957. Of course things have really changed. The main thing I remember is the fish etc hanging in the markets. Grossed out this kid! I remember living in a Quonset hut on base( Chitiose AFB,Hokido Japan. For some reason mom would not let our young maid help my dad with his bath!
Not a problem! I did not know you lived in the Hokkaido area. I have yet to go there, but my goal is to visit all the main islands of Japan, so I will get there. Ha, I am sure you have several other great memories of the area!
Reading this makes me want to go there! I would especially enjoy a clean city and the public transportation, along with the beautiful nature. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’ve always wanted to live somewhere that was near an ocean, not far from mountains, had public transportation and access to a large city. I finally found that place. Hopefully you will get a chance to visit!
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