Japanese Cuisine is not just about sushi
it's very diverse and has its own Japanese variation of even Western classicals
it's called The Land of the Rising Sun for a reason
the sun rises and sets early in Japan which might surprise visitors from other countries
in Tokyo in the summer the sun might rise as early as 4 30 a.m and set before 7 PM
so factor that in
meal times were different to what I expected
with lunch being served from around 11AM to 2PM
and dinner as early as 6 PM
Japanese bakeries are absolutely amazing
with self-service plating your choice on a tray before paying
lunch set menus are affordable
the shinkansen bullet train is awesome however during public holidays
Things become quite crowded so Advanced booking is recommended
the morning commute in major cities like Tokyo is extremely busy
often with packed trains so plan according
typhoon weather can halt even shinkansen train Services causing potential delays so plan accordingly
Japan actually has multiple companies operating different train lines but they all work very well together
be mindful that in Japan trains tend to end a little bit earlier than some other countries
which could lead to the next one and that is that
taxis in Japan are expensive unless you're sharing with others and they're often surprisingly really upscale
on escalators people typically stand on one side to let others walk on the other side
the direction actually switches between Tokyo and Osaka which can be a little bit confusing
the seats on trains in Japan can be rotated to face a different direction
often done to create a private space for groups
Japanese trains are famous worldwide for the punctuality often arriving and departing to the second
and this is true
in Tokyo anyway a Jr train stations usually have a unique Melody that plays upon the arrival of a train contributing to a memorable travel experience
luggage forwarding services in Japan are efficient and reliable
making traveling between cities hassle-free by paying to send your luggage to the next hotel
in Japan I took off my shoes more than I expected as it's quite normal to take off your shoes and switch to provided slippers in Japanese homes
and in certain traditional establishments and even restaurants and store changing rooms
it's commonplace to queue in an orderly fashion for trains buses and popular establishments
some topics like World War II or the Imperial family are considered a little bit taboo
so it's best avoided in casual conversations
at pedestrian Crossings even if there are no Cars people wait for the green lights
Bowing is an essential part of Japanese etiquette
and is often used as a sign of respect in different social settings
tipping is not customary in Japan and could potentially confuse or embarrass service staff
drinking alcohol Outdoors is legally permitted and common during certain occasions like cherry blossom viewing
when entering a store staff will greet you with an enthusiastic "Irassaimasen" which means welcome
it's acceptable and normal to call out sumimasen - excuse me to get the attention of the staff at restaurants
Kawaii or cute culture is a thing in Japan from clothing and accessories to product packaging
in Japan dates are usually written in the year / month /day format
which may be unfamiliar for some
like it was for me when I missed out at a Pokemon cafe as a result of getting my day and my month switched
Chopsticks are commonly used for eating in Japan with occasionally no options for western style Cutlery
for popular eateries it's common to be a wait list so be prepared for a potential wait
water is often served for free at restaurants as soon as you sit down
plastic food replicas are displayed in restaurant Windows to Showcase their menu items and they are very realistic and very useful
members only clubs and bars might make you think that they're not Foreigner friendly but they're in fact members only friendly
tattoos are viewed with a certain stigma and may prevent you from entering onsen hot springs and other public facilities
solo dining is common and accepted and many restaurants offer counter seats for individuals only
cheese isn't as commonly consumed in Japan as you might expect
and the selection May differ significantly from other countries
every town or city or attraction will have their own souvenir style food
or omiyage often representing their local specialty making it for great gifts
but at the same time watch out for the expiry date
red bean or anko flavor is popular in Japanese sweets and may be new to some as it was for me when I first went to Japan
Depachika are hidden in basement of department stores and are filled with a wide array of gourmet food stalls
grape flavour in Japan often taste different to European grape flavour anyway and it's quite prominent in Japan different from the artificial grape flavour common in other countries
rooms in city hotels can be smaller than expected making efficient use of space and
most hotels have anti-fog mirrors which are very useful if you want to shave
traditional Japanese pillows often contain buckwheat hulls
and provide a different sleeping experience
the ground floor is referred to as the first floor in Japan
which can cause some initial confusion
special slippers are provided for use exclusively in the toilet separate from indoor slippers
izakayas or Japanese style pubs can be quite loud
and bustling with energy especially in the evenings
deodorant in Japan are not as effective as Western brands from other countries
Japanese toilets are often high-tech featuring a variety of functions like bidet and even heat up your bum
in restaurants and bars wet towels or Oshibori are provided to clean your hands before dining
conbini or convenience stores offer an impressive variety of products and services
I didn't think I'd be paying them a visit as much as I did
and now I miss them
shopping at designated stores can be tax-free for foreign tourists
with the presentation of a passport giving you an instant saving on those expensive Electronics
clothing and shoe sizes in Japan are generally smaller compared to Western sizes
unlike what the media might want to portray
robots are more of a novelty than a staple in everyday life
though they can be found in certain sectors like Hospitality
Japan is cheaper than I expected
with hotels and food actually being quite affordable with a variety of options
making it easy to find something at your budget especially outside of major cities
when visiting a cash machine be aware that they commonly also close down along with the post office
or the bank opening times so getting cash out of combini is your best bet
Wi-Fi is not as widely available in public areas as you may think
and although this is slowly improving I recommend you rent pocket Wi-Fi or get a SIM card for Reliable connectivity
despite its busy City Life Japan can be remarkably quiet especially in the evenings
although there are some areas that pump out advertisements that can get quite loud
despite the high-tech image Japan maintains a balance between modern and tradition and not everything is as futuristic as one might expect
the sound of cicadas in summer is distinctive and can contribute to the ambience of the Japanese summer
Gardens and parks in Japan are on another level
and usually meticulously maintained
often featuring traditional Design Elements and definitely worth a visit
shrines can be found everywhere and are often commonly found across Japan
often tucked away in surprising locations
from city corners to Mountain Paths
public rubbish bins or trash cans are quite rare
so be prepared to take your trash with you or or at least until you find a combini or get back to your hotel
Japan's large crows can besurprisingly intimidating and very clever
to those not used to them
vending machines are everywhere and sell a variety of goods from drinks to snacks
and even non-food items
but don't expect to find strange vending machines everywhere
with drink vending machines leading the way
it's mandatory for foreign visitors to carry the passport at all times
convenient local systems can be found everywhere including umbrella lockers which are available at many train stations and elsewhere
tap water in Japan is safe to drink unless stated otherwise
there are more cable cars or ropeways than I expected
with Japan's love for rope waves being very evident
and providing opportunities for checking out amazing views of the cities and other locations
at closing times establishments often play a tune the tune as a reminder that customers need to leave
whilst anime culture is big in Japan it's not as prevalent in daily life
as I expected it to be anyway
from incense at temples to the scent of traditional foods
smells can play a big part of your Japan experience
Tokyo size is overwhelming
it's far bigger than expected
with the city seemingly never-ending and unlike anything I have ever experienced
the 2000 Yen note while in circulation
is rarely used
and often seen as a novelty or Keepsake
smoking rules can vary with some hotel rooms allowing it
and some public areas strictly forbidding It
theme bars and restaurants are much more commonplace than I expected
jazz music is often used as a form of background or elevator music
and is commonly heard throughout Japan
through restaurants
coffee shops
hotels
pretty much anywhere
origami the art of paper folding
is a traditional craft in Japan with the crane being one of the most iconic designs
and you'll see more of these than expected
people in cities are generally well-dressed showcasing a range of styles from trendy
to professional
a daily chime or jingle can often be heard at around 5 PM
in many areas signifying the end of the work day
so how many of these were you aware of
did any of these Catch You by surprise?
I'd love to know some of the other things that caught your attention
in the comment section
I'll be heading to Japan for a six week epic adventure
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anyway I do hope that this has been an informative video
that might have brought some insight for your future trips to Japan
and if you've watched this far how about proving it by simply adding a Japan flag Emoji
to your comment even if you have nothing to say
thanks for watching
till next time
stay positive and be a happy Gaijin
Arigatou gozaimasu, gracias, thanks bye