Things In Japan Americans Might Find Strange

Whimsical Marvels In Japan

The land of anime, sushi, and cherry blossoms is a wonderland indeed. But if it’s your first time in Japan, you might be caught off guard by unexpected things: we’re talking epic vending machines, high-tech toilets, beautifully crafted fake food, and KFC for Christmas. Read on to learn more!

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Epic Vending Machines

Vending machines are a lot more exciting in the island nation. Not only do you get a large variety of soda, but some machines offer canned coffee, tobacco, and even ramen!

Vending machine for PiTaPa Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

High-Quality Meals At 7-11

Japanese convenience stores like 7-11, called konbini, aren’t just places to grab a quick snack. You can eat a full meal here: they serve refrigerated pasta dishes, ramen, fried chicken, and more. And it’s absolutely delicious!

Went too hard on vending machines and 7-11? Japanese bathrooms have you covered…

Japanese meals in stores Martin Lewison, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

“Smart” Toilets

Doing your business in Japan is surprisingly pleasant thanks to the ubiquity of “smart” toilets. These are found everywhere, from hotel rooms and private residences to restaurants, malls, and subway stations. Japanese ivory thrones come with a suite of features such as bidet settings, a heated toilet seat, and even sounds to mask any noises!

Famous Japanese Toilets Maya-Anaïs Yataghène, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

No California Rolls

California rolls are a given at American sushi restaurants, but you won’t easily find these in Japan. That’s because the Cali roll’s invention is claimed by Hidekazu Tojo, a chef in Vancouver, Canada who originally called it the Inside-Out Roll.

California Sushi Tim Reckmann, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

KFC: Official Christmas Food

The Japanese have an interesting national tradition during Christmas: they feast on Kentucky Fried Chicken. This traces back to a marketing campaign in the 70s when American fast-food restaurants started appearing all over the country.

Queue outside KFC in Tokyo Danny Choo, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Poisonous Fish Delicacy

The fugu fish, or puffer fish, is a Japanese delicacy. Yet interestingly, these fish are poisonous! The dish is highly regulated in Japan, however, and many tourists have tried it with no issues.

Fugu fish dish Peter Kaminski, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Very Pretty Display Food

Walk along the streets of Japan and you’re sure to find restaurants with realistic plastic food displayed in windows along with prices. You’d be forgiven for thinking they were the real deal! And if you get enticed enough to enter the restaurant, a few things can surprise you too…

Kanazawa Omicho Market, Japan dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Complimentary Appetizers

Dishes called “otoshi” are appetizers that sometimes come with your meal at no additional cost! Otoshi dishes include edamame, potato salad, and spicy octopus. They’re often pre-made and will come very quickly.

Traditional Japanese Food Emma Brick, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Moist Towelettes At Meals

In many restaurants, you will be provided with a moist towelette before your meal. This is called an “oshibori" and lets you clean up before eating. This is a very Japanese routine, and there are some you should be aware of after a meal too…

Moist towelette. or wet wipe. Steve Snodgrass, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Don’t Tip

Unlike many Western countries, tipping your server is not expected after a meal. It may even be considered rude! However, tipping tour guides is generally okay because workers in these industries are more aware of Western customs.

A Person Holding Money Yan Krukau, Pexels

Smoking In Restaurants

Smoking in public is usually only accepted in designated areas. However, you may still find restaurants and bars that allow smoking because they were open before the April 2020 smoking ban.

Smoking area sign Eric Fischer, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Luxury Fruit

Fruit in Japan tends to be expensive, but even more expensive are designer fruits. For example, square-shaped watermelons can cost 15,000 yen ($97 USD). Meanwhile, Ruby Roman grapes can sell for 40,000 yen ($259 USD) a bunch, and the obsidian Densuke Watermelon can cost a whopping 650,000 yen ($4,206 USD).

Square shaped watermelons Joe deSousa, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Fancy Kit Kats

Kit Kats are popular candies worldwide, but Japan takes them to the next step with unique limited-edition flavors. You may be lucky enough to sample flavors like yuzu matcha, “Tokyo Banana,” strawberry cheesecake, pudding, rum raisin, wasabi, and more.

Kit Kat Matcha flavor Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

All-You-Can-Drink

It’s called “nomihōdai” and it sounds like a dream come true! There’s often a time limit though, so make sure you pace yourself (and stay safe).

Photo of a Japanese restaurant Prayitno, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Impeccable Cleanliness

Western visitors are often impressed by the tidiness of Japan’s streets. Cleanliness is just part of the culture: Buddhism and Shintoism—two major religions practiced in Japan—emphasize cleanliness. And cleaning their classrooms is a regular part of school for kids. Yet strangely, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a trash can walking down the street…

Clean streets in japan Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

No Trash Cans

For a country so clean, Japan is lacking in receptacles. That’s because after the 1995 sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway, authorities wanted to minimize hiding places for weapons. If you need to throw stuff away, look for trash cans near convenience stores and at subway stations—they’re transparent, of course.

Trash cans in Japan Alexander Klink, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

No Walking While Eating

This is called “tabearuki” and it’s generally frowned upon in Japan. That’s because people believe that to truly appreciate what you are eating, you should sit or stand in one place. Tabearuki is also associated with litter.

Japanese Schoolgirls Walking And Eating Jim Epler, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Awesomeness (And Complexity) Of Japanese Trains

Japan is famous for its efficient, convenient, and reliable train system. It’s not the easiest thing to navigate, however, as there are multiple train companies and subway systems that overlap. If you plan to ride the train, see if you can score a ride in one of Japan’s delightfully themed trains…

Bullet Train front view Opacitatic, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dressed Up Trains

From the all-pink Hello Kitty Shinkansen to the roaring Dino Liner, themed trains are a delightful experience if you’re lucky enough to score a seat in one.

Taiwan train painting Testshawn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Speedy Train Cleaning

A fact made famous by this Tokyo Metropolitan Government video, Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan are cleaned by a diligent team of workers in just seven minutes!

Mount Fuji and Shinkansen bullet train. ion66, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Masks Everywhere

Even before COVID-19, wearing a mask in public was a common thing in Japan and many East Asian countries. People in Japan wear masks as a consideration to others if they’re coming down with something, to help protect themselves, or to cover up during those days when you just don’t feel like putting on make-up!

Japan - Tokyo's Subway Maya-Anaïs Yataghène, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Cute Mascots

“Kawaii” (cute) stuff is ubiquitous in Japan. Mascots called yuru-kyara are often used by towns and tourist attractions to promote features of that place. Famous yuru-kyara include Domo-kun (mascot for the Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and Kumamon of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Ginga-kun maskot Iwate First Association, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Photo Booths That Make You Look Cute

Purikura are Japanese photo booths popular with young people in Japan. These booths often come with fancy features that edit your skin tone, the size of your eyes, and more. They’re a great way to preserve memories with friends, especially since photography in Japan can be restricted…

Purikura Photobooth in Japan Brian Adler, Wikimedia Commons

No Photography Zones

Pay attention to “no photography” signs in Japan during your travels. Some tourist hotspots prohibit photography to control the number of people there, and in general, many shrines, temples, museums, and music venues don’t allow photography. When in doubt, ask.

No photo sign Copyleft, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Go-Karts In Tokyo

Stroll the streets of Tokyo and you may spot people go-karting through its busy lanes—sometimes dressed as Mario Kart characters! Tourists can go on exhilarating go-karting tours around the city, living out their video game dreams.

Tokyo go karts Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Blue Traffic Lights

Interestingly, the reason for this is linguistics. The Japanese word for green (“midori”) is relatively new, and many people still use the word for blue (“ao”) to describe green things. Because traffic documents use the word ao, the government decided to compromise by giving green lights a bluish tinge.

Japan traffic lights hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Taxi Doors That Open Automatically

Don’t freak out if your taxi door flies open by itself at the end of your trip! Many taxis in Japan have doors that open automatically. It’s a nice gesture, efficient, and convenient.

Toyota taxi in Japan Mr.Chura-san, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Confusing Mailing Addresses And Nameplates

If you’ve ever tried to mail a letter in Japan, you’ll be forgiven for finding addresses confusing. Sometimes, different houses have the same address due to the system of organizing blocks by “chome”. So to make things easier, many households use surname nameplates to help their mail delivery person.

Plate Of Residence Address Indication Plate (Japan) TAKAHASHI Shuuji, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Creative Street Fashion In Harajuku

If you want to enjoy a fashion show for free, look no further than the Harajuku neighborhood in Tokyo. Stylish fashion enthusiasts frequent the streets, from monochromatic goth punks to wildly colorful hairstyles and bold, over-the-top prints.

Harajuku Fashion 2010 AKX_, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

All Things Anime In Akihabara

Akihabara is one of Tokyo’s most famous districts. Home to “otaku” (fan) culture, you can find entire buildings with floors of manga and anime goods. Prepare to get lost and overwhelmed by the “Electric Town”.

Anime in Akihabara street Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Maid Cafés

The eccentricity of maid cafés have earned a reputation worldwide. In these restaurants, patrons are referred to as “master” or “princess” and entertained by cutely dressed hosts in maid costumes.

Maid Cafe in Taiwan Solomon203, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Cheeky Shinjuku Cat

A realistic three-dimensional cat lives in a billboard on a corner near Shinjuku Station. If you’re visiting the area, stop and enjoy a delightfully realistic animation sequence between advertisements!

Shinjuku Cat Japan Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tiny Trucks

In the West, trucks are big, domineering vehicles. But in Japan, kei trucks are common. These little trucks look like miniaturized versions of their Western siblings, and they’re pretty cute!

A delivery truck of Yoshikei Mr. Chura, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Double Valentines

In Japan, people celebrate their romantic partners on Valentine’s Day. But there’s also White Day, which happens a month later. Women typically give men gifts on Valentine’s Day, and men are expected to reciprocate on White Day. And guess what? Children also get a day!

Ueno Okura Theater Japan Bject, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Children’s Day

Called “Kodomo no hi”, Children’s Day happens on May 5. On this day, you may see koi streamers outside buildings and homes as a symbol to bring good luck to children inside.

Koinobori at Chizu, Tottori prefecture, Japan 663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Using Your Table To Keep Warm

The kotatsu is a unique piece of Japanese furniture. It’s a wooden table armed with a heavy blanket and heater to warm your bottom half, taking the coziness level of a living room to the next level!

Ama Town Central Library. Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Toilet Slippers In Homes

Many people know that in Asian cultures like Japan, shoes in the house are a no-no. But it’s also common in Japan to have designated bathroom slippers. This keeps your feet clean and separate from anything dirty in the bathroom.

Toilet slippers nichols-villa, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Original Capsule Hotel

You can now find capsule hotels in other countries, but they first made it big in Japan. These space-saving modest accommodations save money, but they’re also a neat experience to stay at.

Capsule hotel in Osaka Syced, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Bath Time Is A Big Deal

Tourists will be forgiven for feeling confused, or even a little squeamish, upon first seeing a Japanese shower room. In Japan, bathing is a treasured ritual. Family members share the same bathtub soaking water, so each person is expected to rinse off in the shower or with a washbowl first.

Foot Bath At Kawayuonsen Station Yasu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons