Japanese Customs That Baffle Americans
Visiting a new country often results in some degree of culture shock. There are many aspects that can change from country to country like architecture, food, and social norms to name a few. A different religion or philosophy can also bring out other values that reflect in the country’s culture. Seeing these alternate ways of living can be really exciting for some travelers and shocking for others. You get so used to the way you grew up you forget there can be something else out there. But there are many right ways to organize and design a community.
Below is a look into the interesting culture of Japan. You would be surprised how many small things create such huge differences on that side of the globe!
Baby Seats Attached To Bathroom Walls
Going to the bathroom with a baby can get really complicated really fast. Depending on your baby’s age, they might need constant attention. And when you need to pee, sometimes you just want to be able to put your baby down. In Japan, they thought of a nifty (and adorable) solution: baby seats attached to the stall walls!
Instead of struggling to balance your baby in your lap, or having them strapped to your chest, you can take a load off when you sit down. And because the seat is close by, your baby won’t feel abandoned. You get to keep your eye on them. Having two hands free when you go about your business is probably life changing.
Sink Water Becomes Toilet Water
A lot of water is used when you go to the bathroom. When you combine flushing the toilet and washing your hands, it can add up to a lot. But in Japan, they have a more environmental solution. In some restrooms, they built the sink into the toilet so that the water you use to wash your hands becomes the water that fills the basin of the toilet!
The water you use to flush doesn’t need to be so clean. Sure, you don’t want it dirty or disgusting, but the water you use to wash your hands isn’t going to hurt anyone. It’ll be nice and soapy. Honestly, the use of soapy water might make everything smell better, too!
Anonymous Apology For A Bike Accident
This note reads, “I accidentally knocked over your bike and broke the bell. I am very sorry.” That’s pretty considerate, not something you come across every day. A hit and run is way more likely. And even if the guilty party did leave a note apologizing, leaving money would be out of the question. Everyone would assume that the cash wouldn’t make it to the vehicle’s owner.
The fact this person left a note and money to pay for damages is a level of politeness that’s almost unheard of. It makes sense that the foreigner who saw this in the streets had to stop and take a picture. This kind of community trust and connection is truly admirable. It’s definitely worth taking note of.
A Lost Shopping Bag Stored In A Safe Location
The owner of this shopping bag accidentally left it behind on their trip home. But when they returned for the bag later, they discovered someone had moved it out of harm’s way. The fact that it was left on the sidewalk untouched for over an hour is completely shocking. You would think someone would’ve taken it! But apparently not in Japan.
It’s this kind of community kindness and thoughtfulness that makes this culture shock so striking. In small towns people tend to be more considerate, but you’d never expect something like this in a big city. In Japan, however, someone made a point to put the bag aside and out of people’s way.
Following The Arrows On The Stairs
The interesting thing about this picture is that these kinds of rules for stairs also exist in other countries, but never are they followed to this extent. Usually, if someone sees a whole side of the stairs is unoccupied, they will ignore the arrows without a second thought and take up the free space. Why follow the rules if you don’t need to?
But in Japan, it seems like no one has a problem following the suggestions of the city’s designer. They trust the creators of the infrastructure and don’t see a need to take it upon themselves to make all the decisions. They also probably realize the extra thirty seconds of time you get from breaking the stairs rule doesn’t really change much in the grand scheme of things.
Umbrella Lockers
What do you do with your umbrella once you’re inside? Unless your umbrella doubles as a cane, it’s the kind of thing that gets annoying to carry around all day. But forgoing an umbrella on a rainy day just isn’t an option. The Japanese created a nice solution to the problem: umbrella lockers.
It would be life changing if these stands existed in malls, super markets, or big stores in the US. Especially for the cities where it’s known to rain often. After you lock your umbrella, you simply take the key and return whenever you’re finished shopping. It’s super convenient and a downright genius idea.
Papers For Gum Disposal
Part of growing up in the United States is finding gum stuck to the bottom of many surfaces. Bleachers, desks, trees, cafeteria tables; almost any platform has the potential to receive a glob of gum. But in Japan, they try to encourage proper gum etiquette by providing a stack of small papers with the box.
But this doesn’t solve the problem of where to put the gum once you fold it into the paper. Then again, perhaps Japan has hidden garbage cans on every street corner. If they’re willing to include paper in their gum boxes, they probably wouldn’t stop there. Or perhaps the ability to cover the used gum in paper makes it possible to store it in the same box until you find a trash can.
Smartphone Wiper Dispenser
This is the kind of thing that you don’t realize you need until you see it. No one misses smartphone wipes, because they’re not common in the United States. But once you visit Japan and see a dispenser in one place, you’re going to start needing them elsewhere. Suddenly the luxury will start to feel like a necessity.
Honestly, this dispenser seems a bit excessive. But if you read the small print on the wipes, it also says that there’s a nationwide wi-fi network. Free wifi throughout the whole country is a dream come true. You would never lose service and never run out of data! This is the kind of technology that makes a visit to Japan such a shock.
An Elevator’s Emergency Toilet Seat
Many people’s worst fear is getting stuck in an elevator. Thankfully, when that kind of disaster does happen, it usually isn’t for very long. But for the Japanese, you can always count on being on the safer side. This elevator seat can become a toilet seat if needed. And for people that are trapped in an elevator for longer than an hour, a solution like this could be the difference between everyone freaking out and staying calm.
Sometimes when nature calls there’s nothing you can do. Having an option to go without ruining the tiny space for everyone could be a huge help. And it doesn’t even look so out of place in the elevator. When everything is working properly, the older people probably use it as a place to sit during the ride.
ATMs With Cane Holders
One unique problem Japan is dealing with is an aging population. Their birth rate and death rate are so low that the population is aging together instead of being replaced by a younger generation. Because of this, there are several solutions around that country that cater to the needs of this older crowd. One interesting one is the cane holder at ATMs.
This detail is the kind of thing you’d never think to find in the US. In general, you just assume that resting a cane against the side of the machine would probably be easy enough. However, the Japanese didn’t stop there. They have a cup holder available as well. Having two free hands to use the ATM is very important.
Stands That Hold Your Phone At Tourist Spots
When you arrive at a nice overlook or big monument, you always run into the dilemma of how to take a picture. Either someone in the group gets voted out of the shot, you take a photo of just the scenery without anyone in it, or you spend five minutes trying to awkwardly ask a stranger to take a photo for you. And you never know how good a stranger’s photography skills are.
But in Japan, they came up with a solution to solve all of that awkwardness: a phone stand. The podium is placed at the ideal height so you can simply set up a selfie timer. This way everyone can be in the photo. With this addition to their infrastructure Japan wasn’t even thinking about its citizens, they were considering their tourists, to.
Turtle Taxi
Taxi rides are rarely the speed you want them to be. It always seems like when you’re in a rush, you get the most careful driver out there. But when you’re right on time, the driver is trying to give you a heart attack by driving at crazy speeds. When your driver is changing lanes every second in order to get ahead of traffic, all you want to do is yell at them.
In Japan, they came up with a more polite solution: the Turtle Taxi. If you press the button, the driver will be alerted and slow down. Perhaps in Japan, things are booked ahead of time to avoid needing to rush around.
Square Watermelons Are Better For Storage
It’s true that fitting a large round watermelon into your refrigerator is a bit of a hassle, but not once did an American ever ask for a square one instead. You just take the shape for granted, clear out a shelf of the fridge and deal with it. In Japan, they saw this minor inconvenience as something to solve. And they succeeded.
They probably achieved this fruit shape by encasing the growing watermelons in square boxes. This way, the watermelon would be forced to grow into the shape that surrounded it. From the nation that makes bonsai trees, reshaping a watermelon shouldn’t be that complicated. It’s often the small changes that create the biggest cultural shock.
Designated Smoking Rooms For Trains
A designated smoking area isn’t so weird. But indoor designated smoking rooms? That’s different. Hopefully, they have really good ventilation in there, or else the whole thing would just turn into a foggy box. It’s also crazy that there was a demand for this kind of train compartment. Usually, smokers can handle the break when they’re on public transport.
Perhaps these trains are cross country vehicles. If you have to stay on board for more than a couple hours, it would make sense that the smokers would beg for a break. In the States, there’s a smaller population of cigarette smokers. Therefore these accommodations aren’t considered.
Railings That Match The Stairs
Japanese architecture is obviously very different. Japan’s history and culture inspire different shapes, colors, and designs. On big buildings, temples, or shrines, this difference is easy to spot and also expected. But the small design details are what surprise us most. Like these railings. What a small, odd, but starkly alternative choice.
It’s hard to know which style of railing is more effective. Honestly, the answer is probably neither, just whichever one you are most used to. Both versions make sense. But for Americans to suddenly rely on a zig-zagged railing would feel weird. After getting used to a smooth line to hold, the constant up and down would be unnerving.
Color-Coded Luggage Pick Up
When you land in the United States, finding your luggage can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare. Many people try to fit all of their belongings in a carry-on when they travel in order to avoid the fees and extra time. And if they lose your luggage? It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. But in Japan, the system is so organized that it’s color-coded!
With this system, finding your bag has never been easier. The real question though is how long it took the workers to set up this display. If you have to wait an extra twenty minutes for your luggage to come out, maybe it isn’t worth it. But you have to hand it to them. This idea would definitely make your airport experience more relaxing and visually appealing.
Pizza Box Handle
Delivering pizzas or carrying one home yourself can often feel like a balancing act. If you haven’t spent a significant amount of time as a waiter, then holding the huge dish in your open hand can feel a bit precarious. But never fear, the Japanese thought of an easy solution: a pizza box handle. Now you can hold your food like a purse and not worry one bit.
What’s genius about this handle is that it’s centered in the middle of the box. Sure when you have a large pizza it might be annoying to hold the whole thing straight, but the placement ensures that the pizza stays flat. Your grip also keeps the cardboard from touching the surface of the cheese.
Calorie Counting Stairs
Perhaps the reason why there are so few overweight Japanese people is because of their active lifestyle. If stairs in a store are counting your calories for you, then there are probably many aspects of the culture that encourage healthy practices. And if you build that kind of lifestyle into the community, it will become a part of the nation’s everyday routine.
What’s silly is the fact that the number of calories burned per stair is pretty low. But then again, if you’re going up several flights, the amount can increase quite quickly. This focus on burning calories probably convinces a few people to work their legs instead of taking the elevator.
Cheesecake Claw Machine
It’s crazy to see this kind of thing in a claw machine! Cheesecake doesn’t keep for very long. These desserts are probably made fresh daily. Therefore it must be a very popular machine or else the baking load wouldn’t be worth it. But of course, it would be. We have no doubt that people waste a ton of change trying to pick one of these up.
It’s anyone’s guess if the claw machines in Japan are just as rigged against you as the ones in the United States. In the US, it often feels like a one in a million chance. And what happens if you accidentally drop the cheesecake you’re trying to grab? That would probably ruin the dessert…
Free Government Care Packages For Those In Quarantine
In the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, quarantining at home was often a very scary incident. And if people got their positive results as a surprise, they probably didn’t have time to grocery shop in advance. The fact the Japanese government took it upon themselves to provide their citizens with food-filled care packages is truly touching.
And these deliveries aren’t insignificant. There’s a ton of food in this picture! All those noodles could last you weeks. For those that didn’t have relatives or friends that could shop for them, this care package was probably a lifesaver. Sure you might be a little bit sick of ramen by the end of the isolation, but at least they got something.
Train Seats Facing The Windows
Window seats are often the most coveted spots when you’re traveling. Getting to see the view through the glass as you travel is always a treat. In Japan, they decided there would no longer be a struggle over who gets to sit closest to the window. Instead, they made every seat face outward so every person has the option to watch the scenery pass.
Windows like these might be a bit shocking at first, but after a while, you would probably start to appreciate them. The focus on the outdoors probably results in a reduced use of phones and computers during train rides. When there’s a view right in front of you it’s easier to unplug from the virtual world.
A Samurai As The KFC Mascot
We’re impressed that they reworked the KFC mascot into a Samurai. Weirdly, the original Colonel Sanders is still pictured next to the store, but the live mascot got a whole new look. Also, the fact that there’s a mascot outside of a KFC is quite odd. Fast food restaurants don’t usually try that hard.
If you were a tourist in the area it would be hard to resist a samurai Colonel Sanders inviting you into a Japanese KFC. Many fast food chains slightly alter their menu depending on their location. It would be interesting to see what kind of variations are sold in the Japanese branches.
Alcoholic Juice Boxes
Boxed wine exists in the US, but alcoholic juice boxes? That’s something else entirely! Hopefully, no Japanese parent ever confuses their juice boxes with those of their children. That would make for a very awkward elementary school meeting. Why this kind of alcoholic container exists is anyone’s guess. It just seems like a way to make alcohol easier to disguise. And that seems way more advantageous to underage drinkers than anyone else.
The only upside to this container is that it’s very hard to break. If you drop a wine bottle or glass of liquor, you could make a dangerous mess. But juice boxes are less prone to shattering. If you were bringing alcohol like this, you could throw the whole thing down the stairs and nothing would happen.
Farm Fresh Egg Vending Machine
When Americans think of vending machines, they think of candy, chips, and soda. But in Japan, these machines are fit for farm fresh eggs! The idea of having your snack drop down to the bottom of the machine probably doesn’t work for this kind of product. It looks like you pay a fee and open a compartment instead.
In the US, vending machines are for food you eat on the go. Going into a store and having to wait for check out is a waste of time when all you’re craving is a bag of chips. What’s so shocking about an egg machine is the fact that the Japanese thought this method of selling was necessary. Perhaps it’s a solution for a selling booth that needs no supervisor.
A Full Menu Display
Something many people got used to during COVID19 lockdowns is getting to order online and seeing pictures of your food. When people went back to restaurants, they forgot that you normally order solely based on a list of ingredients. But in this Japanese restaurant, you get to peruse through every item on the menu as though you were in a museum.
A display like this would totally change your restaurant experience. While you were waiting to be seated you could survey the visual menu. Picking what you want is much easier when you have an example right in front of you. The real question is what these displays are made of.
Slippers Specifically For The Toilet
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to request that you take your shoes off upon arrival. Many people believe that it helps to keep the dirt and germs at the door. But in Japan, they take this one step further and give you a different set of shoes specifically for the bathroom. They take cleanliness to the max.
For some, this might seem like a bit of overkill. But imagine someone from Japan coming to the US and watching their friends enter a house’s bathroom with the same shoes that they were wearing outdoors. For Americans, these extra slippers might seem like a habit belonging to a paranoid hypochondriac, but for the Japanese, it’s just common courtesy.
Decorative Manhole Covers
In the US, manhole covers aren’t anything that catches the eye. Often, you avoid them when you see one on the road or sidewalk. But in Japan, they took this necessity and turned it into art. They figured if the manholes are going to be there anyway, you might as well turn them into a positive addition to the beauty of the streets.
The covers aren’t just one pattern that’s repeated a million times. Each one has its own design and some of them are even colorful! It’s this kind of attention to small details that make a city into something magnificent. Japanese tourists in the US are probably wildly disappointed when they see the ordinary manhole in the States.
Proof Of The Smoothness Of The Bullet Train
The United States has been toying with the idea of a bullet train for several years, but of course, nothing has happened yet. No groundbreaking plans are in the works. But in Japan, their high-speed trains have been designed, built, and already put into use. And look at the smoothness and speed! The outdoors are a blur, but the coin is completely unaffected!
Can you imagine having this as your daily commute into work? The bullet train probably doesn’t even cause motion sickness. Everything feels so smooth, your body has no reason to be alarmed. When you compare something like this to the New York subway system, it’s just embarrassing. The MTA has delays every day. They need to step it up!
White Noise Option For Optimal Bathroom Privacy
Making a noisy number two can be a bit embarrassing in a public bathroom. There are many people who outright refuse to go outside of their homes because of the potential embarrassment. In Japan, they thought about this and created a solution. This toilet has a button that creates white noise so you can feel like you aren’t being listened to when you’re going about your business.
This kind of consideration to your privacy probably makes Japanese public bathrooms a more comfortable experience. And you don’t need to waste any extra resources. Some people leave the sink on when they need to go in order to cover up the sound! That wastes water. But with a white noise button, the option of privacy is much more accessible.
Urinal Video Game You Play With Your Pee
It doesn’t take a genius to guess that this urinal video game is related to aim. For growing boys, getting them to aim properly is often the most unpredictable part of potty training. So someone decided to make a video game out of it. And public bathrooms then made the decision to invest in the idea. Perhaps they figured that their cleaning bills might lower as a result.
Adding video games to your bathroom trips seems a bit overkill. Why is anyone trying to encourage additional time spent in the bathroom? If girls were given a video game in their room, no one would ever come out. Maybe the cleaning staff pushed for this idea. There’s less mess if children have an incentive to aim accurately.