Japan, a so different but magical planet : strange things and useful information
I have not enough words to describe how impressed I am by Japan. I loved the people, the food, the traditional and technologically developed part, I even loved the japanese toilets!
Yes, you read right, the toilets and to be more specific Toto. Toto is the most popular brand of smart toilets in Japan, and it is everywhere, even in public toilets. There are of course many versions of Toto, some of which pour water to clean you up, warm your seat, start playing music so that potential noises do not disturb your ‘neighbor’ at the next-door toilet and of course they flush automatically. One thing is certain: once you get used to Toto, none of the other common and mortal toilets will be able to replace it.
Japan is widely known for its cleanliness and tidiness, and this is absolutely accurate and true. Everything in Japan is perfectly clean, from its streets up to even its public toilets. What is very impressive is the lack of trash bins in the roads. You can only locate them in 7/11 or other supermarkets and of course at your apartment or your hotels. That practically means that you need to carry your garbage in a little bag all day long until you find a trash bin and when you locate it, you will feel like having won the lottery. Eating while walking is not very common in Japan to avoid dirtying the streets and you need to consume your food and drinks by standing outside of supermarkets or similar places.
Talking about food I would like to say that Japanese food is sooo incredibly delicious and with a good quality. You will need lots of days to be able to try all typical Japanese plates but which you certainly cannot miss is apart from sushi and ramen, the country’s famous beef – Kobe beef. It is mouthwatering. What is extremely strange about the restaurants is that most of them have plates with food like the ones they serve made by plastic at their showcase to advertise their food.
I also managed to locate a different kind of Coca Cola in Japan. It is the one with the white ribbon. As per google translate, it is a coke that needs to be consumed after each lunch and helps the body not to store fat. I am not aware how this works, but the taste is the same as a zero coke.
If you run out of refreshments, snacks, toys don’t worry about it. There are almost everywhere innumerous vending machines where you can buy whatever you wish. There are also stores full of vending machines with different toys, jewelries, plastic animal toys, chains or whatever you can possibly imagine of. You choose the machine with the type of product you wish (ex. Key chains) but you cannot select exactly which you want since the product is placed in a plastic egg-shaped package and which package will be delivered to you comes as a surprise.
In Japan, pet cafes are also very popular. You may find a gran variety of pet cafes depending on the type of animals that you like the most. Apart from cute dogs and cats you may also find cafes with owls, snakes, pigs etc. You select how long you estimate to stay at the café (the minimum is 15 minutes) and pay the relevant amount. You can also have a coffee or refreshment while playing with the cute little animals.
Japan has a very wide, organized and accurate transportation system. There are metro stations and train stations everywhere making it very easy to go around. The highspeed trains is a must experience while traveling in Japan especially if you want to visit apart from Tokyo, other cities (Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima etc). Talking on the phone or talking too loudly is not allowed when traveling so as not to disturb your co passengers. In the highspeed trains (I loved the one with the Hello Kitty theme) the seats are rotated, and it is so strange and fun to watch.
For those that intend to use the train daily and go around different cities the JR PASS is an ideal option. It is a prepaid ticket that you can buy for 7, 14 or 21 days and use any train line and itinerary you wish (except for NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” train lines). It is better to buy your pass from the official site that gives you the option of reserving online your seats. JR Pass apart from train lines holds also a network of metro lines, even ship lines. Its price is quite high, so you need to do a little research and calculate if it is worthy for your travel needs. An application that will help you not only estimate the cost but also plan your trips is Japan Travel-Route,Map, Guide. If you have a JR pass ticket, inform the application and will provide you with the best options and routes so that you can only use the line covered by your pass and not pay extra.
Last but not least, I would like to point out of how much impressed and surprised in a positive way I am by Japanese people and their incredible culture and courtesy. All Japanese society is structured based on the respect for each other. This is visible in everyday life, from the fact that they don’t make noise or talk on their phones on the means of transport, that everything needs to be clean and tidy, the way they form queues etc. In the buses you need to remain seated until your stop and the driver waits for you patiently to stand up and exit the bus while salutes and thanks you. The chefs and staff of restaurants even come out from the kitchens to thank you when exiting their restaurants. The metro lines announce the change in their lines that may cause a slight shake of the wagon to prevent you from potential injury. I was once standing in a Starbucks queue waiting for my drink and in front of me was a Japanese woman that has just bought something to eat. I wasn’t sure if it was food or sweet because it seemed something like noodles, so I asked her what it was. Her reaction blew my mind: She asked me to try from her plate and check by myself. I told her that it was not my intention I was just curious what type of food it was, and she insisted until a tried a tiny portion of the side of her dish. Japanese people are the politest people I have ever met in my life. All societies need to take example of their kindness.
Overall Japan is a must destination for everyone! Don’t miss the chance to visit this marvelous country!
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