Hello, Tokyo. I didn’t know that I would love you, but I absolutely did. I’m not sure if it was Takoyaki or the Yakitaki, but Japan charmed me from the very moment I walked into a bathroom stall and walked immediately out because I had never seen a squatty toilet before.
The reaction was one that I had no control over. One second I was walking into the stall, the next I was walking out. I literally had no idea of what to make of this toilet.
13 Cultural Observations of Japan
1. Toilets
Japanese toilets are some of the most high tech pieces of equipment that I’ve ever seen. Some of the toilets have more buttons than a game console, and it’s all to ensure the comfort of your rear end. I must say that the moment I sat down on a heat toilet seat, I thought to myself, “America is WAY behind.” #snicker
2. Slippers
No street shoes in the house, that’s a given. But guests get house slippers, and when you head to the toilet, be sure to leave your house slippers outside the door and switch to the toilet slippers. Yes, there are slippers meant to be used only in the bathroom. I get it, but I also don’t get it.
3. Quiet on the Public
Public transportation in Japan is some of the quietest rides that I’ve ever had. No one talks. It’s the eeriest thing the first time you get on a train or a bus. And if you’re mid-conversation with a friend, you drop your volume of speaking to almost a whisper. Talking on public transportation is considered an invasion of other people’s space, which is funny because sometimes you’re physically sandwiched between three strangers…but apparently talking is rude.
4. Orderly Lines
While waiting for a train, I glanced up from my phone to look around for a moment, and I realized a very interesting thing. Everyone was in lines—orderly lines. Whoever was nearest the spot to board the train, people would line up behind.
5. Sorry/Excuse Me
Hagigatogozi-imas. I mean, that’s how I phonetically spell the word that I heard repeated constantly, as a greeting, as a thank you, as a I-just-got-in-your-way word. And why must it be SUCH a long word? But then again, I’m glad to know that this one phrase works for basically everything.
6. Don’t Eat and Walk
It’s rude to drink and walk or to eat and walk. So no, you can’t just grab an energy bar and a coffee and eat it as you walk to work. That is just not done. And for an American who is used to multi-tasking 1000% of the time, you’d better believe that this was one of those things I had to constantly remind myself not to do. The street food is amazing in Tokyo, but they have signs to remind you not to eat and walk!
7. Takoyaki
This isn’t so much of a culture observation as a proclamation that you must try freshly cooked Takoyaki! These Japanese octopus balls are mind-blowingly-melt-in-your-mouth phenomenal. My first bite resulted in an eye roll of pleasure and a deep desire to share the experience with someone. But of course, I was alone. I texted a friend about it instead.
8. Smoking Rooms
For the most part, smoking in the USA has gone out of vogue, but in Japan, you can still find smoking rooms in most establishments. This allows smokers the convenience that they want while also being considerate of other people.
9. Google Maps
Google Maps will get you everywhere. This app was magical for me as I tried to navigate Tokyo on my own. Google Maps had accurate information on the public transportation, and it also made it really easy to walk around the city. The beta option of Augmented Reality (AR) really helped me to get my bearings a few times.
10. Japan’s Free WiFi
Ever considerate, most parts of downtown Tokyo had free WiFi under the name of Japan. I’m not sure who’s decision this was, but from the bottom of my tourist heart, thank you! While most of my time in Japan, I used my Tep Wireless hotspot, one evening it ran out of battery. Though I was fairly certain I could figure out how to get home without internet, the discovery of that free WiFi was deeply comforting and ensured my safe return home.
11. Walk on the Left
Always walk on the left unless otherwise directed. When I first arrived in Tokyo, I walked myself from the bus station to the desired destination a thirty-minute walk away. For about fifteen minutes, I felt like I was constantly dodging other pedestrians…that’s when I realized that everyone was walking on the left side of the street.
12. Follow the Rules
In the USA, I’d say most people see the rules as something to follow but also kind of sort of a suggestion. For example, although it’s safer to not J-walk, most people will look both ways and then cross the street based on their desired route. In Japan, people do not j-walk. They cross at the crosswalk and wait for the green light.
13. Talking on the Phone is Rude
If you get a phone call in public, you don’t answer it or you walk away to answer it in private. You keep it quiet too.
14. Catcalling
No one catcalls! I’m so used to having this be a part of my walking through town on my own that it took me a while to realize that it wasn’t happening.
15. High Standard of Living
Japan has one of the highest standards of living that I’ve come across. The streets were clear of trash, and there are strict rules for garbage and recycling. Experiencing this society made me realize how far the USA has to go in all of our standards of living.
