18 Curious Facts That Make Japan Completely Unique

Japan is one of those countries that never ceases to amaze everyone who travels there. No wonder there are so many people interested in its history, culture, and traditions. It seems like the Land of the Rising Sun has an infinite number of curiosities that are waiting to be discovered. In this article, we’re going to cover 18 of those.

1. Elevators often have a seat that can be used as a toilet in an emergency.

2. “The pylons at Todaiji in Japan have these bamboo covers to maintain a natural aesthetic.”

3. The water in drainage canals is so clean in some Japanese cities that koi fish happily swim in them.

For example, the city of Shimabara on Japan’s Kyushu island is home to hundreds of koi fish who swim in street drainage waterways.

4. Here’s how the Japanese wait for subway train arrivals.

5. The Japanese cover drainage manholes with true pieces of art.

6. “Vending Machines are everywhere in Japan.”

7. You can buy lots of stuff in the vending machines, even dried insects

Japan is famous for the fact that vending machines are installed literally everywhere in this country. Of course, most often, you can buy drinks in them, but there are also vending machines selling hot food, candy, ice cream, books, newspapers, flowers, clothes, umbrellas, and even resistors.

8. In general, the Japanese are law-abiding and disciplined people. For example, no one would go up the side of a ladder that was intended for going down.

9. They have a different system of sizes

10. In Japanese restaurants, they bring oshibori before serving food. This is a wet towel that clients can wipe their hands on.

11. You can buy cat bandanas in Osaka.

12. There are cup and cane holders near the ATMs.

13. There’s pre-sliced butter in Japan

14. Many restaurants in Japan have realistic plastic models that showcase what real food looks like.

15. Japan has cat islands. Some of them are Aoshima, Ainoshima, and Tashirojima.

The number of cats on these islands exceeds the number of local residents several dozen times. For example, there are only 6 people living in Aoshima (as of 2019) and more than 200 cats. These animals are fed by the residents of the island who get product donations from all over Japan. Tourists also visit Aoshima to feed the cats.

16. It’s known that almost half of the cars in Japan are tiny in size. Very often, one can see little trucks like these there.

17. Here is what the majestic “underground temple” located in Kasukabe City just north of Tokyo looks like.

Officially, this construction is called the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel.” It was built to collect and drain water from Tokyo streets during heavy rains. But floods in the city are rare, which is why the building is almost always open to tourists.

By the way, they also shoot movies and commercials here. For example, this place can be seen in the movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.

18. Strawberries

What things about the Japanese lifestyle do you admire the most?