The Far East is a part of the world that fascinates and terrifies travelers from all around the world, and we can certainly understand both points of view.
When it comes to a country like Japan, though, there's just so much to take in that you can't help but be utterly overwhelmed by where you are. As a country, there are so many elements of their culture that shock and amaze those coming over from the west, and we sincerely hope they never lose that trait.
Today, we're going to run through some of the more obvious things you'll pick up upon arrival.
10 They Love Their Games
Heading to Akihabara in Tokyo will tell you all that you need to know regarding how these people like to game. They’ve been at the forefront of the industry, as a nation, for so many years now and they’ve brought gamers around the world so much joy.
In many ways it feels as if this is only just the beginning of what they’ll be able to do and accomplish in the future, and that’s an incredibly exciting prospect. We don’t know what the next boom period will look like, but these guys will be leading the charge.
9 Public Transport Is Fun
This goes for the trains especially: public transport is so much fun over there.
From the high speed ones to the night ones and beyond, it’s always really clean, usually really warm and is pretty consistent when it comes to the scheduled arrival times.
Getting from point A to point B in a country of this size is always going to be difficult, but difficult doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s impossible. Japan has been investing in their public transport for years now, and it feels like the only way is up for them.
8 It’s So Picturesque
You don’t need to see the famous cherry blossom in order to recognize that Japan is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. There is a lot to enjoy when it comes to the cities themselves, but beyond that, the countryside is absolutely stunning.
The silence is deafening in a lot of these locations, and even when it’s noisy and there’s a lot of hustle and bustle, finding the time to stop and take it all in is the right way to go.
Every corner you turn will give you something different.
7 There’s So Much History
From the dee roots through to World War II and beyond, there are so many different faces of Japan’s history books and we shouldn’t hide away from that.
There’s such an established culture that has been embedded in this country for many, many years, and we’d love to know more about it.
Even when you arrive at one of the airports, it’s clear to see that the potential for museum visits is endless.
Alternatively, there are plenty of books to read, but that doesn’t really provide you with the right type of experience in our mind.
6 Weather Is Temperamental
The recent typhoon really did open the eyes of the world to the kinds of weather issues you can experience over there.
Aside from the calamity of it all, though, they certainly work with the seasons when it comes to the day to day weather conditions. There’s a lot of snow in the winter and far too much sun and humidity in the summer, and we’d even argue that the latter of those two is actually worse.
Even checking what’s happening on the weather app rarely gives you the full idea.
5 The Food Is Great
With the most three-starred Michelin restaurants in the world, it shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise to learn that the food in Japan is absolutely sensational.
They love their beef and they love their noodles, but above all else, the sushi is what people come to see upon arriving in the Far East.
If you’ve never had any kind of experience with chopsticks then you’d best start learning fairly quickly, otherwise you could be left looking a little bit silly in front of your pals or your family.
4 The Locals Are Careful About Pollution
While you may not be able to see it all the time with the naked eye, the pollution in Japan is getting worse with each and every passing day. One of the key ways in which you can figure that out is by seeing the number of locals who wear masks all around the cities.
From the plain white masks to something a little bit louder, there are so many options for tourists and locals alike.
Of course, making a fashion statement isn’t really what matters here, because understanding and appreciating the issue beneath is what needs to be focused on.
3 It Doesn’t Bend To Stereotypes
The idea that everyone should wear very traditional Asian clothing and act in a certain way is completely thrown out of the window in Japan.
They largely do what they want, when they want, and that has led to quite a rise in popularity for tourists – even though the locals just tend to get on with it.
They’re adapting and evolving as a country each and every day, and contrary to racial stereotypes, there are very few similarities between themselves and China.
Still, both are just as remarkable as the other.
2 Japanese Whisky Is Wild
Hibiki, Suntory, Akashi, it doesn’t really matter, because Japanese whisky is absolutely mental no matter how you try and spin it.
From the cheap stuff to the bottles that will set you back around $50,000, there’s something to be said for a drink that is quite literally worth more than your mortgage.
Japanese whisky tends to have a real kick and for those of you that love to sample the good stuff, that’ll be music to your ears.
Perhaps you’re more of a beer drinker or maybe even vodka is your tipple, but at the end of the day, whisky is the way to go over there.
1 The Music Is Insane
We’ve all heard of K-pop, but we tend to believe that J-pop is more up our alley.
Aside from that, you’ve got traditional folk music, Taiko, jazz and everything in between. When we think of Japanese music we think “get up and go”, and that’s the kind of reputation you want to leave behind.
It’s a little bit chaotic and you’ll need to take a minute in order to properly soak in what it is you’re actually listening to, but immersing yourself in it is better than dismissing it.