When people talk about Japan, it’s usually about the iconic attractions, the delicious cuisine and, of course, the scenery. Now, don’t go saying I don’t love any of that because I do. But what about the small, delightful quirks that make Japan the way it is? I want to talk about those things!
Here are the small things that make me miss it every day.
The Toilets
Why are we so against having a clean ass here?! I love these toilets! I never felt gross or had leftover toilet paper stuck to my ass. I also love the ones where you walk in, and the lid opens up, waiting for me to sit my ass down. Oh, and it’s heated! Do you know how nice it would be to have that here in Canada?
Although you may be taking a dump, and everyone knows because you’re in there a bit too long, it’s nice that it has a music option for those times when the oysters you ate didn’t sit well with you. I should also mention that the washrooms are so clean here! You won’t be afraid to use them at train stations.
The Family Mart Jingle
Convenience stores in Japan are not like the ones we have here in North America. It is more than hot dogs, taquitos and overpriced snacks. You can get everything you dream of delicious onigiris, fried chicken, and much more for cheap! You can even pick up a small can of sake for less than $2!
But know what I love most about it? That cheerful tune, specifically at Family Mart that greets you as you walk in. It’s cute and very charming!! Now, some of you may not care for it or glaze over it because it just becomes another background noise, but I love and miss it.
Train Station Symphony
A trip to Japan isn’t complete if you’re not using their train system. Super convenient, fast, but also hella confusing without the help of Google Maps (looking at you, Shinjuku station). What I love most, though, is that each station has its own unique jingle. Each jingle shows the personality of each station and they’re like little musical postcards for your brain. Unless I’m passed out on the train, I love to listen to each one get played when the doors open at each stop.
Let’s not forget about the sounds of people scanning their tickets, the train announcements and the whooshing trains that pass by. It’s like listening to an orchestra perform its symphony. My love for trains will probably make James May proud.
Cats Everywhere!!
If you already can’t tell with my account, I love cats. A bit too much. I may or may not have toxoplasmosis. Who knows, but besides that, Japan is a paradise for cat lovers. Everywhere you walk, you find cats! Not only the cute strays that pass by, but there are tons of cat mascots, drawings, toys, and trinkets; my wallet hated me! Even the big 4D ad in Shinjuku has a cat yelling at everybody, and I’m here for it.
Airport Workers Waving Goodbye
I love flying. There’s always something special about being around planes. But what made this whole experience of flying even better was when your plane pulled out from the gate, you can see the ground crew waving and then bowing to you. If I wasn’t already sad about leaving Japan, this solidified it. In fact, it brought a tear to my eye and was one of the most touching experiences I’ve ever had in my life. It felt like I was leaving home if I’m being honest. You’ll never get this level of warm fuzzy feelings anywhere else in the world.
Enthusiastic Service Workers
Service workers in Japan are fantastic. Most places, you get the usual “Hi, how are you?”, in Japan, they go above and beyond to make you feel special. I don’t know how anyone can be a Karen in this country. Everything is packaged with care right in front of you.
At Universal Studios, workers enthusiastically punch invisible Super Mario ? blocks while talking to you. Despite the language barrier, you know exactly what’s happening through body language. They make you feel excited about the things you’re buying by holding it up and saying things like “kawaii”. Some may say that’s too much, but I say you’re just miserable.
In Kyoto, I walked into a small shop that was selling cat figures, and the shopkeeper was enthusiastic about the cats I was looking at and joyfully started meowing. This was coming from a 60-year-old man! You’ll never see that here! Their enthusiasm is infectious, and you can’t help but feel your heart grow.
Those Cute, Colourful Manholes
Gotta catch ‘em all! I did try to take photos of all the unique manholes I saw. There were so many. Some squared as well. Not all were coloured and if they weren’t, there would be a cool design on it. It’s such a small thing but it really adds to the charm of the country.
The Fashion
I get we all want to be comfortable, in my opinion, comfort here (North America) looks a bit shabby. In Japan and some other Asian countries, the streets are people’s personal catwalks. And you know what? I live for it. In the land where conforming is expected, it’s normal to see people break that rule on the streets through their clothing. Everybody looks amazing, and it really inspired me to bring back those looks here. Call me a try-hard, but at least I’ll still slay if I die.
Bonding With Strangers
One of my favourite moments was walking around a not-so-busy arcade during the day in Osaka, and we were approached by this random guy who wanted someone to play Mario Kart with. He didn’t speak a word of English; all we heard was Mario Kart, and naturally, we said yes. It was a lot of fun bonding over the game despite the language barrier. After the race, we all said “Arigatou gozaimasu” and bowed to each other. Safe to say, he kicked both mine and my husband’s ass in the game.
So there you have it! The small things that make Japan an extra special place despite its beauty and food that is to die for. It’s these little moments that make your trip much more memorable and appreciate the country more. Japan is more than just a place for you to take photos for Instagram.
I love all these things about Japan. Japan is comfortable, safe and very quirky. (Full disclosure: It took me a while to get used to the toilets, but now I love Japanese toilets!)
Thank you for confirming one of many reasons why I'd love to visit Japan sooner than later!