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1. There are giant department stores — like my personal favorite, Tokyu Hands — where you’ll find everything from erasers shaped like whales to useful yet bizarre products like antitranspirant spoons that keep your sugar or salt from clumping.
Just so you understand what I mean by “useful yet bizarre products,” check out this nail clipper that has an attached magnifying glass.
Or this Listerine-sized packet of strawberry-scented paper soap.
2. It's also an absolute haven for stationery lovers (like me), especially if you're into items that have little faces or are shaped like an animal or food.
3. And people seem to appreciate things that don't have any purpose other than being tiny and cute.
4. In Japan, food is an art form. And some parents spend HOURS putting together bento box lunches that are wildly elaborate (and require a special set of molds and tools).
I mean, how could you ever eat this?
5. It's the norm to order a meal from a vending machine in front of a restaurant, then hand the ticket to the chef. It's both fun and efficient. (And I LOVE efficiency.)
6. You can find the wonderfully fluffy egg salad sandwich at convenience stores across the country. It might not look like much, but trust me, it is.
7. That's where you'll also find onigiri — rice triangles stuffed with meat, fish, or kombu (algae) and wrapped in nori (seaweed) — on demand. They're cheap, delicious, and easy to eat on the run.
8. Food on a stick is a definite thing in Japan — and my favorite is hanami dango, a sweet treat that's similar to mochi in taste and texture.
9. You know how gas stations and grocery stores in the US have a cooler of ice-cold drinks? In Japan, they also have a hot-drink section that's stocked with bottles of warm green tea (SO good) and milky coffee.
10. Most towns, regions, and organizations have a mascot (often a humanized food or animal) and a person whose job it is to wear the costume and attend events. It's cute and creepy all at once.
11. Thanks to its active volcanoes, Japan has thousands of onsens (hot springs). For the most part, these sources of hot water have been turned into bathing facilities, where people come to wash and soak.
12. The super-reliable and affordable shipping services of Yamato Transport make traveling around Japan extra easy. You can hop on the Shinkansen (aka the bullet train) with ease and trust that your luggage will be waiting for you at your destination. It's a wonder.
13. Nothing beats karaoke in Japan. Chains like Karaoke Kan rent out private rooms so that you only have to sing for a few friends (or just yourself 😬). And many have a rack of costumes you can borrow. A rendition of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" in a maid costume? Yes, please.
14. But you won't just find costumes at karaoke — in Japan, people dedicate themselves to cosplay, which, when done right, is truly a form of art.
15. People also take fashion to a whole other over-the-top level. And it's amazing.
Like, ~fur~ real.
16. Fluffy and cutesy things aren't just for kids. Adults have nothing against carrying plush animals on the train or using over-the-top cellphone covers.
Case in point: I bought this miniature red panda and I have no idea why.
17. And of course, this list would be lacking if I didn't mention the ever-amazing Japanese toilets, which have built-in bidets, seat warmers, drying features, and privacy sounds to muffle whatever it is you're doing in there.
What's your favorite thing about Japan? Let me know in the comments.
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