On our way home to Boston, we are remembering Japan fondly, although Tsana is ready for a real salad and somewhere were "no meat, no seafood" isn't weird. We had an absolute blast in Japan and it's hard to think it's over. In our time there, we noticed some different things compared to how we do in the US and in case you ever want to go or are just curious, take a look at our list...
- Napkins are not a thing. No napkins at any restaurants or hand towels in the bathrooms. Toward the end of the trip, we used the hand towels they gave us at the beginning as napkins throughout - as well as hoarded napkins if we ever found them (usually at touristy or American restaurants).
- Trash cans around the city are also not thing. You will walk about with a pocket full of garbage the entire time. Guaranteed. (hint: take it to a bathroom or a train station, usually there are garbages there)
- Along the same lines, they are serious about their recycling. Certain kinds of plastic and particular kinds of glass can be recycled - so pay close attention to this as the garbage people will go through your garbage to ensure it's correctly separated.
- The work-week uniform is black, blue, white, and gray - and super formal. We're talking business suits for all, blazers, ties, collared clothing, the whole deal.
- Japanese work culture puts America to shame. We talk about work-life balance here and that people are workaholics - not compared to the Japanese where 12-13 hour days are the norm. As someone told us, "rush hour back from work on the train is from 5pm-10pm." Ew.
- Boston people will have a very hard time with this one: wait at every intersection, no matter what time of day. And you wait the entire time, not just eyeing the street lights. Dave and I were on the struggle bus with this one.
- Japan drives on the left side of the road, so logically, you'd think that they'd walk on the left side or stand on the left side of the escalator while people walked on the right. Well, you'd be wrong. It's a free-for-all and there are no rules for pedestrians. You may walk on the right, or the left, or switch back and forth. There's no logic.
- If you are fast eaters (ie came from a big family - Tsana, were in the military -Dave, etc), you are in heaven. You may wait in line for an hour, but you will order while you are waiting in line and then eat right when you sit down. In and out in less than 20 minutes, without breaking a sweat. We blame this on that you are so hungry from waiting in line, that you hover your meal down so quickly, it's over before you know it.
- English is everywhere, and yet not where you want it. The English writing of the language is on all signs, but often, restaurants don't have English menus, or the translations are so off, that it makes no sense. Google translate is your friend - that, and gesturing.
- The train actually runs on time - every 3-5 minutes like clockwork. The Japanese are super timely people, which we loved! And the train worked, so that was new for us - and we have to say, jury came back unanimously that we are fans.
- How society functions is oddly very efficient, but still back in the times. For example, they have the Shinkansen, which is a highly advanced, bullet train, that is incomparable to all others in the world. That being said, we had to have paper tickets mailed to us to get on the train because there is no phone or e-option. Our bike guide told us that people in Japan can't really work from home because they can't "stamp" things (what they use for their signatures) from home and online platforms (like Docusign) are not accepted.
That sums up what we have noticed being foreigners in Japan. We had a wonderful time. The people were kind and lovely, while we had a great time experiencing their culture, food, and lives.