Things that surprised me in Japan

The streets of Japanese cities are incredibly clean — you could walk barefoot and your feet would still stay clean. What’s even more surprising is that there are almost no trash bins. You might occasionally find them in tourist areas or at metro stations, but that’s about it. Where locals dispose of their trash remains a mystery to me. What I do know is that the waste sorting system here is extremely strict. Garbage is divided into burnable and non-burnable, and plastic is further sorted into several categories. Each type goes into a specific colored bag and must be disposed of on a designated day of the week.

Almost every restaurant has a display window with realistic replicas of the dishes from the menu. And it’s incredibly convenient! You can immediately see the portion size and presentation. Plus, they look so appetizing that choosing just one dish becomes a real challenge.

Japanese people value order, and it shows in everything. Whether at a restaurant, a checkout line, or boarding public transport, everyone patiently waits their turn. At large stations, there are even special markings to help people line up correctly.

I was deeply impressed by how polite and respectful people are. Even a simple purchase at a convenience store turns into a kind of ritual. Constant bowing, handing things over with both hands— it might seem like small details, but they make being in Japan incredibly comfortable.

Respect is even reflected in public notices — just look at those little bowing figures apologizing for any inconvenience.

In any restaurant, you’ll be served a glass or a jug of cold water right away—always cold. From what I’ve read, this is part of the Japanese concept of omotenashi (hospitality). It means that your needs are anticipated in advance: cold water refreshes you and doesn’t interfere with the taste of the food. By the way, don’t be surprised by a slight chlorine smell — it’s normal. All tap water in Japan is drinkable, but it must contain a small amount of chlorine for sanitation.

As mentioned earlier, Japanese people love order. In every public space—whether it’s a metro station, hotel, or restaurant—you’ll find signs with rules and various restrictions. For example, you can’t take food out of certain places, and you’re expected to carry your trash with you. In the metro, talking loudly is discouraged, and phones should be on silent mode.

7-Eleven and Lawson could be considered unofficial symbols of Japan. You’ll find convenience stores (known as konbini) on almost every street, where you can buy everything you need. But what’s truly impressive is the range of services. At 7-Eleven, for example, you can heat up food in microwaves, make smoothies using special blenders, and even store your luggage to be delivered to your desired address. Extremely convenient!

A distinctive feature not only of Japan but many Asian countries is free public toilets. Not only are they free, but they are also clean, beautifully designed, and easy to find almost anywhere.

And of course, everyone has heard about Japanese smart toilets. At first, they can be a bit intimidating—they seem to have a life of their own: the seat heats up automatically or random sounds play. It makes me wonder if anyone actually uses all the features (there are a lot of them!).

In Japan, it’s almost impossible to go hungry! On the streets, you’ll find all kinds of vending machines offering hot and cold drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), as well as food like onigiri and instant noodles. The packaging is often bright and hard to decipher, but these machines can really come in handy.

Despite the country’s high level of digitalization, Japanese people still love paper tickets and receipts. For example, even if you buy a train ticket online, you’ll still need to collect a physical one—and most likely two: a base fare ticket and a separate express or reserved seat ticket. You need to keep them until the end of your journey.

The number of drugstores in Japan will definitely surprise you. Even more surprising is the assortment: at least two floors filled with all kinds of familiar and unfamiliar products, many of which can be purchased without a prescription. But be careful — some strong medications are prohibited from being taken abroad, so it’s important to check the regulations of your home country. Japanese drugstores also offer a wide range of cosmetics.

One of the most popular chains in Japan is Matsumoto Kiyoshi.

Yes, Japan truly feels like a completely different world — unlike anything else. And that’s exactly why it’s so fascinating to explore and to keep coming back to.