Japanese culture is absolutely incomparable to any in our Western world. Their deeply rooted politeness, precision, and dedication to work are rarely seen anywhere else. And though you might know Japan as a home to anime, sumo wrestlers, cherry blossoms and bullet trains, their ingenuity shows in many other aspects of their daily lives. Starting with extremely innovative toilets and vending machines filled with fresh farm eggs, to the unique system of Tokyo subway and drainage canals swarming with Koi fish. These are just a particle of the interesting facts about Japanese culture. Actually, there are so many that this one post couldn’t fit them all.
Bored Panda has compiled some of the weirdest inventions, cultural practices and amazing facts about Japan that will make this country your go-to destination.
#1 Bus Drivers In Japan Were On Strike But Continued Driving Their Routes While Refusing To Take Fares From Passengers
Image source: MohammedAshemimry
#2 Drink Cans Have Names Written In Braille On The Top
Image source: gracebuchele.wordpress.com
#3 Japanese Fans Stayed Behind After The FIFA World Cup 2014 Match To Help Clean Up
Image source: Joe Giddens – EMPICS
#4 There Are Baby Seats Attached To The Wall In Most Bathrooms
Image source: minneapolis2tokyo2madarao
#5 I Recently Gave Birth In Japan. Here Is Some Of The Hospital Food I Ate
Image source: jenkinsinjapan
#6 You Can Often Find This Kind Of Toilet In Japan. Wash Your Hands And Reuse The Water For Your Next Flush
#7 Japan’s Manhole Covers Are Beautiful
Image source: Tombo_64
#8 Most Japanese Schools Don’t Have Custodians. Instead, The Students Do The Cleaning Themselves As A Part Of Showing Gratitude To The School And Learning How To Become More Productive Members Of Society
Image source: sarahmoersfelder
#9 The Note In Japanese Says, “I Accidentally Knocked Over Your Bike And Broke The Bell. I Am Very Sorry”
Image source: gaijinpot
#10 This Is How Smooth The Bullet Train Is In Japan
Image source: gaijinpot
#11 I Dropped My Shopping Bag On The Streets Of Osaka And When I Went Back To Look For It Later That Day, Someone Had Placed It Next To A Tree Untouched
Image source: justlikebuddyholly
#12 Commuters In Tokyo Pushed A Train Car To Save A Woman Who Fell And Got Stuck Between The Car And The Platform
Image source: Norihiro Shigeta
#13 Koi Fishes Even Live In Drainage Channels In Japan
#14 Japanese Toilets Often Have A Button That Plays White Noise/Water Sounds So You Can Poop Without Other People Hearing Your Business
Image source: mikieliza
#15 Another Reason Why I Love Japan
Image source: zozozeze73
#16 In Trains You Can Rotate The Seats In Any Direction
Image source: 4S
#17 Another Great Japanese Invention: Umbrella Lockers. So You Don’t Have To Carry Them Around Inside A Building And Nobody Takes Yours ‘Accidentally’
Image source: monikakuelsheimer
#18 This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information
Image source: youknowitalktoomuch
#19 Expectations Meet Reality In Japan
Image source: ImagesOfNetwork
#20 This Japanese Gum I Have Came With Little Pieces Of Paper Inside For You To Spit Your Gum In To When You’re Finished With It
Image source: Jerry_McPhee
#21 This Shopping Center In Japan Has Free Refrigerated Lockers For Your Perishables So You Can Keep Shopping After You Get Your Groceries
Image source: RegionFree
#22 At Narita International Airport (Tokyo) They Give You Free Origami Instead Of Candy
Image source: badnelly123
#23 Photo I Took Of Tokyo Commuters Waiting For Their Train
Image source: GoodGuyGoodGuy
#24 Japanese Being Japanese
Image source: mangomilk
#25 This Smartphone Wiper Dispenser In Japan
Image source: Luwast
#26 In Japan, Even The Deer Are Polite
Image source: sportyme7
#27 In Japan, The Ground Crew Bows And Waves Goodbye To The Departing Aircraft
Image source: FirearmConcierge
#28 Japanese Airport Staff Sorted Luggages On The Belt By Their Colour
Image source: 91424
#29 This Bedside Lamp At My Hotel In Japan Can Be Half Lit
Image source: Nokqua
#30 Ordered This From Japan And It Came With A Little Note And Origami Crane
Image source: JustBeingAMitch
#31 Children’s Seat On The Fujikyu Railway Line In Japan
Image source: arm4da
#32 Toreiyu Tsubasa Train In Japan Is Equipped With Footbaths So You Can Enjoy A Relaxing Trip
Image source: jreast
#33 Japanese Often Line Up For Buses, Trains, Restaurants Or Shops And Can Wait In Lines For Long Periods Of Time. Kids Learn How To Line Up As Early As Kindergarten As It Teaches Self-Discipline, Cooperation And Respect
Image source: munya munyaka
#34 Almost Everyone In Japan Reverse Parks
Image source: itscalledANIMEdad
#35 Tokyo Train Company Tsukuba Express Apologized For 20-Second-Early Departure
Image source: Tsukuba Express, LERK
#36 This Lift In Japan Has A Seat That Can Be Used As A Toilet In An Emergency
Image source: matt_777
#37 Restaurants In Japan Display Fake Food That Looks Just Like The Real One From The Menu
Image source: Matthew Yau
#38 Japanese ATM’s Have Cane Holders Due To The Aging Population
Image source: IntelWarrior
#39 There Are Over 300 Scramble Intersections In Japan Where You Can Cross A Street Diagonally
Image source: bolubantat
#40 At Some Tourist Spots In Japan There Are Stands To Hold Your Smartphone So You Can Take Good Selfies
Image source: WhaleMeatFantasy
#41 Japanese Hotel Apologies For One Minute Internet Stoppage At 4am
Image source: amesco
#42 The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It’s Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
Image source: eigosensei
#43 This Hospital In Japan Offers Glasses With Different Prescriptions For Filling Out Forms
Image source: Rasonic
#44 This Japanese Taxi Has A Button To Request Slower Speeds
Image source: petro26
#45 In Japan, You Not Only Have To Take Your Shoes Off And Change Them To Slippers At The Entrance, But Also Use Different Slippers When You Go To The Bathroom
Image source: nn.naru.uu
#46 A Vending Machine Selling Farm Fresh Eggs In Japan
Image source: KTerrestrial
#47 Everybody Lines Up Their Carts Nicely At The Food Court In Costco In Japan
Image source: RegionFree
#48 These Fitting Room Instructions In Japan. Cover Your Face To Prevent Makeup From Getting On The Garment
Image source: Sad_Weeaboo_In_Japan
#49 In Japan They Sell Square Watermelons To Fit Better In The Refrigerator
Image source: RazerJoe
#50 Toothpick At A Mall In Japan Had A Mint Coated Tip
Image source: HellDiverz
#51 This Urinal In Japan Is A Video Game You Play With Your Pee
Image source: GreenTeaOnMyDesk
#52 Only In Japan Would Someone Leave These Out While They Sleep
Image source: new_redpill
#53 Designated Smoking Rooms On Trains In Japan
Image source: dystortionation
#54 This Japanese Handrail Bends With The Steps
Image source: SH4Z4M
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