Japan is one of the most fun and exciting countries you’ll ever visit. If you have never visited Japan before you will be overwhelmed by the friendliness of the people, the bright lights of Tokyo and the uniformity of the country. Whether it was a natural disaster or manmade, Japan has been through it all and thrived! All this could be only achieved with the strong values and rich culture the country has to offer.
Looking for facts about Japan? Here you go!
1. Japan consists of over 6,800 islands. The four biggest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, which together makes up about 97% of the total land area.
2. Though Japan is a very beautiful country, it is also quite deadly, not because of its crime rate (it’s actually one of the safest countries in the world), but primarily because it’s one of the world’s most earthquake-prone areas. It experiences 1,500 earthquakes every year due to its geographical location.
3. Japanese trains are among the world’s most punctual: their average delay is just 18 seconds! Also, sometimes the trains are so crowded that railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.
4. Japan has 5.52 million vending machines offering anything from soda to sex toys and live crabs. They’re literally everywhere, around every corner, and it’s almost like they’re part of the modern Japanese culture.
5. Japan has a ‘suicide forest’. Called ‘the perfect place to die’, the Aokigahara Forest has the unfortunate distinction of the world’s second most popular place to take one’s life. About 70 bodies are found in the woods every year, but it’s assumed that many bodies are lost in the forest.
6. A Hakada Matsuri, or “naked festival,” is more or less exactly what it sounds like. In dozens of places throughout Japan, thousands of men and boys strip down to loincloths in hope of gaining luck for the year. Errmmm.. No Pants Party – Imagine stripping down to bring in good luck!
7. Japan has a centuries-old tradition of traditional bathhouses. But there’s this spa in Japan – Yunessun Spa Resort is a little different than the other spas in Japan. Here you can soak in a green tea spa, a sake spa, a coffee spa, and even a ramen-noodle spa. Haha!
8. There are more elderly than kids in Japan. The people don’t have time or money to have a family in today’s Japanese Society. And this has led to the situation where there are more seniors than children. And did you know that they actually sell more adult diapers than kid’s diapers? Also, there are more pets than children.
9. Did you know Japanese eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Eve? Since most Japanese do not consider Christmas to be a religious holiday, they are open to celebrating it in unconventional ways. In the 1970s, a marketing campaign encouraged locals to eat “Kentucky for Christmas”. This slogan was so successful that KFC remains the Japanese go-to for Christmas dinner. Some people reserve their “party bucket” of chicken up to a month in advance, to make sure they don’t go home empty.
10. Many of us would cringe at the thought of eating horse meat, especially if it’s raw and cold. But in Japan, raw horse meat, also called basashi, is considered a delicacy and is served in many restaurants.
11. For the Japanese, taking a bath is not only about cleansing the body. It’s also an effective way to relax the mind, the body, and the spirit. Unlike in the Western world, Japanese families use the same water for bathing, and no they don’t take baths simultaneously. The father goes first, followed by the mother, and then the children. However, they only use them for soaking and not bathing. They clean, scrub, and soap their bodies outside the bathtubs and after they have rinsed themselves, they’ll then enter the tub and soak their bodies. What are your thoughts on this? Hehe!
12. In Japan there are ‘Maid Cafes’ where waitresses dressed in maid costumes act as servants, and treat customers as masters (and mistresses) in a private home, rather than as café patrons.
13. Not only that, Japan even as Cuddle Cafés! The first “cuddle cafes” opened in Tokyo in 2014. Called Soine-ya (literally “sleep-together shop”), they allow male customers to sleep next to a woman for a fee. Sexual requests are not allowed, but the menu includes “staring at each other for a minute” or “stroking the girl’s hair for three minutes” for 1,000 yen each.
14. Slurping is completely normal in Japan and is even considered polite. According to Japanese customary, it’s polite to slurp up the noodles since it shows the cook that you appreciate the food and at the same time, it enhances the flavours.
15. Adults are more commonly adopted than children are in Japan. Over 90% of the people adopted in 2011 were men between the ages of 20 and 30. These adoptions are often a way for a family to secure an heir or pass down a business.
16. Japanese take cleaning very seriously. Cleaning is taught in school and is a serious part of Japanese culture. Students and children clean their own school. Time is set aside every day for students to tidy up classrooms, mop floors, and clean bathrooms.
17. Japan has a penis festival. The festival is known as Kanamara Matsuri, which means something like “the festival for the phallus of steal”. t started in 1969 just outside of Tokyo and celebrates the penis and female fertility.
Captain Nero’s recommendations in Japan:
We are sharing a list of places that you would fall in love with if you choose to visit.
Hiroshima: Hiroshima is a city whose name the world will never forget, but in spite of the destruction lurking in its past, Hiroshima has reimagined itself as the “Peace Capital” of the world and is both safe and exciting to visit. And believe us, apart from the dedicated monuments and sites that reflect the history, the city also has other spellbinding attractions like the Itsukushima shrine.
Lake Kawaguchiko: Head to Lake Kawaguchiko for the best views of Mount Fuji. It’s especially lovely in cherry blossom or autumn leaf seasons.
Naoshima Island: A tiny island beautifully set amidst the Seto Inland Sea, Naoshima offers a perfect weekend escapade from Tokyo. A sleepy island known for its art galleries and art sculptures.
Nara: Nara was Japan’s first permanent capital and is full of historic treasures including many UNESCO world heritage sites. Home to many shrines, monasteries, museums, and the famous Nara Park, this city is where you need to be to get a feel of Japanese culture closely.
Mount Fuji: Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting Japan’s most iconic spots? With an assortment of hiking trails that are suitable for hikers of all fitness level, you can live the dream of reaching Mount Fuji’s summit.
Kanazawa: Kanazawa is one of the best cities to visit in Japan, but few foreign tourists make it here. As Kyoto grows in popularity, consider turning to Kanazawa instead for a quieter place to experience geisha districts with preserved wooden buildings. It blankets numerous historical attractions such as reconstructed residences and contemporary museums.
Nikko: Nikko is a temple town and UNESCO world heritage site in the mountains. Come to Nikko to see the famously decadent Toshogu shrine and stay to explore the gorgeous nature of Nikko National Park.
