For foreign travellers in Japan, the country can sometimes seem to epitomize all things weird and wacky – seemingly revelling in the peculiar and downright strange. There’s an explanation for everything of course, but some of the cultural differences can lead to interesting or amusing curiosities for overseas guests. It’s all part of the fun of traveling in Japan. We wanted to share some of the more interesting light-hearted quirks and differences we noticed during our time in the country, to mentally prepare or inspire you to hop on a plane and visit.

• You will never go thirsty in Japan thanks to handy drink vending machines on every street corner – you can even buy hot drinks from them! 

• You can buy some very weird and wacky things from vending machines – there’s even a Japanese TV show devoted entirely to trying oddities sold in vending machines across Japan. We spotted a tofu dog food vending machine in Nishiki Market in Kyoto. We also spotted vending machines entirely stocked with creme caramels, baked goods from a nearby bakery and even bento boxes! 

Tofu dog treat vending machine spotted in Nishiki Market, Kyoto

• In many restaurants, particularly ramen joints, customers have to order at a vending machine rather than with a server. These machines are actually super common in low-budget ramen shops – simply shove your cash in the slot and hit the option you want before delivering your ticket to the server. 

• Everything in Japan is high-tech, right down to toilet seats with adjustable seat temperature, a douche function for both men and women and sometimes even a drying function as well. There’s even ‘privacy music’ which users can press to cover any toilet sounds! We really do miss these warm toilet seats which are a staple throughout the country.

Have you ever seen a toilet flush button as complicated as this?

• When stepping foot in local restaurants and food joints, expect to be greeted by a chorus of loud energetic greetings from all the employees as well as a hearty and pretty boisterous goodbye when you leave. This is another quirk that you will quickly get used to. 

• The Japanese don’t waste time when it comes to paying the bill. If you haven’t already paid at a vending machine when you enter, there’s no need to wait for the bill to be brought to you; simply get up from your seat and approach the till area (be observant about where/how other patrons are paying). It’s completely normal to finish your meal and then get up and pay immediately – no hanging around necessary trying to get your server’s attention.

• You can’t jump the queue here – Japan is a very orderly society that values patience and respecting the rules. Jay-walking is a no no and orderly queuing for public transport is a must in Japan.

• Japanese TV never disappoints – switch on the TV for anything from the mundane to the outrageous. Think the top engineering brains in Japan competing to make a slipper fly for the longest distance, or random guys being jumped by sumo wrestlers while leaving their office and being thrown in a pool of gunge. Interestingly, most hotel TVs in Japan are only able to access a small handful of terrestrial channels, which vary by region.

• Japan has a real fascination with bears – this seems to be an equal measure of terror and intrigue. Japanese hikers are very careful about not encountering bears when out walking in rural areas where bears have been spotted. Walkers often sport bear bells and some trails have a gong-like bell for walkers to ring in order to alert any nearby bears to their presence. You will encounter many stern warning signs about bears in many places. It’s also common to see bear encounters and sightings on the news. Many residents in rural areas use cages for their garbage to discourage bears from rootling through it. 

Beware of the bear – these signs are absolutely everywhere!

• Earthquakes are a daily occurrence in Japan, although most of these are not powerful enough to cause any damage. We experienced a few shakes during our trip, one was actually over 4 on the Richter scale. If you’re like us and not from an earthquake-prone area, it might be worth looking at the safety protocols and evacuation information displayed in buildings and hotel rooms. Tsunami warnings are everywhere as well. There are underground evacuation spaces in major cities. Luckily, the Japanese have developed some of the most earthquake-resistant buildings in the world. 

• Prepare to have your mind blown by underground shopping arcades. In Japan, shops aren’t merely located at street level but also underground as well. Japan has some pretty extreme weather and these arcades can make a great place to take shelter if you get caught out. It can be astounding to stumble upon these hidden underground worlds. Many Japanese shops in big cities also go up as well as down. It’s common for shared high-rise buildings to contain numerous different shops and establishments, or for a single shop to have 7 or more floors.

• Animal cafes are super popular in Japan. As well as the famous cat cafes, we spotted micropig, hedgehog, owl and capybara cafes amongst others – these are all the rage in trendy urban centres like Tokyo and Osaka. I’m not sure about the animal welfare in these places. Unlike in other countries, you have to pay an entry fee to go inside, and then obviously any drinks on top of that are an additional charge. 

Micro-pig cafes and kimonos for dogs are all the rage in Japan

• Pets in Japan can often be extremely pampered. Expect to see plenty of tiny dogs in little outfits being pushed around in prams. We even saw a man walking a ferret!

• Japanese religious institutions can be pretty unique. Along with the typical austere temples, among other things, we encountered Shinto shrines featuring Pikachu, Hippocrates, statues of bunnies, depictions of wild boar, a mysterious moss-covered statue of Buddha, a well which doubles as a gateway to hell and coloured balls which represent monkey souls. Shinto is famously said to have 8 million gods, so you may find something unexpected. 

• Tokyo has an array of eccentric places to visit for those looking for an alternative to the normal sightseeing attractions. The parasitological museum is one for those with strong stomachs as it is filled with jars containing specimens of real-life parasites – there’s even an 8.8m long tapeworm that was removed from a human body on display. Wanna know what the radioactive tuna museum is all about? Make sure you check out the Fukuryu Maru Museum to find out more.

Prepare to be disgusted at the parasitological museum in Tokyo

• Have you ever considered what it would be like to visit an island entirely inhabited by rabbits that hop over to visitors and take food from their hands, or wild deer that literally bow to you in return for a rice cracker? You can find this in Japan. Ōkunoshima island in the Seto Inland Sea is a great place to spend time feeding the friendly local bunnies, which mob you once they realise you’ve got food. Paradoxically, prior to World War 2 the island used to be the location of a secret poison gas factory, producing 6000 tons of the stuff. It’s particularly eerie to see the remains of the gun bastions and storage facilities alongside the furry current occupants of the island. In fact the rabbits were originally introduced to test whether the island was safe from the remnants of the poison gas. Nara, as well as being an imperial capital for a time, is home to a population of special deer who are so used to humans that they approach you for food and bow for rice crackers. Be careful though as the males can get quite insistent and pushy if they think you’re teasing them. 

Bunnies and poison gas all on one island – what more could you ask for?

• It’s quite common for people to pay for company and conversation in Japan. Commonly referred to as host or hostess bars, specific late night venues provide an outlet for people looking to mingle with charismatic and often beautiful hosts. They are places to show off your wealth by buying extravagant drinks for your favourite host or hostess. People often come here looking for a genuine connection, someone to listen to them and make them feel special. 

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