1. Which side?
Japan does things on the left. I'm ok with that, it's not my first rodeo after all. Drive on the left means I ride my bicycle on the left (took a second to re-figure my hand signals). Stand on the left of an escalator to let people walk on the right side. Check check check. What I don't understand is when walking on the street or riding a bicycle and you happen across someone going the opposite direction there is no default to the left. I'd say it's 50/50 which side people will go. And it happens everywhere I've gone. Maybe because I'm white they assume I'll go right or maybe you're supposed to go right but it is very annoying. Especially when you are on a bicycle facing a bicycle and you both turn in the same direction and SMASH! This hasn't happened but I'm sure it will.
2. Driver's fault
If you are on a moped or less (bike, ped, skateboard, etc) and get involved in an accident, whatever you were doing it's the drivers fault and they will owe you a certain sum of money for some time. Even if you cut them off or just straight up plow into them. Also if you hit a student driver (someone who has been driving less than 1yr) it is also your fault no matter what the circumstance because as a seasoned driver you should know better.
3. People
They are everywhere, you can never escape people. Also I think Japanese have grown accustom to standing in line and will wait patiently however long it takes.
4. Unemployment
I have no idea what the unemployment rate is in Japan but we think it must be low because I haven't seen a single homeless person, or a sign of one, and there are tons of "extra" jobs like pedestrian traffic control around construction or near large parking lots. They are there strictly to tell you if a car is coming and if you should walk or not. Totally not necessary.
5. Blind
All over main roads/bridges/pathways/stations are raise yellow tiles for blind people. A set of parallel straight lines gives you a direction along a road etc. If the road turns, splits or terminates at an intersection/business/stairway/platform there is a grid of raised dots. Absolutely genius but at the same time annoying because now the entire walking surface is not flat. Also pretty sure this would only help blind people in places they have never been too in which case I'd rather have an escort and just count steps. There is also normal braille on everything too (alcoholic cans, stairways, toilets, map boards).
7.Toilet
Speaking of toilets, apparently toilet paper is still just a western thing. While I have not been in a bathroom that did not have toilet paper almost all of them have an electronic control panel that lets you pick how you would like to be cleansed and shoots water on your parts. You can pick strength, temperature, how long, and of course which part to aim at. I even saw one that had an option to imitate a flushing sound (it sounded like a toilet ferociously eating something). I tried this bidet once and the aim was a little off and while being shot with warm water was ok it was quit surprising and rather strange and I'll just stick to toilet paper :) I have also been into bathrooms where there is like an embedded toilet bowl in cement and you just squat over it. Also every single toilet I have ever been able to sit on (except for the ones on base and in my room) is heated. No matter how remote you think that toilet is, that seat is heated. It is quite simply wonderful. Boys I don't expect you to completely understand but it is wonderful. However the sink water is always freezing cold and half the time there is no soap.
6. Hawks
There are giant sea hawks that swoop out of nowhere and expertly grab whatever food you have no matter how you are holding it and never hit your hand, only steal the food. I've seen it, Jordan was assaulted just yesterday. Half a burger, gone, never saw it coming, or going actually. Amazing.
7. Social Customs
Tipping your head in a bow shows respect and is thus done almost every time I engage a Japanese person. In the service industry people actually bow completely but I haven't felt completed to do that yet. Jordan said he saw someone in a bow-off. Someone begins greeting and bows, the other bows back in return, the first bows again to accept the bow, the other bows again to accept their acceptance etc. It's a good demonstration of how polite and courteous people generally are. Which is great when you are traveling and totally lost!
8. Masks
I think I knew about this but I wasn't expecting to see so many young people with masks on trying not to get sick. Also I've seen more than one person who was actually sick without a mask on. Seems like a flawed system but I wouldn't mind have some spare masks for an airplane or long train ride when the person next to you is all sniffly and coughing.
9. Thirsty?
There are vending machines everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE! Like in neighborhoods and everything. Red labels mean hot and blue means cold. They also have soups.
10. Height
Jordan is too tall for Japan. He almost couldn't go on the rides at Disney Sea for being too tall and has to duck everywhere. I on the other hand am the perfect size! :D
More to follow!
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