Unexpected Things That Stood Out When You First Came to Japan

[Kaspian K]

The first time someone comes to Japan, there are bound to be different things that stand out to them. Some are quite common as people comment on how clean the country is, how there are tons of vending machines, the fast-paced nature of the big cities. For many, though, there are probably quite a few little things that have stuck out too, that they didn't think would stand out in there mind for whatever reason. That being said, what unexpected things stood out in your mind the first time you came to Japan?
One thing for me was that I never had to open a door myself. Absolutely ever door around where I was staying was automatic (I think I'm physically incapable of forgeting what "jidou" means, and how to read its kanji :p). I know it's weird, but it stood out in my mind. I also found it interesting just how random ancient and modern things are arranged around some cities. One minute you can be at a temple that is several hundred years old, the next you're in a shopping district with keitai, electronics, and the latest fashion. It's a rather jolting juxtaposition (although, I guess the same can be said about many European cities).
So, what things unexpectedly stood out for you on your first trip to Japan?

[mad pierrot]

So, what things unexpectedly stood out for you on your first trip to Japan?

All the guys in suits reading pornography on the trains.

[Carlson]

All the guys in suits reading pornography on the trains.

made my time on the train go by faster... lol

[Spawnie]

Almost all people having same equipment with them.
1. Cell phone
2. bag
3.mp3 player or something to read
4. small towel
5. something to drink

I got the point when I understood the level of humidity there, :D

[Mike Cash]

One of my thoughts when out in town on my first day in Japan....

"Jesus, look at all the damned foreigners!!! Oh, wait.....a.....minute........I'm the damned foreigner!!!"

[yukio_michael]

The scarcity of food you get for 700 yen at KFC.

[Supervin]

All the guys in suits reading pornography on the trains.
How do they manage to read porn mags in public without the slightest bit of feeling self-conscious? And then be able to look at women with a straight face afterwards? Perplexing...

[Kara_Nari]

I was surprised that all the trucks are soooo clean and sparkly hahah... even the concrete mixers, it was a bit of a shock when I saw a dirty old one. Mike Cash how does your truck look?
I was surprised when my friend told me I can drink the tap water too.

[shamisen]

I've only been to the Narita airport as one of my stopflights, and the big yellow Pokemon plane with Pikachu caught my eye. Really cute.

[d3jake]

made my time on the train go by faster... lol
Well I suppose you have to have your basics covered. :-)

One of my thoughts when out in town on my first day in Japan....

"Jesus, look at all the damned foreigners!!! Oh, wait.....a.....minute........I'm the damned foreigner!!!"
Well, Japan must be a popluar place to visit? For businesses to meet?

[ArmandV]

My surprises:

1. Walking into a McDonalds and the staff yells out greetings at you.

2. Young Japanese women overcome any shyness they may have and approach you. Totally friendly.

3. How much easier it was to navigate around Tokyo than I expected.

4. Prices were a lot more reasonable than expected.

[mintuna]

thing unexpectedly stood out is when i see people standing in line in front of resturant's front door. bcause the restaurant is full, so they should wait for their turn to get in... :hihi: but why don't they go eat somewhere else that has fewer people? :?

[yukio_michael]

How do they manage to read porn mags in public without the slightest bit of feeling self-conscious? And then be able to look at women with a straight face afterwards? Perplexing...You would think they would be self concious--- but, you would be wrong. ;/

[godppgo]

Vending machine selling cigarette

[SortOf]

I only went for a week with my father on a business trip, but...

The fact that the streets were clean (this was Tokyo, im used to Chicago)

People were actually walking, instead of smogging the roads with endless amounts of traffic and fumes in the air.

People tended to be friendly, and greet you in restraunts and stores.

There wasnt poser 2 pac wanna be's riding around in roofless beaters, riding around randomly insulting people, or throwing crap out the window.

The Taxi drivers werent arab, and didnt smell.

There was anime and manga everywhere.

[Spawnie]

1. Taxi - every single one that I went in was clean! Marvelous!
2. Trains - mostly clean - sometimes you see some plastic bottles rolling by but that is not usual.
3. Clean streets
4. Everything so nice and tidy

When you come from Croatia like me, that is all a surprise because Tokyo's population alone is double of my whole country (pathetic I know).
I know people think that japanese are too strict with some of their rules about littering and how you have to dispense your trash, however I think it's all for the best.

All the threads above describe other things that I found unexpected, so all you people are completing my thoughts, lol.

Oh, one more thing. I can't understand how Japanese people can have such long ques and not mind waiting, while it's 90 degrees outside. Now that for me is crazy. I can't do that with the kind of humidity they have, it's totally crazy.
Did I say it's crazy?

[Mike Cash]

I was surprised that all the trucks are soooo clean and sparkly hahah... even the concrete mixers, it was a bit of a shock when I saw a dirty old one. Mike Cash how does your truck look?


Dusty on the outside and lived-in on the inside.

[dameko]

Talking of climate and flora and fauna...
Yes, humidity, it's even difficult to breathe...But vegetation is so nice, and rice fields that you can see from the train...
Monkeys! Huge roaches, scary!
As for cities and people, same as was already mentioned.
What I found surprising also was how fashion aware the people are. Everybody puts a lot of effort into it, except for foreigners, lol.
Speaking of which, can anyone tell me what is the main fad now? When I was there, mostly it was sun-tanned, blond highlights in the hair, and blue lenses.

[Mikawa Ossan]

One of my very first thoughts in Japan (that I remember at least) was, "You call this an apartment?!?!?! It's not much bigger than my old closet in America!!!"

[changedonrequest]

First thing for me was the smell....I came during the middle of rainy season and the smell of the dead and dying plant life as well as the "benjo" ditch was over powering.

Beer vending machines and vending machines in the middle of nowhere, with seemingly no power source whatsoever and in working order without being vandalized.

[Pachipro]

The cleanliness of the country as a whole.

Taking off my shoes in the house.

Trains that ran on time - to the second

24 hr beer/Whiskey and cigarette machines (back then)

Woman approaching me and making the first move and how easy it was for a shy male to meet women.

Buses that you boarded from the rear and paid when you got off.

It was cool to drink alcohol and was considered a "hobby"

The narrow roads where one car had to pull over to allow another to pass.

Teeny tiny apartments with no heat!

All you can drink discos and pubs for 3,000 yen (US$10 back then)

All night ramen shops and street ramen vendors.

Hostess bars. (Foolishly spent a lot of yen there in the early days)

The ungodly number of bicycles parked at a train station.

The high cost of tolls on the expressways.

The fact that people used to wash the sidewalks daily!

Bosozoku motorcycle gangs that did nothing but make noise and impede the flow of traffic and the police following behind but not stopping them.

Trains that stopped running at midnight!

Sumo, which I thought boring at first, but came to love.

Japanese TV - weird but interesting.

The rainy season where it rained everyday for a month and mold would grow on everything.

Public baths. To name a few.

[Supervin]

For me, it was the elaborate, mechanical toilets that you sit on, which can, er, clean your backside.

You would think they would be self concious--- but, you would be wrong. ;/
Heh, I've seen the look on their faces when they read porn mags in public (while on their way to work or something). Their expressions look nothing out of the ordinary - as if they were just reading a newspaper. I so want to know how the heck they manage that...

[ArmandV]

I so want to know how the heck they manage that...


Long years of practice.

[Flashjeff]

Hmm, let's see:

---Japan was the very first country I ever visited where vehicular traffic ran differently. Learned that lesson the hard way when I was almost plastered by a dump truck because I looked the wrong way before crossing a street.

---The absolutely amazing number of trains. I love trains and was in hog heaven when I arrived. The shinkansen (bullet train) was a marvel to me back then. And yes, the trains ran on time too!

---The crowds in downtown Tokyo. Even though I live in Philadelphia (hardly a backwater) and regularly visited New York City, I was totally unprepared for how incredibly crowded Tokyo was.

---The downright crazy stuff on Japanese TV, especially the commercials. HA!

---The manic passion Japanese people have for baseball. The atmosphere at the park is more like a college football game. That was really wild.

---The brutally hot summers, especially in July and August. Whew!

[old west tea]

You would think they would be self concious--- but, you would be wrong. ;/
J-men read porn on trains? No way!
Question #1: How come they aren't self conscious?
Question #2: Do J-women ever read porn on trains? :clueless: Would that fly in Japan?

[Alma]

All the guys in suits reading pornography on the trains.
really? i haven't seen that cause i never took public transportation... nevermind..
somebody mentioned small towels.. that was surprise.. but i figure it out fast :relief:
but mosquitoes!!!! oh :mad: i did expected them, but not that much :auch: i actually still have some scars... they were crazy about me.. :bawling:

[Riyko]

The main thing for me was how smoggy the air is over there, I just thought they'd have cleaner air because of all of the trees they have there and because it's surrounded by water.

[caliope]

A lot of Japanese guys look like they spend more time on their hair than I do, some of them are prettier than me too, I'm kind of jealous.

[Han Chan]

First time I had a beer sitting next to a Japanese woman: After a while she took my half empty beer-can...I thought OK she also like to have some beer and want to pour some for herself - why did I not think of that....But no, she poured the beer into my glass - amasing! :relief: :-)

Later on, I have learned that it is considered bad manners to poor for yourself, and Japanese (in particular women) are trying to make shure that you are suffering from thirst and because of good manners not willing to pour for yourself. Now I mostly enjoy beer in relaxed company and I am not affraid of pouring for myself, but I do enjoy when hosts are now and then showing good manners by pouring for me. :-)

[Tim33]

The porn thing is completly beyond me. Not cos they have the guts to read it on trains but cos its all censored anyway. Japanese porn is terrible unless its made for western audiences and bought in the west. I dont want to see a load of scrambled squares, or cartoons.

[Rich303]

I was struck by how friendly and helpful people are.
I wasn't sure what people would make of me, because I do stand out a bit, but I talked to quite a few(especially older) people who were very warm towards me.
I occasionally feel a pang of regret that I fell out with my first pen pal, because her family were some of the nicest people I've ever met.

And I liked being able to get booze out of a machine any time I want.