Nothing appears to be more tragic than dying alone—but it … Kaiseki is Japan’s fine, elevated cuisine and the specialty of the country’s cultural capital, Kyoto. The level of love and respect that goes into food preparation in Japan is nothing short of awe-inspiring. One of the things you will notice when traveling to Japan is the huge amount of vending machines. We hope you have a chance to experience all of this during your trip to Japan! Baths and hot springs alike are viewed as a relaxation tool rather than a way to get clean. It’s typically made with fresh seasonal ingredients, and color, taste, presentation, and health are all carefully considered. Not having to worry about things like this is surprisingly relaxing. At the time I couldn’t afford the bullet train, so I took an overnight bus from Tokyo. 19. Whether you’re going for a simple, casual meal — or splurging on an exquisite once-in-a-lifetime meal at the counter of a shokunin (master) — you can almost always count on thoughtful and considerate service, and painstakingly prepared food. In such a country, it’s little surprise that a key function of police officers, stationed in their ever-present koban (police boxes) in cities around the country, is to provide directions to lost tourists and locals alike (the Economist reports on Japanese police searching for things to do). Japanese Gardens. Japanese people’s attention to and passion for detail — and profound passion for doing things well — permeates every aspect of life in Japan. Its safety is a major reason Japan is such a family-friendly destination, as is the fact that it’s such a surprisingly easy country to navigate, which brings me to…. This pride in caring for surroundings is contagious, and chances are you’ll find yourself doing your part to keep Japan clean for others, too! To explain what I feel are the best things about Japan, I’ll begin with a brief story from an early spring day in Tokyo. 5 Interesting Facts About Japanese Culture That You Probably Don't Know. The average delay on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the most heavily traveled high-speed rail line in the world, is about half a minute. The staff aren’t being polite and attentive in hopes that you’ll give them a good tip (there’s no tipping culture in Japan), and there’s no need to thank them at the end of a transaction. And walk almost anywhere in any Japanese city, town or village, and you’ll see local people tidying up the streets around their homes and places of business. I had one friend accidentally leave a very expensive camera on the Tokyo Metro, which he successfully recovered by contacting the Metro’s lost and found. And thus, with his kindness, the first Japanese person I ever met in Japan had set a tone that would continue to this very day. I’ll never forget, a few weeks after I first moved to Japan, one day I spotted some litter in a park and found it so noteworthy that I felt impelled to photograph it. Thinking of using the Japan Rail Pass during your Japan trip? These ceremonies have been greatly influenced by Buddhist practices and the event can be likened to a meditative experience.Japanese tea ceremonies possess deep meaning to the country and those who are invited should feel quite honoured. At this point — thanks to Jiro’s fame, and countless celebrity chefs having extolled their obsession with Japanese cuisine — it is widely known that Japan has some of the best, if not the best, food on earth. I wasn’t that surprised when we left right on time, but I was amazed when we pulled into Kyoto precisely on time, to the minute. 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