Here are a few things I've noticed that are different in Japan:
-Everyone is so polite.
-There is no litter.
-People donβt blare music or talk loudly.
-You almost never hear sirens.
-There is usually no towels to dry your hands with in a public bathroom.
-Donβt ask for a bathroom when you mean toilet. They are two different things.
-When you accept something from someone, take it with both hands.
-You donβt see homeless people in town.
-When you go into someoneβs house, you take off your shoes and put on slippers.
-Thereβs a different pair of slippers used only in the toilet.
-Store clerks, hotel employees, etc, will immediately stop what they are doing and help you, even if it means walking out of their shop to give you directions.
-When you pay, you put your payment on a little tray. You get your change back on the same little tray.
-There is no tipping.
-Itβs very crowded.
-They sell hot and cold drinks out of vending machines and they are everywhere.
-Waiters donβt come back to your table to see if you need anything.
-Waiters donβt come back to you after you are finished eating to say thanks or goodbye.
-The driver is on the right side of the car and drives on the right side of the road.
-Most food tastes just a little like fish.
-Young people are obsessed with anime and manga. An entire section of downtown is devoted to it.
-Cab drivers wear white gloves.
-They build structures and powered plants on tall mountains.
-Men and boys donβt wear baseball caps.
-No one crosses the crosswalk if the light is red.Β
-Itβs rude to eat while walking.Β
-Cabs have beautiful clean, white cloth seat covers.Β
-About 1 in 5 people wear face masks in public, but no one has given me a good explanation why.Β