Welcome to Japan, a fascinating country in Asia! Japan is a collection of islands with a unique culture and a long history. It has both ancient traditions and modern technology, making it an exciting place to explore.
In Japan, you’ll find beautiful cherry blossoms, big cities, and delicious food. The country has a mix of old temples and tall buildings, creating a harmonious blend of the past and the present.
You’ll be amazed by the peaceful Shinto shrines and the graceful Geisha culture. At the same time, Japan is famous for its cool gadgets and advanced machines.
During our journey, we’ll discover the special customs, natural beauty, and fast-changing trends that shape life in Japan. From serene Zen gardens to bustling streets in Tokyo, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
So, whether you’re new to Japan or already love it, get ready for an exciting adventure to uncover the interesting facts and stories that make this country so extraordinary. Let’s begin our exploration of Japan together!
From famous cities, districts, dishes, films, and much other pop culture, Japan still has a lot of interesting things or facts many may not know about. We have here a list of interesting facts gathered to have you know, you may or may not know this but these facts, are also made up of Japan.
10 Interesting Facts You Should Know
1. Japanese people have a long lifespan
You are maybe familiar with the lifestyle of some Japanese people, but yes, they have a long life span. Japan is chasing the rank of Hong Kong as the country with a long life expectancy, with both countries having 85 years in statistics for both sexes. Yes, indeed! Japanese people tend to live more than any from the corners of the world.
2. Crazy vending machines
Japan has more than four million vending machines across the country, and it has all the weirdest things you can find on a vending machine. When you think of a vending machine, the first thing that will come to your mind is sodas, chocolates, and other snacks, but in Japan, you can find vending machines that have umbrellas, food like pizza/burgers, things for necessities, even sex toys or kinds of seafood! Truly amazing!
3. Japan is very neat and clean
The streets in Japan are beyond beautiful that even if it is not a tourist spot, you can’t tell because it can be Instagram-worthy in an instant! The streets in Japan are extremely clean, the drainage system is also clean so that you can even see fishes like Koi swimming in the clean water. Streets free of garbage? what more could you ask for?
4. Majority of Japan is covered by Forests
Japan may have many metropolitan are in different cities but one thing you cannot deny is that there are forests everywhere. Japan is really keeping a balance with mother nature, even much better! with 66% more of the whole country covered with the forest!
5. Tokyo is the most crowded city in the world
With over 37 million of population, the metropolitan area of Tokyo is the most inhabited city in the whole world. Tokyo is also the capital of Japan, making it the city most visited by tourists and other international events such as big international press tours for movie premiers, to concerts in the famous Tokyo Dome.
Even though populated, Tokyo still mesmerized a lot of people locally and internationally from all the tourist spots you can find left and right, making it the city most sought after by the local Japanese and foreigners to settle.
6. Thousands of earthquakes strike Japan every year
One of the major things to consider when you’re planning to visit or live in Japan would be the country’s state in regard to the frequency of the experienced earthquake. Japan has the most frequent earthquake due to scientific reasons.
Japan is basically located at the intersection of 3 tectonic plates, a plate margin wherein there are a lot of faults as we know the cause of an earthquake would be the sudden movement of faults within an area; the movements of faults that release a wave that’s called seismic waves which causes the earth’s surface to shake. Also, it is located at the archipelago around the ring of fire; there are more nearby tectonic plates which makes it extra vulnerable to natural disasters.
7. Suicide Forest
The suicide forest also known as Aokigahara or Sea of Trees, is a forest near the northwest part of Mount Fuji. This is such a popular forest but not because of its beauty or any other thing related to tourism; instead – kind of considered creepy or mysterious; Aokigahara is known as the place where a lot of people ended their life at.
Though it is a place that tourists can travel to alone or ask to be guided; it is not really a forest for beauty and sight-seeing, instead it is commemorated and known as the place of casualties of people from Japan. Other than that, the place does have some interesting things to offer such as a few lava caves and a lot of exotic and rare wildlife; from the forest, you’ll also be able to check out the majestic side view of Mount Fuji.
8. Low birth rate
Another interesting fact about Japan would be its very low birth rate percentage or low fertility rate. This happens mainly because fewer young women from the country get married or get some fun; for they are more focused on maintaining their lifestyle and evolving life.
The grind culture both in work and education in Japan is so much more than in other countries; so people there spend an excessive amount of hours at the office, in studies, or just in life in general. Hence, this allows Japan to have a very low birth rate for the people in it are too tired to start one, create one or maintain one—hence the very low birth rate.
9. Cute Maid Cafes
Not something that you’ll see in your everyday life, “Maid Cafes” are most popular in Japan, especially in the place of Tokyo. Most people may just expect a normal café where the people who work there would be wearing maid costumes, but that is not the case. A lot of people are looking forward to trying one, but sadly this type of cafe isn’t really for the people or tourists looking for a uniquely Japanese experience—you don’t want to go in there expecting the best because for sure you’ll be walking out confused.
These types of cafes are actually made for otakus (people who are into anime) and not to be a stereotype but otakus do have very unique desires. One of the most popular Maid Café in Japan would be the “Maidreamin” it has a lot of branches from Tokyo to Akihabara; it is known for its very entertain-ish and very alive atmosphere; a lot of multiple good-tasting dishes with a very cute theme type of place.
10. Famous Japanese sake
Japanese sake or simply known as sake is basically the beer of Japan. Alcoholic beverage created with fermenting rice. These sakes have different flavors and different alcohol percentage content; some sakes are made to be served cold, some at room temperature, and of course some warm.
Sakes are not only drinks but for a lot of Japanese people it also symbolizes “the act of cleansing” or starting on a new journey. Some type of cultural thing in Japan would be that sake serves as a drink that ties bonds between mortal beings. We’ll see sakes used in anime to convey a betterment or newly created bond between individuals—same as with how it is in real life.
Considering other known interesting facts about Japan, you cannot deny the fact that this country is indeed amazing and one of the countries in the world that many people wanted to visit. Who knows, you might be in Japan one day! By then, enjoy these interesting facts for your future references.
As we bid farewell to Japan, we carry with us not only unforgettable memories but also a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of this captivating country. Its allure lies not only in its world-renowned landmarks but also in the everyday experiences that make Japan a truly unique and cherished destination.
Whether it’s the traditional arts or the latest technological marvels, Japan continues to be a source of wonder and inspiration for travelers and enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. As we part ways with this enchanting land, we look forward to carrying the spirit of Japan with us, cherishing the memories and eagerly anticipating future adventures.
Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you) for joining us on this journey through Japan. Until we meet again, sayonara, and may the spirit of Japan stay with you wherever your travels take you!