Awesome things in Japan – Things I find hard to live without

I’ve lived in Japan for a few years now and I love it. I have grown accustomed to certain things here and would be inconvenienced without these items or services. There is a lot of convenience in Japan and several things I find hard to live without when I visit other countries.

Here are the awesome things in Japan I don’t want to do without.

Exceptional service

I’ve been in some form of customer service role with every job I’ve had and I’ve learned from some of the best. I was told that I have exemplary customer service skills by many people in America. Then I moved to Japan and found that I’ve only started learning about customer service. It was an eye-opener for me.

Sushi

I have eaten this dish in a few five-star restaurants and regular joints around the world. When I ate Sushi in Japan I realized that it was the first time I have eaten real Sushi. In Japan, the Sushi doesn’t show up on a truck frozen, the rice wasn’t made that morning, and the vegetables aren’t under or overripe. Everything is fresh and perfect. After eating Sushi in Japan you’ll taste the difference everywhere you go.

Japanese Toilet

Heated seat, several ways to wash your underside, water pressure adjuster, a dryer, auto lid that raises and lowers on its own, built-in sound maker to cover-up the sounds of nature, and auto flush. After using one I thought I must have wandered into the Emperor’s private chambers.

¥100 store

The ¥100 store in Japan is similar to $1 stores like Dollar Tree in America. The ¥100 store in Japan is unlike other $1 stores in the countries I’ve visited because the store doesn’t sell junk goods. The goods are quality made and have a reasonable purpose.

Melon drink/bread

The Japanese love drinks/bread made with melon and from my first taste, I fell in love with it too. There are so many different melon drinks/bread and they all taste different. The first thing I do when I move to a new area of Japan is to find the nearest vending machine that has my favorite melon drink. If I want one in the middle of the night I just go buy it. No need to wait for the store to open.

Convenience store

Convenience stores in Japan are open 24/7 365. They have package food but it’s not junk food. The food in a Japanese convenience store is something you would make at home or visit a restaurant to find. It’s fresh and healthy.

If I want to pay my bills, buy tickets, send packages, online shopping, print photos, order a cake, and so much more I’ll visit my nearest convenience store.

Delivery 7 days a week

Packages are delivered 7 days a week by the post office. The first time I received a package with paperwork inside was on a Sunday. Excellent customer service.

COD cash on delivery

I thought COD was a thing of the past but the first time I ordered from Amazon Japan the COD option came up. Japan is a cash society and the vendor doesn’t need to worry if the customers will pay. I can order an item and have it delivered the day after I get paid.

Bullet Train

Sure I can fly but I need to show up two hours early, get through TSA, and wait for my flight to leave. A huge waste of time. A Japanese bullet train leaves from the station about once every 15 minutes, I don’t need to show up early, no TSA going through my things, and I never wait. I buy the ticket online, show up, get on the train. Simple

Hot water temperature controller

Have you ever been able to turn on the hot water for a shower and it’s the perfect temperature without turning on the cold? You can here in Japan where the hot water temperature controller is on the wall just like the central air thermostat is in United States homes.

Vending Machines

I remember when I was a kid back in the United States and vending machines were in several places. I could buy a bottle of Coke and pour my planters peanuts in it. Here in Japan, they have taken vending machines to a whole new level. People don’t attack and destroy them so vending machines are everywhere. I can get a drink, sandwich, rice, batteries, umbrella, Alcoholic beverage, vegetables, t-shirt, ice cream, and more. If the Japanese think it will sell in a vending machine they will add it.

Automatic Door

The only door I open in Japan is the one for my house. All other doors are automatic. The last time I visited the United States I found myself waiting for doors to open for me.

Rice Cooker

I didn’t know that rice cookers existed until I moved to Asia. I can’t live without one now. I was brought up eating mashed potatoes. I’ve seen mashed potatoes exactly zero times in Japan. Potatoes are sold here in packs of 4.

PASMO card

No need to buy a train, subway, or bus ticket each time I want to ride. I just use my PASMO card and recharge when needed. When I scan at the gate a digital display lets me know how much is left on my card so I know when to refill.

Hot Spring bath (Onsen)

Volcanic activity is everywhere in Japan. So naturally, there are hot spring baths. People who live in Japan visit the hot springs almost weekly to recover from long working hours. Baths can be mixed-gender, personal, indoor, or outside but the result is the same, a relaxing time to replenish your energy and rest your mind.

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Do you live in Japan? What would you find hard to live without? What is your favorite thing in Japan? Let me know in the comments section below.

Have questions about Japan or the topics I’ve listed here? Share your questions in the comments section below.