12 Interesting Facts About Japan (that still surprise me)
Taking the train to Osaka
I usually spend the spring and fall seasons in Tokyo. I like to call it my second home. And in all my time here, I’ve learned some super interesting facts about Japan that still get me.
These are my favorite pieces of trivia about the land of the rising sun.
So let’s get to it.
1. Tokyo + Osaka Have Palm Trees
Yep, you read that correctly — there are palm trees in Japan (and not just in Okinawa).
I still question get confused by this, but places like Tokyo and Osaka (which get quite cold in the winter) have palm trees.
They’re not everywhere, but if you spend any time exploring the parks and areas outside the city (especially near the coast), you’ll likely find some tropical looking flora.
It’s a bit strange to find these warm-weather plants in places that also get snow. But then again, Tokyo (for example) is technically in a humid subtropical climate zone.
This humid tropical weather is definitely felt in the Japanese summer, if you plan a trip during this time.
I guess this part-time tropical climate is why these trees are able to survive (or at least get by) in Japan. I also notice that the baby palm trees will get wrapped up in coats during the winter to help them survive earlier on.
This level of landscaping and plant care (which is ubiquitous in Japan) probably helps a lot also.
2. THC Is Banned (but synthetics are hard to regulate)
I’m still shocked by this one: THC is illegal, but synthetic cannabinoids…not so much.
This is a recent discovery of mine and it’s related to a loophole in the Japanese law that allows synthetic cannabinoids to be bought and sold legally.
Of course, the government usually responds by banning these specific compounds once they become popular. But CBD shops will then just offer a newer, slightly different derivative that’s not yet banned.
And the cycle repeats.
While both weed and THC are still very illegal in Japan (do not try to bring it or get it here), these synthetic alternatives are not.
The colloquial term for this situation is “dappo habu” (aka, “loophole herb”), and the effects of these substances are very similar to the real thing (and potentially even more potent).
So if you find yourself in a CBD shop in Japan, and see a bunch of extra letters attached to your product (such as HHCH), just be aware…this stuff works.
Go easy and don’t underestimate it.
You may be surprised at how powerful it actually is – especially since these derivatives aren’t well regulated or researched.
*Note: don’t try bringing anything similar (CBD, etc.) into the country. Laws change frequently and it’s best to play it safe, especially with international drug laws.
3. Tokyo Is the Most Populated City In the World
Tokyo is big — like, really big. In fact, it’s the most populated city in the whole world! Tokyo’s population is just shy of 14 million people. So yea, that’s a lot of people.
This also explains why having a garden or green space in your home is considered to be quite exclusive.
Still, despite the high population, Tokyo is incredibly efficient and you can easily find a quiet place or a nearby park for some sweet solitude. Everyone is super polite and things stay pretty quiet.
I actually sometimes forget that I’m in the most crowded city in the world (unless I’m in a busy city area on the weekend or using the train during commuting hours).
Still, if you’re planning a trip here, just be prepared to stand in a few lines and squeeze yourself onto a train or two.
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4. Japan Has Over 100,000 Sacred Sites
Japan has a lot of sacred sites — over 100,000 to be exact. These include Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
And it’s not just for locals or religious people — it’s a great experience for tourists as well. I mean, just try to visit Meiji Jingu in Tokyo or Kinkakuji in Kyoto without having to deal with tons of tourists.
It’s also popular for people to collect stamps from all of the temples and shrines they visit throughout the country and store them in a book. This is called goshuincho.
Stamps and the stamp books tend to be very aesthetic and “cool”. So if you’re into the traditional side of Japan, this is definitely something worth looking into!
Finally, a lot of people (tourists and locals alike) will visit these places more out of tradition rather than religion.
For example, people start queuing up at midnight on New Year’s eve to celebrate hatsumōde, which is the tradition of visiting the first temple or shrine of the new year.
But it’s also normal to do hatsumōde the following day (or days) as well.
I’ve done hatsumode a few times myself and it is a fun experience (I recommend it!). Sometimes (especially at popular temples), there are stands with Japanese snacks or hot drinks like amazake to enjoy.
Just remember to dress warm and be prepared to stand out in the cold for a couple hours.
5. There Are Over 90,000 Centenarians Living In Japan
Japan has a lot of centenarians (people over 100 years old) — over 90,000, in fact.
Most notably, places like Okinawa are considered to be in a blue zone (which are areas in the world where the people living there live longer than average).
While recent trends in Westernization have introduced some less healthy habits in Japan, there are still many reasons for the high number of centenarians.
Traditional foods like fermented natto, fish and boiled vegetables are still ubiquitous. Even when I go out to get bowls of ramen or other noodles, the ratio of vegetables to meat is much higher compared to the west.
One of the bigger modern (health) problems in Japan is high salt intake. Still, Japan maintains a healthy lifestyle culture, especially in more rural areas.
As an extreme example, take a look at Takishima Mika, the 91 year old fitness instructor! She’s incredibly inspiring.
Side Fact: With nearly 30% of Japanese people aged over 65, the aging population problem in Japan is a growing concern.
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6. Tattoos Are Taboo (but only for Japanese)
You may have heard about this nuance in Japan. But having tattoos (as a Japanese person) is quite taboo.
For many people (particularly older generations), tattoos are connected with crime, breaking the rules and/or gangs. While this may be objectively false (especially nowadays), the stereotype remains.
Since tattoos are generally well accepted and ubiquitous in many Western countries, it’s less frowned upon when foreigners or tourists have body art.
Although, you may still experience difficulty when trying to enter more traditional or fancier Japanese onsens, gyms or resorts (so you may want to try covering them up in these situations, if possible).
Still, tattoo culture and its stereotypes seem to be changing slightly in recent years.
Younger generations don’t seem to share the same views (in more ways than one) and I personally notice more and more Japanese people having some pretty beautiful work done.
Fun fact, I actually got my very first tattoo done in Tokyo. There’s some amazing artists here and you can find all sorts of tattoo shops specializing in different styles.
7. Japan Has 1500 Earthquakes Per Year
As you may already know, Japan is prone to a lot of earthquakes – around 1,500 per year actually, on average.
This may sound outrageous – and concerning – but most of these quakes are smaller and barely felt. Or if they are, it’s brief and with little impact.
So why does Japan have so many earthquakes anyways? According to Live Science, Japan sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire where many tectonic plates come together.
When these plates move up against each other, they cause the earth above to shake. It’s a normal geological process. Luckily, Japan’s infrastructure and buildings are built to withstand things.
It’s also just a normal occurrence to feel the ground shake a bit. In my experience, most of my friends don’t even blink an eye during a small earthquake.
While larger earthquakes are of course a concern and something to be prepared for (especially with secondary effects such as tsunamis), most of the time Japan is incredibly safe and you may not even notice the smaller shakes.
Still, 1,500 is a lot – so it’s an interesting point!
8. Japan Is Mostly Japanese
At first glance, this may feel like a “yea, duh” type of fact. But coming from America (where diversity is a lot more common), this is an interesting point worth highlighting.
Most people in Japan are Japanese — around 98% to be specific.
While busy city centers like Tokyo or Osaka have a higher ratio of foreign residents, we’re still very much in the minority.
But in my personal experience, Japanese people are incredibly warm and welcoming to everyone – foreigners included. Still, some people may experience things very differently.
For example, a Japanese person whose parents are of mixed nationality may be constantly perceived as a tourist or a foreigner, even though they are Japanese and Japan is their home.
I can’t speak to this experience of course, but I hope it’s something that will continue to evolve and improve as Japan becomes increasingly diverse.
9. There’s A Highway That Goes Through A Building In Osaka
This is a fact that makes you go “wait, what?”.
Japan has a highway that goes straight through a building. It’s the Gate Tower building in Osaka and it looks like what you’d expect.
I’m not sure which came first (the highway or the building), but it’s an interesting point worth sharing.
Although, I can’t say I’m not terribly surprised. Japan has a population of nearly 130 million people, but is only 378,000 square kilometers in size.
For perspective, America has around 330 million people but is over 9,000,000 square kilometers in size. Put another way, America’s population is only ~3 times larger than Japan, but there’s around 23 times more land (probably more, since I rounded down).
So space is an issue.
And sending highways through buildings is one solution, I suppose.
10. There’s 1 Vending Machine for Every 23 People
One of my favorite parts about Japan is its convenience. And the copious amounts of vending machines is one example of this.
Japan has around 4 million vending machines. That’s around 1 machine for every 23 people. Nearly every street corner and random alleyway will have vending machines lining their curbs.
You’re really never more than a few minutes walk away from grabbing some drinks, snacks and more.
Just look at the picture above of a vending machine I found in Shibuya that makes you fresh squeezed orange juice (and for only ¥350!).
Although, according to other data from Statista, the total number of vending machines in Japan has declined for 9 years in a row.
Still, there are plenty to be found. So if you’re coming to Japan, you can rest assured you’ll be spoiled for vending machine choices.
11. Japan Is Made Up Of Over 14,000 Islands (yep, 14,000)
It’s easy to forget this fact, but Japan is actually an archipelago of islands.
And recent digital mapping has revealed that Japan is made up of 14,125 islands — nearly doubling the old estimate of around 7,000 islands.
That’s a lot of islands. And to think, I only ever go to one of them, Honshu island (where Tokyo and Osaka are).
Actually, most people only visit (or live on) one of the main islands:
Honshu
Kyushu
Hokkaido
Shikoku
Okinawa
5 out of 14,000 seems a bit low. So I suppose there are tons of pockets in Japan worth exploring — I’m not sure one lifetime is quite enough to see everything.
So maybe just choose a couple hundred islands to explore (hah!).
12. The Oldest Company In the World Is Japanese
It’s almost comical that a company’s tagline can read “since 578 AD”. But that’s just what we have here.
Japan is home to one of the world’s oldest companies, Kongō Gumi, which started in, yep, 578 AD.
That’s just one hundred short years after the fall of the Roman Empire. I mean, that’s just crazy.
This really puts a whole new meaning to the phrase “traditional Japanese company”.
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