Amazing Easy to Write Down Facts About Japan

I took a trip to Nippon for the kickoff time 2 years ago and ever since that trip I have been fascinated with the country!

The culture is incredibly rich, the food is insanely succulent, everyone is so polite, transportation is e'er on time, and there is and so much multifariousness in terms of geography and culture.

Honestly, I could proceed and on almost how much I love the country considering in that location are and then many things that make Japan special to me.

Since and so, I have been back to the country 2 more times and each time I visit I don't want to go out.

I have a dream of one twenty-four hours renting out a little house in Kyoto or Osaka for months at a time and simply living there to fully experience the culture. Until then, I'one thousand always planning and looking frontwards to my side by side trip to Japan.

Anyways, it's for these reasons that I started to inquiry and larn more about the country, which is why I created this listing of 100 interesting facts about Nihon!

1.) Nihon is Largely Made Up of iv Chief Islands

While Japan is an archipelago with almost half-dozen,852 islands, only 4 islands out of all of them make up the majority of Nihon'due south state expanse. The islands Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido business relationship for 97% of the total expanse of Japan. The principal cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are located on Honshu Island.

2.) The Greater Tokyo Area is the Well-nigh Populated Megacity in the World

The greater Tokyo metropolitan area is fabricated up of 3 prefectures and includes the upper-case letter of Japan, Tokyo, and has an estimated population of 38.xiv million people making information technology the nigh populated megacity in the world.

3.) Nippon has the World's Second-Highest Life Expectancy

Nihon is pretty much in a necktie with Hong Kong with an boilerplate life expectancy of 83.6 years old and 84 years one-time. Many people attribute Japan's long life expectancy to its traditionally healthier diet when compared to western countries (retrieve more than fish and less red meat, more veggies, and smaller portions) how common it is for people to walk equally role of their commute, and civilisation which places extreme importance on family.

4.) 69% of Japan is Covered in Woods

When you lot call back of Nippon, you probably think of all the different cities in that location are in the state. Surprisingly the majority of Japan at 69%, is actually covered in forests. I still remember exploring my outset woods in Japan in the Mount Fuji area. In that location was a sign that warned visitors to watch out for black bears and I honestly never thought black bears were roaming the forests in Nihon until that moment.

5.) There are a Crazy Amount of Active Volcanoes in Japan

In full, you can find 110 active volcanoes in Nihon! 47 of these active volcanoes are actually closely monitored and watched past scientists because they take erupted recently or because they recollect in that location is a chance of an eruption.

half dozen.) There are More than 1,500 Earthquakes a Year!

Yeah, you read that correct! Since, Nippon is located on top of or close to 4 dissimilar tectonic plates, the Pacific, North American, Eurasian, and Filipino plates, it is ane of the almost seismically active locations in the globe. Of grade, most of these earthquakes are small, tiny earthquakes, that y'all wouldn't experience, but large and devastating earthquakes exercise happen once in a while.

7.) The 1923 Kanto Earthquake was the Country'southward Deadliest Earthquake

Going off of #vi, as I was saying big earthquakes exercise unfortunately happen in Nihon. The deadliest earthquake in the country'southward history happened on September i, 1923, and hit at a magnitude of 7.9. The earthquake is estimated to accept lasted between four – ten minutes and in total, near 140,000 people lost their lives.

The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake is actually the strongest earthquake to ever hit Japan killing 29,000 people. Since many of the houses in 1923 were made of wood many people lost their lives in the fires that the 1923 earthquake acquired.

8.) Japan has the World's Deepest Underwater Postbox

The deepest underwater postbox is located in Susami, which is a famous fishing town in Wakayama Prefecture and was recorded by Guinness Earth Records in 2002. The postbox is located 30 feet underwater and since 1999 has nerveless more than 32,000 pieces of mail service.

9.) Mount Fuji is a Sacred Identify

Mount Fuji isn't just the tallest mountain in Nippon, information technology has also been a sacred place in the Shinto Religion since at least the seventh century. The cool matter is that in the Shinto Religion, the Kami (divine person) of Mount Fuji is Princess Konohanasakuya. Her symbol is the ruby-red flower.

I was lucky plenty to have a run a risk to visit the Mount Fuji area last year. Although I am not a practitioner of the Shinto Religion, I definitely felt an otherworldly atmosphere and peacefulness as I walked effectually Lake Kawaguchiko in the shadow of Mount Fuji in the early morning dominicus.

10.) Japanese have a Deep Affection to Nature

Similar to #9, considering of the deep-running spirituality of Shinto Organized religion in the country, you volition detect that well-nigh Japanese volition have a deep appreciation and affection for nature. This is because, in the Shinto Religion, Shinto practitioners believe that everything in nature from rocks and mountains to rivers is possessed by spirits.

11.) The Bounding main of Japan Holds an Abundance of Fish

The Bounding main of Nihon has a higher than normal concentration of dissolved oxygen which allows many many different species to flourish in the waters. More than 3,500 animal species which includes about 1,000 different kinds of fish species phone call the Sea of Japan their habitation.

12.) Its History Dates Back to About 30,000 BCE – 35,000 BCE

There isn't besides much information available about this flow in Japan, only its believed that the earliest hunter and gatherers who made information technology to Japan were effectually xxx,000 BCE to 35,000 BCE. At this time in history, Japan was continued to the Asian continent by land bridges and so it is believed that these earliest humans made it to Japan via the country bridges.

This period of Japan is also known every bit the pre-ceramic era because the skill and technology of making pottery were non known yet.

13.) Jomon Period: The First Society of Japan

The get-go known society in the state happened during the Jomon Menstruation almost fifteen,000 years agone. They introduced pottery in the Japanese Archipelago and is also where the proper noun of their guild comes from. The Jomon cultural sites reportedly still accept remains of pottery artifacts and stone-based tools from that time.

14.) After the Jomon Menstruation, Came the Yayoi Period

The Yayoi flow started in 300 B.C. and marked an end to the Jomon period. People belonging to this tribe happened to exist skilled weavers, craftsmen, and first-class farmers. The Yayoi people were more than avant-garde than the Jomon people and are best known as the commencement people to outset to cultivate rice.

Because they were able to subcontract and cultivate rice, the people of this time started to change from hunter-gatherers to a more settlement mode and the population boomed because of this.

fifteen.) No-Cook Ice Cream!

Ok, the championship is kind of clickbaity equally the ice cream will somewhen melt, but this ice cream reportedly won't melt for a few hours. The discovery was accidentally made while the scientists were experimenting with the chemistry in strawberries to aid farmers affected by the earthquake of 2011.

If you demand more than proof, only check out this short video!

16.) The Portuguese were the Start Europeans to Visit Japan

The starting time Europeans to visit Japan were the Portuguese in the twelvemonth 1543 when they landed at the Port of Nagasaki. This offset visit from the Portuguese marked the offset of the Nanban trade flow which lasted from 1543 to 1614.

During this period, the Japanese and Portuguese freely traded appurtenances with each other, and new technologies and cultural practices such equally European guns, European armor, and European ships were introduced to Japan.

Another surprising fact from this flow is that the Portuguese really introduced tempura to Japan, which is at present ane of the most popular dishes in all of Nippon.

17.) Nippon had a Period of Consummate Isolation from the Remainder of the World

Because of the massive influence that European culture was having on Nippon, since starting time meeting them in 1543, the Shogun of Japan at that fourth dimension Tokugawa Lemitsu closed off Japan to all foreigners in 1635. During this time, anyone who was seen using European goods would be punished. This law was called the Sakoku Edict of 1635 and lasted over 200 years.

xviii.) A Highway that Goes Through a Building

Yep, y'all read that right! In Osaka, the Hanshin Pike goes direct through the Gate Tower Edifice's 5th, 6th, and seventh floors. In reality, the workers in the edifice don't really notice as the walls and floors of the edifice are soundproof and the highway doesn't actually impact the edifice.

19.) Nippon has a Word for Death by Overwork, "Karoshi"

One of the first things you'll find when you visit Japan is only how hard everyone works, especially the Salarymen and Salarywomen in the big cities of Japan. Every day during morning rush hr, you'll come across men and women in dark-colored suits sardine themselves onto the subway in society to become to work on time.

So late at night, yous'll see them returning on the subway or at the local bar, half asleep and exhausted from a long twenty-four hour period of piece of work.

It'due south no wonder why Nippon has a term chosen "Karoshi" which literally means death past overwork.

In April of 2019 new labor laws went into place capping the amount of hours employees tin can work in a calendar week, so the long hours will hopefully become a little better.

xx.) I Heck of a Healthy Nutrition

The Japanese nutrition is definitely known throughout the world every bit being one of the healthiest diets. With traditional diets staples that include enough of rice, fish, and vegetables, people in Nippon tend to consume less fatty foods richer in vitamins and minerals. Their diet is ane of the factors to the long life expectancy in Nippon.

21.) The Last Emperor in the World

Nihon is the only country in the world with an Emperor. Even though the Emperor of Nihon doesn't hold much power and mostly play a symbolic role, they are still a proud part of the traditions in Nippon.

The current Emperor of Nippon is Naruhito who took the position on May 1, 2019, after his father Emperor Akihito renounced his throne on Apr xxx, 2019.

22.) Nippon is the tertiary Largest Economy in the Earth

You might non think nigh it when you showtime recollect of Nihon since its an island state, but information technology is the 3rd largest economic system in the earth. Information technology's pretty incredible to see how fast the state has grown peculiarly since it had to recover from the devastation it suffered during WWII.

If you don't alive nether a stone and have driven anywhere recently so you could probably guess that one of the country'southward biggest product exports are automobiles with all the Hondas and Toyotas on the road.

23.) A Banned Pokemon Episode

On Dec 16, 1997, an episode of Pokemon aired in Japan that actually caused 700 children to have medical issues and had to be sent to the infirmary. At the about end, some of the kids fifty-fifty had seizures. The reason for so many kids being affected by this episode was the strobe lighting. Plus, at the time, Pokemon was ane of the most pop shows in Japan, so many kids were watching the episode which increased the odds of people beingness affected.

24.) The Political Construction of Japan

Considering of the country'due south size, the land has been politically structured into 8 different regions and 47 different prefectures. The prefectures actually go back to the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912), which was created to supervene upon the lands controlled by the Daimyo, the powerful feudal lords who ruled the country before the Meiji Period.

25.) Japan is a Country of Varying Climates

Since Nippon geographically stretches from N to South for such a long altitude, the climate in unlike areas of the land tends to vary by a good corporeality. The climate in some of the big cities like Tokyo ranges from a temperate to subtropical climate. This means hot summers and mild winters, and 4 different seasons.

On the other manus, the climate beyond the northern island of Hokkaido is much libation. The summers are nice and mild, only in the winter the area gets a ton of snow and the temperature often drops beneath freezing.

26.) It is a Hiker's Paradise

Hiking is probably non on about people'due south minds when they come up to Nippon, but it actually has a huge drove of mountains and trails to hike. Plus, because of the geographical diversity of the state, there is a huge selection of unlike types of hikes to continue. Y'all can challenge yourself both physically and mentally past hiking upwards the regal Mount Fuji, hike a UNESCO-recognized series of pilgrimage routes, or go trekking on some of the trails in the Japanese Alps

27.) Mount Takao: A Natural Recreation Area Near Tokyo

If you're spending fourth dimension in Tokyo, you lot actually don't need to go likewise far in lodge to get into the mountains of Japan! Mountain Takao (高尾山, Takaosan) is located only 50 minutes abroad from Shinjuku Station and will but set you lot back about ¥ 390.

In one case you get at that place, you can hike up to the elevation which is shut to two,000 feet or if you don't feel like hiking the whole mode, you lot tin besides take the cablevision car which brings you halfway up the mountain.

From the top, y'all can meet views of Tokyo, and on articulate days you can even see Mountain Fuji!

28.) The seventh Longest Coastline in the World

Nihon has the 7th longest coastline in the world, just beating out Australia, the United States, and Antarctica in the top 10. In total, the coastline of Nihon spans 18,486 miles and includes cliffs, hiking trails, sleepy littoral towns, and some of the largest international fishing ports in the world

29.) Kitayamazaki Cliffs: The Most Famous of them All

The Kitayamazaki Cliffs is a 5-mile section of the Rikuchu Coastline in Northern Iwate Prefecture that has 650-foot cliffs stretched along the v-mile section. The area is so famous because in 1999 it received first place in the "natural resource: coast" category in the National Tourist Resource Evaluation conducted by the Japan Travel Bureau Foundation.

The all-time view of the coastline is from the Kitayamazaki Observatory, which has three different observation decks at different heights so yous tin get different views of the coast from one place.

30.) There are Epic Gorges in Japan

I definitely did not know this until I started researching, but Japan is dwelling house to several spectacular gorges that offering views of cliffs, forests, and nearby waterfalls. While yous can go hiking in most of these gorges, at some of the other gorges, you can have a scenic boat ride or sightseeing train through them.

Some of the most famous gorges in Nippon include Takachiho Gorge, Kurobe Gorge, and Geibikei Gorge.

31.) In that location are Massive Limestone Caves

As I accept been saying, the geographical diversity in Nihon is crazy! There is actually a huge amount of limestone caves strewn throughout the country and is a great style to escape the summertime estrus or winter cold since the temperature in the caves stays constant year-round.

These caves were formed millions of years ago and characteristic natural formations like limestone pools, streams, and surreptitious waterfalls. A couple of the almost famous limestone caves in Japan are Akiyoshido Cave, Abukumado Cave, and Ryusendo Cave.

32.) You Can Notice Beautiful Marshland in the Country

Japan has some of the nearly beautiful marshlands in the world that are especially popular to visit during the autumn months when the leaves change color. Hopefully, ane twenty-four hours I can visit these marshlands during the fall colors as you lot get to come across not only the leaves change colors, just also the grass in the marshland. A few of the virtually pop marshlands in Nippon are Oze National Park, Senjogahara Marshland, and Kushiro Marshland.

33.) Nachi – The Tallest Waterfall in Japan

Continuing at a meridian of 133 meters, Nachi Falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan and is located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. It is ranked as one of the three nearly beautiful and greatest waterfalls in Japan and is besides part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage which I mentioned in #26.

34.) The 2003 Pet Smash of Nihon

Starting around 2003, pets became more and more popular in Japan and by the year 2009, there were close to 6 million more cats and dogs than children in Japan.

This boom also has a reported dark side, though, as many people who were not 100% ready for a pet in their life decided to get one, and and then soon after decided the pet was besides much and gave information technology to a shelter.

Because of this in 2010 a reported 500,000 dogs were put to death in public animal management centers in Japan.

35.) Japanese Trains are Extremely Punctual

Trains in Japan are then punctual that it's scary! At the same time, it makes me wonder in awe how they do it because in that location are then many unlike train lines that run throughout the country on a given day. In fact, in 2017,the Tsukuba Express line between Tokyo and Tsukuba made global headlines when the management of the train line apologized publicly for leaving the station xx seconds early on.

36.) Japan has Sand Dunes

Yeah, surprisingly Nihon too has a dune, which means they pretty much have everything you would ever want in a state! All jokes aside, the largest and only dune in the state is the Tottori Sand Dunes which is ix miles long and 1.v miles wide.

Over two million visitors come hither annually to explore the dunes. At that place are also other activities here to have part in too like sandboarding, paragliding, camel rides, a museum to visit, and even taking the chairlift up to an ascertainment deck.

37.) Hikikomori – A Population Who has Withdrawn from Club

There is a population of mostly men in Japan, known as Hikikomori who have completely withdrawn from society and for the nearly part, haven't left their rooms for at least 6 months to 1 year. In the 2016 Japanese census, they counted about 540,000 people who would be considered Hikikomori, merely it's difficult to say because most of these people tend to want to stay under the radar. Even though the term is Japanese, there are Hikikomori in other parts of the globe also, like the US, Brazil, and Oman.

38.) In that location was a Ban on Dancing After Midnight

Interestingly, in that location was a ban in Japan on dancing afterwards midnight or 1 am in bars, clubs, and other public venues that lasted from 1948 to 2015. This constabulary was starting time put into identify during WWII because many of the dancing venues during the US occupation of Japan was actually a front for prostitution.

39.) The Country has a Huge Number of Onsens (Hot Springs)

Because of Nippon'southward geographic location and its volcanic activity, the country has about ii,300 Onsens to choose from located all effectually the country. It is said that the water from these hot springs can treat a variety of things including rheumatism, hypertension, fatigue, and chronic skin weather condition like eczema.

I was lucky enough to have stayed at a ryokan in the Lake Kawaguchiko surface area and so I got to feel a individual Onsen while I was there. Hopefully, I tin brand it to some other Onsens on my next visits to Japan as I've e'er wanted to try the ones in Hakone out.

40.) The Oldest Onsen is 3,000 Years Old

Dogo Onsen located in Shikoku Island is the oldest Onsen in all of Nihon with a history of more than than 3,000 years. For all you Miyazaki fans, it is said that Dogo Onsen is the inspiration for the famous bathhouse in the movie Spirited Away.

In 1994, this was the first public bathhouse in Japan to be designated as an Important National Cultural Asset and in 2009 it was award iii stars past the Michelin Light-green Guide for Japan.

Visitor Tip: The renovation of Dogo Onsen started in Jan 2019, and so the 2nd and 3rd floors are airtight. The 1st-floor Kami-No-Yu surface area is still open, though.

41.) Onsens in Nihon were Discovered by Ancient Hunters

It is believed that the hot springs of Japan were starting time discovered by ancient warriors and hunters. According to fable, as these hunters tracked the animals they wounded, they would often see the animals head towards these hot springs because the animals knew the ability of the Onsen's h2o to heal their wounds.

42.) Merely 1.7% of State in Japan is Pastures and Grassland

When yous think about it, this isn't really that surprising, however it surprised me. I would accept thought the Japanese countryside would have more than grassland, but because the country is so mountainous, forested and the cities and so adult, pastures and grassland only make upwardly a small proportion of the land's geography.

43.) Only 12.seven% of the Land is Okay for Agriculture

Related to the above, since Nihon is largely covered by mountain ranges and volcanoes (68% of Japan), there is non much land for farming and only 12.7% of the land is okay for agriculture. Well-nigh of the country that is able to be farmed is establish on the coasts of the island or in the river valleys between the mountains.

44.) The Shinano River is the Longest River in Japan

While there are many many rivers in Japan, most of them are shorter. The Shinano River on the other hand at 228 miles, is the longest in the country, which is located on Honshu, the principal isle in Japan. At a length of 228 miles, this river has most the same length equally the Severn River of England, which is the longest river in United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland.

The river's source is from the Japanese Alps in Mountain Kobushi and from there it flows into the Sea of Japan.

45.) Lake Biwa – The Largest Lake in Japan

The largest lake in Japan is Lake Biwa. A freshwater lake located in Shiga Prefecture and but to the northeast of Kyoto. The lake covers an area of 258.8 square miles which is huge when talking about Japan, but when you lot compare Lake Biwa to other large lakes in the world, it's actually quite small.

For example, the Slap-up Table salt Lake in Utah covers an area of ane,800 foursquare miles and the Peachy Lake Superior covers a whopping area of 31,700 square miles!

The proper noun of Lake Biwa is believed to accept been established in the Edo menstruum because of how closely information technology looked like the Japanese instrument called the Biwa.

46.) One of the Lowest Unemployment Rates in the World

Although the work-life balance in Japan isn't the best, the land does take one of the lowest unemployment rates in the unabridged earth. The current unemployment rate in the country is two.four%, which isn't so low when you compare it to Cambodia and Qatar which have an unemployment rate of 0.30% and 0.threescore%. However, when you compare it to the world's largest economies like the U.s., China, Germany, and the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, you go a sense of how low it is.

Unemployment Rate in the World's Largest Economies

• Japan ii.iii%
• People's republic of china iii.67%
• United States 3.viii%
• United Kingdom 3.8%

47.) Isewan Draft – The Nigh Devastating Typhoon to Hitting Nippon

Every year many typhoons do hit Japan, but the most devastating in the country's history is the Isewan Typhoon of 1959 which cost more than 5,000 lives. The typhoon is also known as Super Typhoon Vera and information technology is really the third most mortiferous natural disaster in Japan during the 20th century.

Only two other natural disasters, the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Convulsion claimed more lives.

48.) Great East Nippon Earthquake – About Powerful Earthquake to Striking Japan

The Great East Nihon Earthquake is besides known as the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Although this natural disaster wasn't the biggest earthquake that striking Nippon when looked at by the number of lives lost, information technology was the most powerful in terms of magnitude.

The Slap-up East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, at a magnitude of 9.0 and it was reported to be felt all effectually the globe.

Later on the earthquake was over, more 120,000 buildings had been destroyed and the estimated harm totaled about $199 billion.

49.) Oldest Company in the World Until 2006

Kongo Gumi Co. Ltd, an Osaka founded and based structure visitor that specialized in building Buddhist temples was actually the oldest running visitor with over 1,400 years of history earlier it was purchased and absorbed past the Takamatsu Construction Grouping in 2006.

Information technology's crazy to think about, only the company was founded in the yr 578 AD and took function in building some of the most famous buildings in the Osaka and Kyoto area, including Osaka Castle and Hōryū-ji in Nara.

l.) Japan has the Shindo Scale for Measuring the Force of Earthquakes

Another interesting thing virtually earthquakes in Japan is how they mensurate them. While many parts of the earth will report on the convulsion'due south magnitude, Nihon reports the strength of the earthquake using what's called theShindo Scale.

Here'south the deviation. Magnitude measures the strength of the convulsion at the epicenter of the convulse, merely the Shindo scale measures how strong of an result the earthquake was felt based on the location. Hither is what the Shindo Scale looks like.

51.) The Land of Vending Machines

I'thou not exaggerating when I say that yous can buy pretty much anything from a vending machine in Japan! In total, there are about 23 vending machines for every ane person in Nihon and you can buy vegetables, ramen, eggs, toys, and fifty-fifty cars from vending machines there. That equals nearly five million vending machines in the entire country!

52.) Nippon Merely Legalized Gambling Casinos

While gambling was illegal in Japan for several years, on July 20, 2018, it was legalized in the form of gambling casinos. Fifty-fifty though gambling was illegal for that long of a time, people in Japan were still able to "gamble" in the course of Pachinko, which looks like the craziest game of pinball you can always play. To get effectually the illegal gambling constabulary, at the Pachinko Parlor, you would trade in metal balls that you win for some sort of token and then accept a brusque walk to a location nearby to trade in that token for cash.

53.) In that location is A lot of Fake Food Being Sold in Japan

Outside most every Japanese restaurant, y'all will observe a imitation version of the nutrient served by that eating place or even an animated version of dishes served at the restaurant. Well, y'all have to buy these fake food items somewhere, right?

That place isKappabashi Street in Tokyo and hither you can find everything you would demand equally a restaurateur including pots, pans, utensils, knives, and aye, a huge selection of fake food!

54.) Japan Nascence Rate is Lowest it's Ever Been

Japan's birth rate has actually striking its lowest bespeak since the country started recording this statistic in 1899, which ways the population is in a decline correct now. According to the country'southward National Institute of Population and Social Security Enquiry, near 127 million people are living in Nippon. Because of the historically low birth rate, the population could drib below 100 million past 2049.

55.) People in Okinawa Live Much Longer than Almost

Okinawa really has 1 of the highest rates of people living by 100 years old than anywhere else in the world! To be exact, for every 100,000 people who alive in Okinawa, 67 people live to be over 100 years old. Many people believe the reason for Okinawan'southward long life span is their diet and the importance of friendship between the people on the island.

56.) Slurping Noodles is a Sign of Appreciation

1 of the first things whatsoever parents tell their kids while eating is to chew with their mouths closed and to eat quietly. Yes, the Japanese also call back eating loudly is disrespectful, but that's not the case if you're eating noodles!

Slurping up your noodles is the norm and you can definitely expect to hear a agglomeration of slurping if yous visit any ramen, soba, or udon shop.

Soba used to be mutual street nutrient, and then it is said that thepractice of slurping upwards noodlescame from people grabbing a quick seize with teeth to swallow at these soba carts. Many people also claim that slurping upwards the noodles makes them sense of taste improve.

57.) I Of The Biggest Seafood Consumer In The Earth

Eating nigh 6% of the world'southward fish harvest, Japanese is 1 of the biggest consumers of seafood in the world. The but country that has a higher consumption of seafood in Cathay. In total, this equals to virtually 60 lbs of seafood consumed past each person every year.

58.) Naps are Encouraged in Nippon

This doesn't mean that y'all tin can just take a nap whenever yous desire during the workday, but napping at work is definitely adequate in Nippon as its a kind of sign that you lot accept beenworking yourself into exhaustion.

If y'all have been to Japan before, then you'll know that a lot of people nap in public, peculiarly while on the train. All this napping is probably because Japanese workers are known to get a picayune amount of sleep every twenty-four hours (less than 6 hours).

59.) People Love Having Christmas Dinner at KFC

It sounds crazy when y'all first hear it, simply about 3.six million Japanese have KFC for Christmas dinner.This is all thanks to the managing director of the first KFC in the country Takeshi Okawara, who idea up of their famous marketing entrada to sell a Christmas Fried Craven butt to the people in Japan!

At the time, not many people celebrated Christmas in Japan and at that place wasn't much of a Christmas tradition, so with the help of the marketing campaign, KFC became the tradition. That is 1 hell of a great marketing campaign!

60.) Japan is i of the Safest Countries in the Earth

I think this is pretty well known, but in instance y'all didn't know already, Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.

As I have been saying, we have visited Japan multiple times now and have walked effectually the streets at all times of the day and have never felt unsafe.

From a statistical perspective,according to Numbeo.com, which is a consolidation of data nerveless from surveys of visitors to the website and has been used equally a source by many international newspapers and magazines (BBC, Fourth dimension, New York Times, etc.), Japan has a Safety Index score of 80.43, which is pretty much equally safety as it gets!

61.) No Shoes Immune Inside

1 thing is for sure. Earlier entering any Japanese firm, yous volition well-nigh likely be asked to remove your shoes and volition be given a clean pair of indoor slippers to vesture. Like other Asian countries, it is considered customary and much more hygienic to remove your shoes before entering someone's house.

What makes Nippon unique is that you'll also see this happen at restaurants and even in some workplaces. In Japan, it is deemed rude to vesture shoes within a house.

62.) There are Musical Toilets in Nihon

One of the most unique things in Japan are the high tech toilets yous will find in the country. Not just exercise these toilets automatically warm the seat up for you, only they also launder your bottom and tin play music to drown out any unwanted noise! When we were in Nihon almost all of the toilets were these high tech toilet types so you have a good chance of running into one.

Non all of them were able to play music, then I wish you the best of luck in finding one!

63.) Foursquare Watermelons in Japan

Leave information technology to Japan to make fruit such an extravagance. While people across the globe have watermelons, the Japanese have created square melons in addition to the regular watermelons.

The square watermelons are primarily used for decoration and equally gifts and tin have as high a toll tag as $100. The crazy thing is that they don't merely specialize in foursquare watermelons.They also have heart-shaped watermelons, larger than average watermelons called Godzilla watermelons, and explosively delicious watermelon chosen dynamite watermelon.

64.) There is a Penis Festival in Japan

Yes, yous read that right. The showtime Sun in April every year is the Kanamara Matsuri festival which is also known every bit the Penis Festival and likewise known equally the Festival of the Steel Phallus.

Fable has it that a very very jealous demon used to live inside the vagina of a goddess who bit off the penises of her first two husbands. The next guy who tried to win the goddess over did not allow the story of the demon scare him away. This guy was a blacksmith and his plan was to trick the demon by forging a steel phallus.

It worked!

When the demon went to seize with teeth off the blacksmith's penis, it got a mouth total of steel and the demon'due south teeth were broken off. The blacksmith eventually won the goddess over and the remainder is history.

65.) Eating Raw Meat is Extremely Common

Well-nigh people know almost the Japanese love for raw fish weather that exist in the form of nigiri or sashimi, but did you know that the country also has other raw meat dishes that are served in restaurants that are not fish? Some of these dishes include raw chicken sashimi (torisashi), raw deer sashimi (shikasashi), and raw horse sashimi (basashi).

66.) The Number iv is Unlucky in Nihon

Just similar other countries in Asia, the number 4 is considered unlucky in Japan because the pronunciation is very like to the give-and-take death. In Nihon, the number 4 can be read "yon (よん) " or "shi (し)". The Japanese Kanji for death is "shi (死)", so you can probably tell how shut they are to each other now.

67.) Nôgaku Theater – An Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

Nôgaku Theater originated in the 8th century when various performances were brought to Japan from China. Nôgaku is really made upward of 2 different types of performances, a lyric drama "noh" and the comic theater "kyōgen" Nôgaku has been and so pop in Nihon that information technology is one of the major influences in Kabuki and Japanese puppet theater.

68.) Specially Grown Fruit is Considered a Luxurious Gift in Japan

Like I was proverb before about the foursquare watermelons, Japan takes growing fruit to a whole other level. There are of grade the standard fruit you lot can buy at the supermarket at a reasonable price, only then there are specialty fruits.

When I hateful specialty, I hateful super sectional, authentically verified, paw-picked, and hand-grown fruit.

1 piece of these types of fruits can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars and I'm talking Usa dollars! Some of the well-nigh exclusive specialty fruits in Japan include theAomori Apple, Mikan Standard mandarin Oranges,Ruby Roman Grapes,Yubari Melons, andBinjinhime Giant Strawberries.

69.) Black Cats are a Good Luck Charm

In many countries seeing a blackness true cat might exist considered unlucky, but not in Japan! In Japanese culture, a black cat passing your path is accounted as a sign of good fortune. I of the best examples of black cats is the Maneki-Neko figurine, which I'grand sure yous take seen before. Even though many Maneki-Neko is white, they besides come in black also!

70.) There are Cuddle Cafes in Nihon

More and more Japanese are finding information technology harder to engagement every bit people focus on their careers kickoff. Because of this, some entrepreneurs have found an in-demand market for caress cafes, where you can visit, lie down by a partner, and pay for being able to cuddle them.

They are meant as a fashion to relax and reduce stress from the professional working life in the big cities of Japan.

Yous pay for the amount of fourth dimension you want to cuddle and can even pay extra for additional services like staring into each other'south eyes for a certain amount of time, being able to lay your head in the other's lap, and pillow talk.

71.) ASIMO – The Famous Robot of Nihon

Japan is known for its evolution in technology, specially robotics. One of the most famous inventions was the evolution of ASIMO (Advanced Stride In Humanoid Ability).

This is a humanoid robot that was created by Honda during the 2000s and was so famous information technology even playedfootball game with President Obama anddanced for Chancellor Angela Merkel.

You can currently come across this robot as a brandish in the Miraikan Museum, Tokyo, Nihon. Sadly, considering of increased competition in the robotics field from around the world, Honda announced that it was ending the ASIMO program in 2018.

72.) Kids Get Taught How to Clean in Schoolhouse

Aye, for all of y'all who struggle to make your bed in the morning, every 24-hour interval in Japanese schools, the kids and the teachers will clean their schoolhouse together! The cleaning fourth dimension in schoolhouse is called "osouji jikan" お掃除時間 and is a time when anybody works together to help keep the schoolhouse clean. How cool is that!

73.) The Tasty and Unique McDonald's Menu in Japan

At present, when I'one thousand in Nippon, the last thing I want to practice is eat McDonald's with all the other yummy nutrient choices around. If you practice go the craving, though, the bill of fare in McDonald's in Nippon is one of the most unique.

Japan has more than three,000 Mcdonald'due south, which is the highest concentration of the fast-food concatenation outside the US. Like in other countries McDonald's also localizes the menu to Japan, but the Japanese menu has to be ane of my favorites.Some of the summit items include chocolate fries, mega muffins, shrimp fillets, and Teriyaki burgers to name a few.

74.) Sushi: A Common Staple Since 2nd Century Advertizing

Sushi has been a part of Japanese Culture since the second century. It began equally a style of preserving fish in Communist china and slowly made its way in Japan. In Japanese, Sushi doesn't refer to raw fish. Instead, it means eating rice with seasonings of vinegar, salt, and sugar.

What's interesting is that the first "sushi" from China didn't really wait like the sushi we know today. Instead, it was a salted fish that was wrapped in rice which was how they preserved the fish. When the fish was eaten, the rice was thrown away.

By the Edo Flow, though, the Japanese had created a dish that is more similar to the sushi we see at present in which y'all ate the fish and rice at the same time.

75.) The Globe Famous Kobe Beef

Japanese Kobe Beef is famous beyond the earth for its incredible succulence and irreplaceable taste.

What makes the meat so unique is the breed of cows it comes from and how much care goes into taking care of the animals. Information technology is said they are fed beer to help them alive a happy and stress-gratis life and given massages to help them from cramping.

If you're ever thinking nigh ordering or buying Kobe Beefiness, there is one matter to keep in mind equally some people get Wagyu and Kobe mixed up. Wagyu actually means Japanese cow. And so what that means is that all Kobe is Wagyu, but not all Wagyu is Kobe because at that place are very strict grading standards that must be met for it to be Kobe Beefiness.

76.) The Shortest Poetry in the World was Created Here

Haiku poesy is the shortest form of verse in the world and was first developed in Japan. Its origins can be traced dorsum to the 9th century. A Haiku is made up of iii brusque lines that total 17 syllables. The first line of the Haiku is v syllables, the second is 7 syllables and the 3rd line is likewise 5 syllables. Information technology's besides considered more just poetry and a manner of looking at the world.

77.) Highest Number of Nobel Laureates In An Asian Country for Physics

11 of the 27 Nobel laureates in Japan contributed to the field of Physics. This makes them the land with the highest number of Nobel Laureates in an Asian country.

78.) Japan and Russia are Still Not Technically at Peace

Surprisingly on paper,Japan and Russia are still at state of war with each other. During the last month of WWII, Russia alleged war on Nippon and the two countries still take never signed a peace treaty with each other to officially finish the war.

The main reason for this is adispute over the Kuril Islands, which is a chain of islands between Russia and Japan.

79.) The Crazy Flavors of Kit Kats Y'all Can Discover in Japan

In most countries, you lot wouldn't remember twice about Kit Kats, but not in Japan! In Japan, your regular Kit Kat candy bars are available incrazy flavors like grilled corn, Earl grey tea, or camembert.

They are also considered a top gift for a student during the entrance exam. Ever since traveling to Nihon for the kickoff time, I've always fabricated it a signal to try out as many different flavors of these Kit Kats as I can. So far my favorite flavors have to exist the Scarlet Blossom or Azuki Bean flavour!

80.) 3rd Biggest Producer of Cars in the World

Japan is one of the largest producers of automobiles across the globe losing only to Communist china and the US in total unit production. With that said, Toyota, the Japanese automobile visitor is the largest automobile manufacturer in the unabridged earth.

When the visitor was first founded in 1924, pastSakichi Toyoda, it was actually in the textiles industry as Mr. Toyodo invented the Toyoda Model Thousand Automatic Loom. The car division was actually started in 1933 as a division of the textiles company,Toyoda Automatic Loom Works and the residue is history.

81.) The Land of Howdy Kitty

Hullo Kitty was offset created in Nippon in 1974 as a famous plastic coin handbag. Currently, there are at least 20,000 different Hi Kitty products in the worldwide market place.

What's crazy is that because of its continued popularity, as of 2019 it is the second highest-grossing franchise of all time. Some other franchises information technology has beat out out to earn the 2nd spot include Winnie the Pooh, Mario, and even Star Wars!

82.) Japanese Macaques are Part of Fables

If yous accept ever heard the famous maxim of the three wise monkeys "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" or have seen the saying in the form of carvings or statues, it's origin is really from Japan.

The original three wise monkeys is a etching over a door of the famousTōshō-gū Shrine in Nikko, Japan. The monkeys themselves are the common Japanese Macaque, which is the same as the snowfall monkey which you would see bathing in the hot springs of Nagano!

83.) Sumo Wrestling: A History Of 1500 Years

In Japan, Sumo Wrestling has a history of more than than ane,500 years. The wrestlers here have an average weight of 300 pounds and are trained in the Heya rooms handled by former champions.

The younger wrestlers are conventionally required to clean and care for the veteran wrestlers. The nigh interesting part to me about Sumo Wrestling is that information technology's actually aShinto ritual that is supposed to aid bring a bountiful harvest and honour the spirits!

84.) Japan has an Island of Rabbits

I didn't believe there could be an island full of rabbits until I visited this place myself!Okunoshima Island is a small island in Hiroshima Prefecture that is merely that; an isle full of rabbits!

During WWII the island was a manufacturing site for poisonous gases and unfortunately, they tested these gases on rabbits. After WWII ended, the rabbits escaped and the descendants of these test rabbits are the ones you see on the island now a 24-hour interval.

Information technology's estimated that virtually one,000+ rabbits are living on the island now. I can tell you from beginning-hand experience that they are friendly and for the most function are not scared of humans. Just look at these hirsuite faces that we hung out with while we were there!

85.) The Etiquette of Bowing

In Nihon,bowing is deemed as the virtually traditional and culturally appropriate class of social etiquette.

Here, bows are classified into iii categories, namely the formal, very formal, and informal. While the formal bows are made at a shorter angle of 15 degrees, the very formal ones involve bending at an angle of 30 degrees. Hither, the deepest bow signifies more than respect.

86.) The Interesting and Short-Lived Ganguro Style Tendency

Like many fashion trends from around the world,Ganguro was one of the most famous Japanese trends that spanned from the mid-1990s to 2000.

As part of the trend, young women tan their skin to a very nighttime color and bleach their pilus to a blonde and orange hue. They also used vibrant makeup in really unusual ways. The well-nigh pop area to see the Ganguro fashion trend at that time was in the Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo.

87.) The Shortest Escalator in the World

Nippon has the shortest escalator in the world! It can be found in the basement of More than'southward Department Shop in Kawasaki. The escalator merely has 5 steps that are 32.8 inches in elevation.

88.) Crooked Teeth are Considered Cute

In that location is actually a grade of crooked teeth called "yaeba" which is when people take that fang type of wait or snaggletooth that is considered beautiful in Nippon. It is actually popular enough that some dental clinics offer a service to brand your teeth look similar this.

89.) Japan has the Busiest Train Station in the World

Tokyo's famous Shinjuku Station is the busiest train station in the world. Almost 3.half-dozen million people use it daily, which is a heed-numbing corporeality to think nearly. What is fifty-fifty more staggering is the amount of train usage when y'all look at Japan equally a whole. Out of the top 51 busiest train stations in the globe, just 6 are not in Japan!

xc.) Origin of the Proper name of "Japan"

In Japanese, the term Japan refers to Nippon or Nihon. This further refers to the Land of the Ascent Sun'. The state was given this proper name as it was believed to be the first state to witness the rise of the sun since it was known to be located east of China.

91.) The World's First Novel Was Written Here

The Tale of Genji is considered i of the greatest novels e'er written in Japanese literature and it was besides the earth's first novel. It was written by a Japanese adult female by the name of Murasaki Shikibu. Information technology is said that some of the emotional inspiration backside the book was due to the loss of her husband, which impacted her greatly.

92.) Tsunokakushi – Helpmate'due south Traditional Headdress for a Wedding

In traditional Shinto weddings, the bride wears a special headdress made from a rectangular piece of textile called the Tsunokakushi. The symbolism of the headdress is that it covers the bride's "horns of jealousy, ego, and selfishness". In other words, its a sign of submission of the bride to her husband to illustrate that she will be an obedient and skillful wife.

93.) The Significant of "Banzai"

When you hear the term Banzai, you might retrieve of the term used by the Japanese during WWII, but actually nowadays its about often used as an equivalent to hip hip hooray in the English language language.

For example, you might hear a sports squad shouting banzai after they won an important game or a corporate sales team yelling banzai before a big sales day.

94.) The Subtle Art of Haragei

In about western countries, what yous say is what you get and nosotros're pretty straight with what we are talking near. In Nippon, though, in that location is a subtle way in how people volition imply what they are thinking or how they are feeling without actually saying it.

This subtle interpersonal communication style is called Haragei, which really translates to "stomach art". It'south pretty difficult to depict, but when you visit Japan you lot will know what I'yard talking nigh here.

For instance, the Japanese really do not similar to say no, then if at that place is a situation where they want to say no, they might say "that will exist difficult" or "I'll attempt my best".

95.) Fugu – The Poisonous Blowfish

Fugu is an extremely poisonous blowfish that is also a delicacy in Nippon. I've been thinking of trying the dish out ever since seeing an episode on the Simpsons where homer eats Fugu, merely I take all the same to piece of work up the guts to try some.

It is so poisonous and potentially dangerous that Japanese law requires chefs to be trained for at to the lowest degree 3 years and to laissez passer a series of exams before they can serve it to the public. It is said that the emperor and his family can't eat this fish either because of how dangerous it might be.

96.) Ringing of the Bells on New Years Eve

Every twelvemonth on New Years' Eve in Nippon, the temples volition ring their bells 108 times to welcome in the new year's day. To practise this, many temples will starting time ringing their bells before 11 pm and will band them 107 times leading to midnight. Then they will band the bell 1 more than time to welcome in the new year. At present that's a manner to celebrate! This Buddhist ceremony is called joya no kane (除夜の鐘).

97.) Bugaku and Gagaku: Oldest Tradition of Dance and Music

Bugaku is a traditional dance that was performed for Japanese elites in the majestic courts, and gagaku is the music that goes with the trip the light fantastic. This is the oldest known courtroom music and dance combination in the world. Before WWII, this combo of trip the light fantastic and music was only seen by the Japanese elites and was but opened to the public after the war happened.

98.) Baseball is by Far the Most Popular Sport

Baseball was introduced by the American Horace Grant in 1873 and since then it has become the most pop sport in Japan. Nowadays, Japan has one of the near successful professional person baseball game leagues in the world and has produced talented ballplayers who did very well in the MLB like Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Hideo Nomo.

99.) Osaka Castle Used to Be Black and Gilt

In the early on days of Osaka Castle, the outside was actually painted in black and inside the castle, you lot would notice a diverseness of decorations made out of gilded and silver. At present in the 21st century, Osaka Castle's outside is white and y'all will notice a wonderful museum inside of Osaka Castle.

100.) Godzilla is in Shinjuku!

In Shinjuku, you can discover a behemothic Godzilla caput over Toho Cinema which makes for a cool photograph specially if y'all're a fan of the moving-picture show! In that location is also a Godzilla statue outside of Toho Studios, and an even bigger statue near Yurakucho Station if the i in Shinjuku wasn't enough for you.

Conclusion

There you have it! 100 of the most interesting facts about Japan and near 10,000 words later we're done!

This has been one of my most ambitious articles to appointment and took me close to a month to research and write and then I hope y'all enjoyed it.

If anything, what I desire you to go after reading this is to realize just how interesting of a place Japan land Nippon really is.

Forth the way, I realized that I could take hands spent my entire life finding new things about the state I dearest because at that place are merely and so many different layers to the country.

Similar I said at the kickoff, if you recall I have missed anything, just let me know and I'll become it added to this masterpiece right abroad :).

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Source: https://witandfolly.co/100-incredibly-interesting-facts-about-japan/

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