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By Audrey Cabaltica
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1. Staying on the left
When driving or walking on the street or going up the stairs, people always stay on the left. I noticed the Japanese are very considerate and always stay on the left so that those in a hurry can easily pass them. On escalators, you stay on the left if you’re just going to stand so that people in a rush can walk past on the right.
2. Quiet crowds
I knew the Japanese are known for being very quiet, but I thought this meant they would whisper when talking to each other. When I entered a train for the first time, it was completely silent. No one was talking at all. They would all just sit and stand in silence as if there was a rule against talking.
3. Wet wipes
Restaurants in Japan don’t provide paper or cloth napkins. Instead, you are given an individually wrapped wet wipe, or a hot towel in fancier restaurants, to use for your entire meal.
4. Clean fitting rooms
You must take off your shoes before entering a fitting room stall. If you’re wearing makeup, you’re also given a cover for the whole head so makeup doesn’t rub on the clothes. The face cover is made out of a soft, breathable, transparent, fabric so you’re still able to see through it. The staff also mops the floors of the fitting room stalls after each person.
5. Very organized DisneySea lines
In Tokyo DisneySea, I noticed that no one would slouch or lean against the railings when waiting in line. I often found myself being one of the only ones leaning against the railings in line along with the other fellow tourists. The lines were also very organized with only one or two people standing next to each other, creating a straight almost single file line of people. The Japanese also don’t question when you would cut through the line to meet up with your party. As long as you say excuse me, people will move out of your way without any questions.
6. Water refill stations in DisneySea lines
I was feeling thirsty while waiting in line for a ride at Tokyo DisneySea but my water bottle was empty. Surprisingly, most of the popular rides had multiple water bottle refill stations spread out throughout the line. The water was cold and tasted filtered.
7. Bidets on every toilet
Every single toilet I used in Japan had a bidet and a heated seat. I would always be cautious when entering a stall because most public bathrooms in America are dirty. But I was surprised by how clean it is. Another thing I noticed in the bathrooms is that they rarely have paper towels for your hands and instead have hand dryers.
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