Simple discoveries

Being a first time visitor to Japan, I could not help but be extra observant of tiny details that makes The Land of the Rising Sun such a marvel.

And of course, these are things that one does not usually find uploaded on the Internet.

Here are some of my observations, which hopefully, would be of help to those planning to visit Japan for the first time.

1) Yes, there are 7-11 and Ministop convenience stores here.

2) The Western-style water closets (WCs) or toilets can be a little complicated. There are so many buttons to push, especially on the toilet seats. The Japanese-style toilet is simpler and more hygienic because it will not contact the skin when used.

3) When the sign says airconditioning, do not assume that it will make the room cooler. I mistakenly put the airconditioning on high only to discover later, after waking up sweating, that it was the heater.

4) The flag-down rate for a taxi cab is ¥700 or rougly P350. One tourist made the mistake of taking a cab from Narita Airport to Shinjuku and reportedly ended up paying roughly $1,000.

5) For smokers, Japan is heaven. Most buildings I’ve been to, including restaurants and the airport, provide very cozy smoking lounges. One building even had two such lounges for every floor.

6) A pack of cigarettes costs ¥440 or around P220. A 100 ml Coca-Cola sells for ¥120. And there is a 500 ml Coca-Cola in can.

7) In order to buy cigarettes from the vendo machine, one needs a card issued by the Ministry of Health that says one is at least 20 years of age. But the legal age for drinking is 18 years old.

8) If you are late for a flight, you can actually take a helicopter limousine ride to the airport for ¥50,000.

9) Kitkat (yes, the chocolate) has the most unique flavors in Japan – wasabi, soy, almond jelly, apple, and blueberry cheesecake.

10) The railway system is pretty straightforward and affordable. For someone who is directionally challenged, I found my way through Tokyo by taking the subway.

11) While Smart Communications and Globe Telecom have just offered the mobile WiFi service, pocket WiFi is very common in Japan. Almost all gadgets sold at Akihabara are bundled with pocket WiFi plans.

12) It is cheaper to buy cameras, camera lenses, and mobile phones in Hong Kong than in Japan based on my mini-survey of prices.

13) McDonalds in Japan offers very few choices as well as very unique ones.

14) Maybe I’m wrong, but I didn’t see imitations in Japan. Everything appeared licensed, which is a good thing for intellectual property.

15) A traditional Japanese inn is called a ryokan. It is there that one finds the unique and subtle beauty of Japanese culture and custom. In other words, a ryokan is not just a place to stay, it is a place where one can experience the true and traditional Japan. In the ryokans, there are no beds in the room. Instead, there will be a large built-in closet, from which the chambermaid will bring out thick padded blankets and mats called futon and spread them on the tatami mat floor for sleeping at night.

16) Yukata is a light cotton kimono used at home for relaxation, and worn by young ladies at summer festivals. Usually, a tanzen or a padded jacket-like kimono is put on top during cold weather.

17) Watch out for computer-controlled refrigerators, especially those inside the hotel rooms. You cannot return an item once taken out, after they are locked.

18) The check-in time for some hotels I’ve stayed in is 4 p.m. and the check-out time, 10 a.m. What happens during the six-hour interval, I don’t know.

19) Shopping at Amesakokoshi in Ueno can be a real treat. Again, there are no imitations, but there are very good bargains, including imported items and branded ones. So it’s not true that everything in Japan is expensive.

20) The Japanese are sticklers for punctuality, and of course for tradition.