8 INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT JAPAN

In the two weeks we spent travelling across Japan there wasn’t a single day when we weren’t amazed by the incredible things we saw. From cities to landscapes, temples and shrines to bullet trains… Japan has it all.

But not only the big things stayed in our minds; it was the small things, the everyday life quirks that we loved the most.

Here are some examples of our favorite day-to-day stuff. (WARNING: You may fall in love with Japan as well).

1) Origami Style Drip Coffee

This absolutely original invention is worthy of a price. Just open the bag and take out the pouch (which already has grounded coffee inside), insert sides into your mug, pour hot water and wait for it to filter. Enjoy!!

The perfect and fun way to start your day… only in Japan.

Origami Drip coffee, Japan — Morning coffee with Tokyo in the background

2) Kimono rental

Wishing you could stroll around the streets of Kyoto dressed in typical japanese attire? Dreams come true.

All around Japan you can see men, women and children dressed in kimono, impeccable from head to toe (or in this case hairdo to clogs –geta-), blending perfectly with their surroundings.

Girl in kimono, Fushimi Inari, Kyoto, Japan — Girl in kimono, Fushimi Inari

3) Ekiben

Heaven in a tiny and perfectly arranged box. The best part is you can eat it while sitting comfortably in a train, heading towards a fascinating destination.

There are hundred of ingredients to choose from so that nobody feels left out.

4) Instructions in toilets

Almost in every bathroom we entered we found these hilarious and illustrated instructions.

Let me just say that in some of the more modern toilets, the diagrams are necessary :).

Toilet instruction Japan — Thanks for the help!

Toilet in Japan — Not really necessary… right?

5) Shoe fashion (Jika Tabi)

Fashion in Japan is different from everywhere else, but in our opinion this a bit too much… only in Japan.

Jika Tabi, japan — Casual or formal, this Nara store has it all

6) Fake food (Sampuru)

Ever gone to a restaurant and don’t know what to order? Don’t worry! It won’t be an issue here.

Outside of every restaurant you can find real size, shape and color plastic models of the dishes available. What you see is what you get!

7) Prayers and charms

Along with the beautiful shrines and temples that can be found every couple hundred meters, come an assortment of good luck charms and ways to send prayers to deities.

Our favorites where Ema, wooden tablets in which you can write your wish or prayer, then hang in the shrine so the spirits can receive the message.