Every country boasts its unique charm, whether it’s the people, the food, the nature, or anything else, for that matter, that creates it. And while what captivates people the most differs from visitor to visitor, some places seem to leave many of them fascinated with what they’ve seen or experienced.
One of such places, likely to leave its visitors in awe, is Japan. Home to everything from bustling cities to breathtaking nature, and so much more, it also surprises travelers with some rather unexpected sights, such as fried chicken vending machines and public air showers for those suffering from pollen allergies, just to name a couple. Scroll down to find more examples and explore what other unique features add to the charm of Japan.
#1 Japanese Hospital's Food. I Gave Birth In Japan, And These Are A Few Examples Of Meals That I Got While I Was At The Hospital
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#2 So I Was In Zao Fox Village, Located In Japan, And I Saw These Foxes Waiting For Their Water
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#3 At Nara, This Morning In The Rain, I Saw This Kid Sharing His Umbrella With A Deer. It Melted My Heart
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There is no such thing as one dream destination as it differs with each traveler. But for those seeking a dynamic and inspiring travel experience, Japan is likely to be it; or at least it appears somewhere near the top of the bucket list.
With a population of nearly 123 million people, it is home to 13 cities with more than a million inhabitants, as well as 34 national parks, and a number of mountains—12,516 named peaks, to be exact—one of the most significant ones being Mount Fuji, standing tall at 12,388 ft (3,776m).
#4 River In Japan Filled With Cherry Blossom Petals
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#5 Fukui Prefecture Has Dinosaur Benches And Is Known For Its Dinosaur Museums. Roughly 80% Of All Dinosaur Fossils In Japan Are Found In Fukui
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The fact that it’s the tallest one in Japan is not the only reason, which makes Mount Fuji stand out from the rest. (Pun intended.) A popular tourist attraction to visitors, the peak is a site of spiritual importance and a source of artistic inspiration for locals.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), legend has it that it all started with one person, a notable religious ascetic Hasegawa Kakugyo, who summited the mountain over 100 times. His feats led to the formation of a group of Mt. Fuji worshippers, known as Fuji-ko, who showed their dedication by building shrines and monuments, and fasting.
Over time, their devotion grew into fanaticism, which was eventually banned; however, the tradition of worshiping mountains persisted, rendering such wonders of nature respected sites of spiritual significance.
#6 First Light On The Beautiful Streets Of Kyoto, Japan
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#7 This Catbus For Transporting Japanese Preschoolers
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#8 When You Need Help At A Train Station In Japan, Customer Service Literally Pops Out Of The Wall
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In addition to an impressive number of peaks, Japan also has quite a few islands. As a matter of fact, it has quite recently discovered thousands of them the country arguably didn’t know of before.
Roughly a year ago, the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) found that there are 14,125 islands in Japanese territory, which is more than double the number it was believed to be until that point, CNN reports. The previous number of 6,852 has been the official record since a report by Japan’s Coast Guard was presented back in 1987.
#9 Mannequins In Japan
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#10 A Can Of Cake From A Vending Machine In Japan
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#11 Manhole Covers In Japan
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But it’s not only incredible nature that makes the country an exceptional place. Creating a Japan itinerary might not be easy because of an abundance of man-made wonders that ought to be added to it, too, whether modern or dating back hundreds of years.
Some of the most popular ones to visit include Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, viewed by many as the most beautiful city in the country, and Nara, another former capital dotted with Japanese Buddhist buildings. There’s also Osaka, where you can enjoy the lively nightlife and marvel at the abundance of lights and neon signs or Beppu if you would rather unwind in the hot springs instead. Needless to say, covering them all is close to impossible, even though every city is exceptional in its own way.
#12 The River Looked Whitish And Murky, So When I Looked Closely, I Saw That Jellyfishes Were Migrating
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#13 Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
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#14 There Really Was A Dragon In Shikoku
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While it’s impossible to praise every city and town in Japan, its capital, Tokyo, is definitely worth mentioning; and, of course, visiting, if the opportunity arises. Home to roughly 37 million people (according to 2024 estimates), it is reportedly the world's most populous metropolis, which boasts a little something for every type of traveler, from nature lovers, to museum enthusiasts, and history geeks, among others.
#15 The View That Unfolded At The Top Of The 270 Steps Was Like Something Out Of An Anime
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#16 I Came Back To This One Waterfall In Yamagata During 3 Different Seasons
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#17 Subways In Japan Have Women-Only Passenger Cars
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While both the natural and the man-made wonders in Japan ought to leave a lasting impression, the customs and traditions prevailing in the country are likely to do so, too. Similar to some of the unexpected items or occurrences on this list, they tend to be completely commonplace to locals yet quite unusual to those visiting the beautiful country.
Take slurping, for instance; something that can get you in trouble at the dinner table as a child in other countries, is not considered bad table manners in Japan. On the contrary, it is believed to allow the person to enjoy their noodles to the fullest and lets the cook know that they clearly like the meal.
#18 Today's View From My Tent On Mount Fuji After Sunset. No Editing. It's Just Japan
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#19 This Is How Smooth The Bullet Train Is In Japan
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#20 I Flew To Tokyo On This Bad Boy
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Another rather unique food-related feature Japan tends to surprise its visitors with is the abundance of all sorts of vending machines. According to Rough Guides, you can find one distributing bananas for a healthy snack on the go, as well as those selling beers as a less healthy alternative. There are even vending machines for purchasing live crabs.
#21 I Captured A Picture Today Of This Man Trying In Vain To Defend Himself From A Deer In Nara, Japan
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#22 Door Latch That Doubles As An Accessories' Holder At A Public Restroom In Japan. Simple Concept, Straightforward Design, Elegant Execution
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#23 I Managed To Avoid The Crowds In Kyoto And Took This Photo
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If Japan seems as fascinating to you as it is to many travelers out there, continue browsing related content by familiarizing yourself with these Japanese inventions or read these 50 facts that show that ‘the land of the rising sun’ is truly unlike any other.
#24 Takaragawa Onsen - Gunma, Japan
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#25 Etiquette Poster "Please Turn Down Your Volume" In Seibu Railway, Japan
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#26 These Movie Tickets From The Ghibli Museum Are Frames From Different Ghibli Movies
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#27 Japan’s Natural Heart-Shaped Toyoni Lake
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#28 Landscape-Friendly Vending Machine
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#29 The Pet Hotel We Used Makes A Journal Of Your Pet's Stay To Give To You When You Pick Them Up
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#30 Today, I Saw A Batman On The Expressway In Chiba
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#31 Deer Couple In Nara, Japan
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#32 Daily Life In Japan's Countryside
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#33 Some Elevators In Japan Include An Emergency Kit On The Corner, That Includes Things Like Water, Food And Even Mini-Toilet In Case Of Blackouts Or Earthquakes
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#34 KitKat In Japan Have Started Changing Their Packaging From Plastic To Paper
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#35 Only In Japan
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#36 This Is How Smartphones At Local Japanese Fast Food Restaurants Are Disinfected
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#37 This Starbucks In Kyoto Was Only Allowed In This Area Because They Were Able To Keep The Original Facade Of The Building Intact
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#38 Monkeys Enjoying A Hot-Spring Bath At Jigokudani Park In Yamanouchi (Nagano Prefecture)
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#39 Little Jizo Statues In Kamakura
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#40 I Thought I Was Smart Avoiding The Crowds By Visiting The Bamboo Forest At 10 PM. I Only Managed To Scare Myself And Bail Without Entering Very Far. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto
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#41 This Fresh Honey Dispenser At A Hotel Breakfast In Japan
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#42 I Bought This "Statue Of Too Much Liberty" From A Vending Machine In Japan
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#43 The Amount Of Snow In Hokkaido, Japan
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#44 I Found A Pillow Menu In My Hotel Room
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#45 Don't Fight The Monkey
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#46 In Japan, You Can Play A "Flushing Sound Effect" In Public Bathroom Stalls So Others Can't Hear You Do Your Business
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#47 Strange Sights In Japan - A Magical Orchestra In Shiga Prefecture
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#48 My Mission Is Complete. I Finally Visited All 3 Life-Size Gundam Statues In Japan
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#49 Kyoto Temple Ceiling Art
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#50 This Store In Japan Automatically Calculates Your Total When You Place Your Basket In The Area Using RFID Tags On The Products
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