101 Things I Love About Japan
ByAndrew Evans
September 28, 2011
7 min readTruly, the hardest part of my job is leaving a place. As my journey in a country comes to an end, I tend to get very sad, wondering if and when I return and thinking about how much I wish I could stay for longer. Often, my only consolation is to take stock of what I’ve experienced and feel joy for each one of those marvelous individual things. And so, after leaving Japan behind, I compile this little list. These are just a few the wonderful things I will remember from Japan, but they are definitely my favorites. (Feel free to add your own favorite Japanese things in the comments).
1. Clear plastic umbrellas
2. White-gloved taxi drivers
3. “Irasshaimase! ” screamed at you every time you step into a store.
4. “Cold water” and “hot water” are two different words
5. Red triangle stop signs
6. Glow-in-the-dark light saber police batons
7. Jasmine incense at temples and shrines
8. Zen rock gardens
9. Chocolate cheesecake packaged in long sticks, like beef jerky
10. Japanese maple trees
11. High-pitched talking escalators
12. Yakisoba noodles
13. Onsen (hot springs) bathing
14. Shinkansen (the bullet train)
15. Tokyo subway
16. Rainbows
17. Raw squid for breakfast
18. Green tea KitKat
19. Clammbon
20. Shamisen music
21. Tatami mats
22. Purple sweet potato soft-serve ice cream
23. Harajuku
24. “Best of the Carpenters, Selected Favorites” in every car CD
25. Pocari Sweat
26. Unagi sushi
27. Japanese affection for plaid
28. Chocolate-covered lotus root
29. Perfect geometric ice cubes
30. Bowing (I’m used to it now)
31. Green tea doughnuts
32. Bonsai trees
33. Bento boxes
34. Calligraphy
35. Meditation
36. The trains run on time, all the time
37. V6 “Honey Beat”
38. Baseball
39. Gum-drop shaped mountains
40. Hot sand baths
41. Warm washcloths before every meal
42. Lace covers on the backs of car seats
43. Free internet
44. Shiatsu
45. Toilets with options
46. Shiba dogs
47. Naoshima
48. Okoyama grapes
49. Sapporo ramen
50. Fluorescent green rice fields
51. Cat shrines
53. Sumo wrestling on afternoon television
54. Toe socks
55. Cell phone charms
56. Melodious electronic ditties that play on the trains
57. Sendai airport
58. Mt. Fuji
59. Hygienic face masks
60. Vending machines
61. Chopsticks
62. Hiroshima okonomiyaki
63. Manga (anime)
64. Shabu shabu
65. Shiretoko National Park
66. Ryokan
67. Geisha
68. JR Rail Pass
69. Maguro
70. Shinto shrines
71. Hakusuikan
72. Brown bears
74. Benifuki tea
75. The word “Subarashii”
76. Pink salt
77. Kanji
78. Cherry trees
79. “Respect for the Aged” day 敬老の日
81. Mt. Kaimon
82. Seikan tunnel
83. Four Seasons, Tokyo at Marunouchi
84. Tempura
85. Noboribetsu
86. Recycling
87. Japanese 7-11 (13,589 stores!)
88. Momiji Manju
89. Japanese Women’s Soccer Team
90. Hiroshi Sugimoto
91. Tiny dried anchovies
92. Morning exercises on TV
93. Crickets
95. Taizoin temple
96. NHK
97. Wagyu beef
98. pottery
99. paper cranes
100. Wasabi
101. The Japanese
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
