Konichiwa - Greetings from the land of the rising sun
Japan is a high technology country and yet it is different from anything I've ever experienced. Japanese and German culture and behavior go separate ways in many areas. From an early age we were instructed not to smack while eating and to blow our noses when they were running. The opposite is true in Japan. The noodles of a ramen soup are sipped with relish in Japan and the nose is never cleaned. The Japanese pulls up and sometimes that is disgusting for Europeans.
It is striking how submissive the Japanese are. When greeting, the Japanese bows lower than the other person. A procedure that can be protracted. For the Japanese, it is extremely important not to lose face in front of anyone. Making mistakes, not knowing something and having to admit this leads to facial loss, which must be avoided under all circumstances. If you ask whether the bus to the next temple leaves on the left or the right lane, it is better to get several opinions. A Japanese who doesn't know for sure could send you in the wrong direction.
The big cities, like Osaka, which is the third largest city in Japan with 2.7 million inhabitants, are very clean. There is no rubbish anywhere, even though you can hardly find trash cans on the street. Smoking is only permitted on the streets in separate areas. Japanese people only drink and eat something when there is a roof over their head.
If you want to relax in Japan you should retreat to remote mountain villages. There is noisy continuous sound in the cities. For example, by chirping birds at train stations, beeping traffic lights and machines that play melodies. In the gambling dens you are exposed to lights and sounds that could trigger epileptic seizures even in healthy people.
Japan is a special country and a trip there should be on every well-stocked bucket list.
