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10+ Facts About Japan That You Can Never Believe To Be True

Okamoto Naoki

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Okamoto Naoki

Last updated : Oct 23, 20134 min read

General

1. Late night dancing is illegal in Japan.
- So far, it is. In fact, night clubs and discos need to acquire permission to allow their customers to dance! It's now widely discussed and (hopefully) soon to be changed.
On the other hand, if you can't contain your urge to dance, proceed to one of the game arcades to unleash your dancing prowess! Or hit up one of the best night clubs in Tokyo.
3_100yearsold
2. Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over 100 years old.
- No surprise, you must have heard all the stories about how "healthy" the Japanese are, looking at their healthy diet and lifestyle. Rice, fish, tofu and miso soup are common dishes in the daily meal. Now take away the alcohol and tobacco from them, and they will live even longer!
Also, it is not uncommon to see elderly Japanese climb mountains and go hiking. Do not be surprised if you see an ojiisan (grandpa) overtaking you on a climb up Mount Fuji!
Also, Japan has the oldest living person on the planet. Jiroemon Kimura from Kyoto became the oldest living person after the passing of Dina Manfredini (the previous record holder) in 2012, though Kimura later passed away at the age of 116 years old on 12 June 2013. The current oldest living person is... surprise, surprise, a Japanese lady named Misao Okawa who is now 115 years old.
4_gun
3. Japan has just 2 gun-related homocides per year.
- We just don't need guns. The Japanese are best at gaman (tolerance in Japanese). However, ironically, Japan has one of the world's highest suicide rates. So, I guess it balances out after all...
5_company
4. The world's oldest company operated in Japan from 578AD to 2006.
- I heard the company's first business was selling video games.
No surprise, as some of the world's first game consoles came from Japan- Nintendo, Sega.. just to name a few of the modern game consoles.
6_islands
5. Japan consists of over 6,800 islands.
- Who counted??
Some of these islands are uninhabaited or in the midst of territorial disputes, but many of them are absolutely beautiful. From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, you will be able to find a myriad of natural habitation, plants and animals! It might be a good idea to go island-hopping in Japan!
スクリーンショット 2013-10-25 21.13.31
6. Japanese trains are among the world's most punctual trains. The average delay is about 36 seconds.
- If the train does not come within 1 minute of the scheduled time (without announcements of the train being late), you will see the Japanese anxiously looking at their watches.

8_watermelon
7. Square watermelons are grown by Japanese farmers for easier stack and store.
- Creativity holds no boundaries, and the Japanese have taken them to their farms! Perhaps a good way to boost its local agriculture!
9_pets
8. In Japan there are more pets than children.
- Perhaps this explains Japan's declining population? Children are rapidly being replaced by animals (and robots)!!
10_diapers
9. Japan's birth rate is so low that adult diapers have outsold baby diapers.
- Another sign of the awkwardly deformed population pyramid in Japan.
14_vending_machine
10. Japan has 5.52 million vending machines.
- Out of these 5.52 million, vending machines selling beverages take up about 2.5 million! And others include vending machines for ice cream, newspaper, cigarettes, food, pornography etc.....!
15_sleeping
11. Sleeping on the job is acceptable in Japan, as it's viewed as exhaustion from working hard.
- Or rather, you might be complimented for sleeping as it just shows how hard you have worked. What a strange working culture... OK I gotta go sleep now...
What do you think??
Visit the original site and see all the 15 facts about Japan and check out more "fact-slides".
https://www.factslides.com/s-japan

Written by Okamoto Naoki

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GoWithGuide’s writers are passionate travel specialists sharing unique tips and essential information for global explorers.

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