Living in Japan = daily reminders that we do not, in fact, know everything. 😂
Here’s 8 things that make us go hmmmmm…..
The slipper situation 🥿
Toilet slippers. Patio slippers. House slippers and somehow… slipper slippers?? The slipper culture is real here and our genkan feels it! Anyone know where to get cute open toe indoor slippers?
Shower mirrors 🪞
Why are they there? 🤔 For shaving? For shampoo checks? For staring at yourself questioning life choices?? I’m still unclear but at least the mirror is not. Anyone have any ideas?
Trash sorting 🗑️
So many categories.
So many bag options.
So many pickup days.
One missed detail and suddenly I’m spiraling, “Is this burnable… or emotionally burnable?”
Trash got us like 🫨.
Which side are we supposed to walk on?!
We heard “keep left,” but then we see locals cruising on the right… so now we’re just politely weaving, apologizing with our eyes, and hoping for the best.
Vending machine ordering at restaurants. 🎟️
You order from a machine, it spits out tickets (plural!), and suddenly you’re holding paper like you’re about to board a train… but nope, it’s ramen. Confusing, yet so delicious.
Bus etiquette = thank goodness we followed the locals.
Enter from the back, tap in. Exit from the front, tap out. Even if that means swimming upstream through a sea of passengers—front door exits only, no exceptions. We’re learning. Slowly. 😅
Subway entry choreography. 🚇
Where do you stand? Who goes first? Everyone lines up perfectly on the sides (on the kawaii feet markers!) – riders exit first, then you go. No rushing. No hovering. Just calm, orderly magic but who sent the memo?
Street food rules we did NOT know. 🍢
If you order from a food vendor, you eat/drink right there – in front of the stall or in the marked area for patrons. Then, you politely return the trash to the same place. To go? Essentially it means to take HOME to eat/drink. Not walk and snack, never walk and snack really.
Anyone else been totally stumped by these? Or are we just outing ourselves as very obvious foreigners? 😆
Still obsessed. Still confused. Still learning.
But honestly? That’s half the fun. 🤭