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Many in the United States, especially those who haven't visited, may not have a good working knowledge of Japan.
But, the country has a history that dates back centuries and a culture that is rich and multi-layered. Travelers to Japan can get lost in the country's island culture or in its densely populated metropolitan centers. Japan is more than just the country to the east of China.
Here are some surprising facts about the island country.
Japan is an island nation.
It's made up of a group of islands.
Shutterstock
Unlike most countries that are one solid land mass, Japan is actually a group of islands that form a country, typically referred to as an archipelago. The Japanese archipelago consists of 6,852 islands. While only 430 of those islands are inhabited — Honshu is considered the main island— most of the islands are considered “ghosts.” The archipelago stretches about 1,869 miles or the length of the East Coast of the United States.
Whenever you’re sitting in traffic or riding the rush hour train, keep in mind it is likely much worse in Japan. In fact, the country’s capital, Tokyo, is the most populated city on earth with 38,140,000 people. The United Nations expects the city to hold that title until 2030.
People are hired to push people inside of trains during rush hour.
About 57% of people living in Tokyo, Japan use the public transportation. That percentage compared with the population creates massive commuter struggles. In fact, most of the railways operate at a 199% overcapacity, forcing people to smash their faces against windows to squeeze inside. The city even hires “transit pushers” to stuff bodies into subway cars during rush hour.
Back in 2013, Goldman Sachs found that there were more registered pets in Japan than there were children. At the time, there were 21.3 million cats and dogs registered and only 16.5 million children below the age of 15. Japan may be paradise for pet lovers.
There are millions of vending machines that sell anything from food to sex toys.
There are also a lot of capsule machines called "Gacha" machines filled with anything from toys to hats for your cats.
Rachel and Jun/YouTube
The vending machines here in the US pale in comparison to the vending culture in Japan. While the first machine in Japan sold cigarettes, today magazines, flowers, drinks, and full meals can be bought from the 5.52 million vending machines nationwide. The country’s fascination with automation is demonstrated in this vending machine culture, as almost every street in Japan has at least one vending machine.
Of course, crime exists in Japan, but when compared to the US, the rates are startling. For instance, Japan’s murder rate is 15 times less here in the states, making it the safest country in Asia and the second-lowest homicide rate in the world. Even Tokyo is one of the safest countries on the planet with almost no street crimes.
Although baseball is typically thought of as an American sport, the Japanese love it too. Last year, over 33% of sports fans watched baseball in the country. However, the sport is most popular among the older generations as the younger generation is apparently slowly finding it less interesting. Soccer comes in as a close second.
Back in 1400, police would use shibari — or the art of rope bondage — to hold prisoners captive. The Samurais would use this tactic to treat their prisoners well. In the late 1800s, a new wave of shibari started, bringing the art of bondage into the bedroom. The positioning of knots on certain pleasure points on the body can stimulate sensuality and strength.
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