JAPAN | Do These Amazing Things Only Exist In Japan?

Hi, today we're going to take you to a whole different country, famous for its kick-ass and bizarre innovations. None other than Japan. Although Japan is famous for its gorgeous cherry blossoms, majestic Mount Fuji, and of course, bullet trains, here you can spot much unusual or weird stuff as well. Like one of the world's most expensive watermelons, anime-inspired cafes and restaurants, and vending machines for everything you might need. Get ready to see some unconventional style wrestling and explore the world's most bizarre food items. Sumo Wrestling Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling is unique as enormous wrestlers join the ring with insanely huge bodies. Sumo may seem comical to some of you, but it's a lot more than most outsiders ever realize. It has a long history of about 1,500 years. Sumo originated as a part of Shinto ritual to honor the spirits. Tokyo hosts three tournaments each year, which invites several hundred sumo wrestlers from all over Japan and abroad as well. The best way to take a glimpse into the sumo is by sitting inside the stadium. Ensure your presence for the next tournament and enjoy a fast-paced, colorful Japanese tradition. Food on Display Japanese restaurants take extra measures to entice food lovers, even if they have to show off realistic plastic models of their dishes. You might have seen food commercials displaying several food items, but those do not always have to be real food. Yes, ice cream usually uses mashed potatoes, and cereal companies will use glue in place of milk, but Japan doesn't resource to such tactics. Here, customers can look at the plastic model of their meal so they can easily see what they will be getting after ordering. Food on Display is a unique trend that can only be found in Japan. Napping on a job is celebrated In many countries, sleeping at work is not only considered embarrassing, but it might even cause one to lose the job. Here, sleeping on the job indicates that you are a hardworking and dedicated employee, and thus the servant nap while seated. It's common to sleep on a job in Japan. And the Japanese have even devised a new word, inemuri. Inemuri has been practiced in Japan for centuries, and people can be found sleeping in offices, department stores, cafes, and restaurants. Companies understand the significance of inemuri, as the Japanese workers are sincere in their jobs and spend less time sleeping and more time at work. Keep in mind that Japan is an exception, but your boss might not like the idea of sleeping at work, so better not to try it at your workplace. Ryokan Japan's additional houses, known as ryokan, often lead foreigners to consider staying in In recent years, ryokan has become popular because they are a great way to portray the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality. With Japanese-style baths, local cuisines, and tatami rooms that come with ryokan, it's a lifetime experience staying in one. During your stay, wear Japanese attires like yukata and a geta. Ryokans offer a relaxing and special experience, along with an emphasis of traditional style and atmosphere. Have you ever tried chicken wing-flavored ice cream or maybe a KitKat made of spicy chili and maize? Joke aside, Japan is famous for its bizarre food flavors, especially when it comes to KitKat and ice cream. Here you can choose a KitKat in 200-plus flavors, which sounds unique if we compare it to other countries. Limited edition flavors include yogurt, wasabi, azuki beans, and even steak-flavored KitKat. In fact, you might have the same experience in the case of ice cream. Expect to find cactus, octopus, eel, and wasabi-flavored ice cream. Capsule hotels Japan is densely populated and very expensive, therefore it needs fewer spaces to accommodate a large number of people. To save on both space and expense, Japanese introduced capsule hotels, which provide you a cheap and cozy place to rest your head in overcrowded cities of Japan. These sci-fi-esque pods offer their guests private, enclosed beds, and all basic amenities. Foreigners tend to stay in these pods as they are cost-effective and surprisingly comfy. However, contrary to popular beliefs, some capsule hotels are equipped with luxurious amenities, including beds, televisions, entertainment rooms, and more. Anime cafes and restaurants Here is another desired Japanese concept that involves theme restaurants. Japan's anime are famous all over the world, and anime lovers go crazy over anime characters. Japanese franchises have introduced several anime and character cafes across Tokyo and megacities. Here you can taste Pokemon-designed cakes and drinks while admiring Doraemon-style pancakes and other delights imitating Hello Kitty, One Piece, and Sailor Moon. Japan is the only country in the world that offers a unique experience, accompanied by the colors and styles of beloved characters. Drinking in public is ok Compared to some other countries where public intoxication is a criminal offense, Japan is quite the opposite. It's common to find any individual drinking in public, whether in a park or street. You just need to buy alcohol at the supermarket and drink it on your way home. In spring, an outdoor party known as hanami is celebrated while looking at the full bloom cherry trees. You can purchase beer for college students gathering in parks and even impromptu street parties in nightlife districts. Japan's customs and rules make it perfectly legal to enjoy alcohol anywhere, no matter the time. Vending machines for almost everything While it is true that Japan is the world leader in the number of vending machines, the crazy part is that vending machines in Japan sell almost everything. Yes, you've heard it correctly, everything. Whether you need a pizza, fresh flowers, surgical mask, or even underwear, a vending machine may be the solution to all your worries. Next time you're in a vending machine, expect to receive a Japanese ice cream that never melts inside the machine. In fact, tourists find these vending machines super convenient for all their needs. Japanese super toilets Japanese super toilets feature the washlet bidet function, upholding the country's standard of cleanliness and high-tech culture. These are sophisticated high-tech toilets but yet simple to use. After using the toilet, you just need to press a button and that's it. With advanced water temperature, rear sprays, and even noise-covering mode, Japanese toilets really put other toilets to shame. There are also toilets with air-dry functions for a completely hands-off affair. Linguistically confusing blue traffic lights Indeed, everybody knows that red light means stop, whereas green signifies start, because that is how it works with the traffic signals universally. But not so in Japan. In fact, drivers who have never driven in Japan get confused when they see blue traffic signals, not green. Quite unusual for many but convenient for Japanese since they do not have a word for green in their language. So, instead of green, they opted for blue as a color for the go signal. In Japan, green objects are referred to as blue, so think twice before you point to green-colored objects during your stay in Japan. Otoshi dishes Often tourists complain about Japanese restaurants that provide extra food without even asking for it. Guys, hold on a second, it's not a tourist trap. Yes, when you order food at an izakaya in Japan, food comes with otoshi, an appetizer intended to whet the customers. This appetizer is already prepared and as you make your entry, waiters won't hesitate to whip out the otoshi almost immediately, sometimes even before you've ordered. However, the charge for otoshi is added to the final bill, which will upset many customers. Otoshi often includes spicy octopus, alfalfa stew, edamame beans, potato salad, and more. Insanely costly fruits Get ready to face sticker shock at high-end fruit stores in Japan. But wait, we're not talking about the out-of-season produce. But Japan's iconic square watermelons and ping-pong ball-sized ruby roman grapes, shockingly, one square of watermelons is priced at $140 or $365 for a bunch of grapes. These are some of Japan's most expensive fruits, including pears for $19 and strawberries for $5 apiece. How can we forget about mango when we have taiyo no tamato that can make you pay around $3,744. An interesting aspect of Japanese culture is that people exchange these fruits on special occasions, just like wine in America. Moreover, the yubi melon surpasses all other fruits in the world since two yubi melons have set a record price of $45,000 in 2019. These are just a handful of crazy inventions worth revealing and plenty more remain to be discussed in another video. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world where you can walk around the cities at night without any worries. For your next trip, visit Japan to explore the natural beauty and rich culture and, of course, to see all the bizarre inventions.