Anonymous: What do you think about Japan? You ever visit Japan? Would you want to live in Japan?
Yes, a view times...let’s start with positive stuff:
Clean, Japan is just very VERY clean. Even with the lack of trashcans. It is kinda easy to get around (trains are confusing when you have to take them somewhere the first time, you will need help to figure out what to do!). Eating: good, but you have to wait in lines (all the best\new\trendy places have loooong waiting lines!) If you find a place with nobody really inside...i wouldn’t eat there...that’s a tip a friend gave me (he is living in Japan since 2004).
Friendly peeps: they are friendly...they will help you even if they don’t understand English very well. Service: perfect. Don’t give them tip money...they will give it back to ya! In a lot of restaurants you have a button for the service which is nice.
Convenient stores: 7 eleven and other shops are great. Love them. You will ALWAYS find one near you. Nature: is good. If you have allergies you will have a pretty hard time around spring and summer...believe me...take your pills with ya.
Food: good. I personally don’t like raw stuff...sushi is kinda okay but they really have a lot of raw stuff (chicken...i would never try this! NEVER). But overall food itself taste good.
Trains:IF you made it to a train, it will 100% punctual and fast which is perfect.
Clothing: you can (of course) wear cute “kawaii” things or whatever...but most likely on conventions or on meeting...i don’t know if that’s a good thing or not because i am not into that kinda stuff.
You have 4 seasons and special things to get in those seasons. Which is nice...but to be hones in Europe you will have this as well....so...ya...
People: they SAY yes to everything but they don’t want to...which sucks. I don’t like peeps who are just saying yes to everything but don’t wanna do it just because they are ashamed of saying no. I don’t think this behavior should exist. Another thing is: Peeps WILL judge you! They will trust me! It can be about the way you are dressing (like in summer, if you show to much skin) or just because you are a “Gaijin” (a not Japanese person\outside). It sucks but it is how it is. If you do something (like i know a lot of american’s don’t take off their shoes before entering a house) they will look at you...in a not so nice way...like they wanna tell you that THIS behavior is not at all allowed here!
Trains: they are crowded....like hell...so be aware. Plus it can happen that (it CAN) that some perv will grab you somewhere... Yes don’t use the rush hour trains i know but it feels like every time is some sorta rush hour.
Working: my friend is working in Japan for a loooong time now, and he is ALWAYS late...like i know when he should get OFF but he will add like 1-2 hours because the company want him to do so (and everyone else) which is just WRONG in my mind. Work is work but coming home very late (after driving home and stuff) and getting to work very early in the morning ...you just don’t have a real life anymore...(he is now working somewhere else for a foreign company with normal hours and is feeling much better btw.).
I know in America you will have your waiter come to ya like 100+ times...”do you want some water or whatever”...i know it is nice but i don’t personal like that...i wanna eat in piece...just a little add on.
Food (yup on both sides): not only the raw stuff, you will never really know: is it vegetarian? What is really inside the dish(ingredient)....so if you are on a specific diet....be aware..
Just some good things and bad things...MY opinion of course and what i experienced so far.
And If i ever wanted \want to live in japan: NO. Sry but absolute no for me. I like Japan, it’s a great country but i would miss so much...in Europe you can travel and get all those cultures and architectures...It doesn’t take long to travel from country to country...even if i wanna fly to my family in the US it wouldn’t take a lot of time which is perfect. So no, i would not wanna live in Japan.
Just to be clear: i really do like Japan...but i feel much more welcome in Europe and USA....