impressions: japan

radio: much talking, less music, weird variety of music on same station

few actual raised sidewalks, more like raised curb that separates street from sidewalk which is same flatness

ped xing sign man has a hat one, and crossing signs have a countdown of sorts

little school aged kids in yellow hats!! and other random fancy school uniforms

the salary man unifirm is a real thing. only navy and black. very little grey or any deviation. women have more variation (cream) but it's also very very standard and uniform

everyone backs into parking spots

no farm animals in the countryside? not even chickens?

no trash cans, but very clean streets

van life is easier here (assuming you have a shower system), because of the plentiful and clean michinoekis

gas stations (not sure about major cities) close at night and don't open super early

dead quiet on public transit

people stand outside convenience stores in groups drinking beer at night

self bag groceries tho there are assisted checkouts

lots of clear umbrellas (personal, not rentals)

so much chinese food influence: gyoza, different noodle dishes

so much chinese writing (makes road trips easier, that's for sure)

lack of napkins, even in restaurants. the napkins they do have are the small weird plastic feeling ones

much longer tp "squares" 

lots and lots of beverage commercials on tv

everything has a mascot

laundromat doesn't sell extra laundry powder, tho they do sell dryer sheets, etc. shoe cleaning and drying machines that work super well! safe enough to leave stuff there for hours

bidets everywhere, even at michinoeckis and konbinis

very small establishments of few seats and/or little navigational room / the SMALLEST of bathrooms 

go to places VERY EARLY to avoid crowds (like before 7am)

osaka is noisy and dirty

kyoto is overcrowded with tourists