10 Mind Blowing Facts About Japan That Will SURPRISE You
Imagine a country where you can buy steaming bowls of ramen from a vending machine, spend the night in a capsule the size of a closet, and celebrate Christmas with a bucket of fried chicken. Welcome to Japan, the land where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. In this video, we’re counting down 10 of the weirdest, funniest, and most fascinating things you’ll only ever find in Japan. From cube- shaped fruit to crying sumo competitions, these are quirks that make Japan unlike anywhere else on Earth. And stick around until the end because the number one entry is loud, chaotic, and so uniquely Japanese that it has become a cultural phenomenon all on its own. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Japan is home to over 4 million vending machines. That’s roughly one for every 30 people in the country. But unlike the rest of the world, where vending machines mostly sell soda, chips, or candy bars, Japan’s machines have evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Need a hot lunch? A vending machine can serve you a bowl of steaming ramen or curry rice. Stuck in the rain? You can buy an umbrella on the spot? Forgot your tie before a business meeting? There’s a machine for that, too. Some vending machines even sell fresh eggs, surgical masks, batteries, flowers, or canned bread. Yes, canned bread. It comes in flavors like chocolate chip or coffee and stays fresh for months. There are also mystery box machines where you pay and get a surprise item ranging from quirky toys to electronics. What’s more surprising is where you find them. Machines are everywhere. On quiet side streets, in subway stations, even halfway up hiking trails on mountains. Japan’s low crime rate makes this possible. These machines can operate virtually anywhere without being vandalized. For tourists, vending machines aren’t just convenient, they’re an adventure. Many people spend extra time hopping from one to the next just to see what bizarre item might come out next. In a country where space is limited, Japan found a creative solution. Capsule hotels. These futuristic accommodations look like honeycombs with rows of pods stacked side by side. Each capsule is roughly the size of a large closet, and contains a single bed, a small shelf, an outlet, and sometimes a built-in TV. They’re designed for one purpose: sleeping. What sounds claustrophobic at first is surprisingly cozy. Many capsules include adjustable lighting, air conditioning, and soundproof walls, offering a private and comfortable sleep space. Guests share common bathrooms and lounges, keeping costs low. Capsule hotels first appeared in the late 1970s, catering to salary men who missed the last train home after a long day at work. Today, they become popular with tourists looking for a unique and affordable stay. Some of them go beyond practicality and lean into themes. Imagine sleeping in a pod glowing with neon lights. A capsule styled like a spaceship or a luxury pod with memory foam mattresses. For a country that thrives on innovation, these hotels are the perfect blend of function and fun. In most countries, Kit Kat comes in just a few varieties: milk chocolate, dark, and maybe white chocolate. But in Japan, Kit Kats are a full-blown cultural obsession. There are over 300 flavors and they’re constantly rotating. Some of the more popular ones include matcha green tea, strawberry cheesecake, and sake. Others are much stranger. Soy sauce, wasabi, purple sweet potato, and even corn of the cob. The reason KitKats became so popular in Japan is partly cultural. The phrase kidatsu sounds similar to surely win in Japanese, making the candy a symbol of good luck. Students eat Kit Kats before exams, and people gift them to friends and family as a way of saying, “You got this.” Many flavors are also region specific. For example, in Hokkaido, you’ll find melon and baked apple flavors, while Kyoto specializes in matcha. This turns Kit Kats into collectible souvenirs with tourists often filling their suitcases with limited edition boxes. In short, Kit Kats in Japan aren’t just snacks, they’re a national tradition, blending marketing, culture, and creativity. Farmers in Japan are known for innovation, but one of their quirkiest creations has to be the square watermelon. By placing young watermelons into glass or plastic boxes, the fruit grows into the shape of the container. The result, perfect cube- shaped melons. Originally, the idea was practical. Square melons are easier to stack and store than round ones, but over time they became more of a novelty. Farmers often harvest them before they ripen, which makes them hard and less tasty, but highly decorative. Square watermelons are considered luxury gifts in Japan and can sell for over $200 each. They’re often displayed in shops as symbols of prestige rather than eaten. Farmers have even experimented with other shapes like heart-shaped and pyramid melons, proving that in Japan, even fruit can be a form of art. Few traditions are as unusual or as charming as Japan’s Nakisumo or crying sumo competitions. In these events, sumo wrestlers hold babies and try to make them cry. While it might sound cruel at first, it’s actually seen as a blessing. The belief is that a crying baby wards off evil spirits and promises good health and a long life. Parents eagerly sign their babies up for these contests, and the methods are playful rather than harsh. Wrestlers might make funny faces, bounce the babies gently, or shout traditional chants. Sometimes priests join in, wearing masks or waving fans to coax out tears. Far from being sad, the atmosphere is festive. Families laugh, cheer, and celebrate when their babies cry the loudest. To outsiders, it’s one of Japan’s stranger festivals, but for locals, it’s a joyful blend of tradition and fun. In the Tokyo Akihabara district, known for its anime and gaming culture, you’ll find cafes unlike anywhere else. Made cafes. Here, waitresses dress in frilly made costumes and greet customers with phrases like welcome home, master or princess. The food itself is simple, omelets, furry rice, parfait, but it’s decorated with ketchup drawings, hearts, or cute doodles. Maids also perform little rituals to make the food tastier, such as clapping, chanting, or even casting pretend magic spells. Some cafes include singing, dancing, or stage performances, turning a meal into interactive theater. Made cafes are part of Japan’s broader otaku subculture. But they’ve also become a tourist attraction. And the trend doesn’t stop there. Japan has butler cafes, ninja cafes, samurai cafes, and even prison themed cafes. Dining in Japan is often as much about the experience as the food itself. [Music] While Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated in Japan, one quirky tradition has become a nationwide phenomenon. Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken. Back in the 1970s, KFC launched a marketing campaign called Kentucky for Christmas, suggesting fried chicken as the perfect holiday meal. With no cultural tradition of turkey dinners, the idea caught on and it never stopped. Today, millions of Japanese families order KFC for Christmas. People reserve their holiday buckets weeks in advance, and lines outside KFC on Christmas Eve can stretch around the block. The company even releases special Christmas meals complete with fried chicken, cake, and champagne. For many, it’s a beloved family ritual. Proof that clever marketing can create an entire holiday tradition. In Japan, mascots aren’t just for sports teams. They’re everywhere. Known as yuru, these mascots represent towns, prefectures, companies, events, and even government agencies. Some mascots are adorable, like Kuma Mong, the bear from Kumamoto Prefecture who became a national icon. Others are bizarre, like Hunashi, an unofficial pear fairy mascot known for screaming, jumping, and performing chaotic stunts. Mascots aren’t just characters, they’re celebrities. They appear in commercials, headline festivals, and sell merchandise that generates millions of dollars. There are even annual competitions to crown Japan’s most popular mascot. It’s a perfect mix of Japan’s love for cuteness and its creative approach to marketing. Japan has a festival, Omatsuri, for just about everything. In fact, the country hosts over 200,000 festivals every year, celebrating everything from seasons to food to unusual traditions. There are snow festivals in Saporro with giant ice sculptures, firework festivals in summer, where rivers and skies light up, and fertility festivals where enormous carved symbols are paraded through the streets. There’s even a doll festival, a naked man festival, and of course, the crying baby sumo competitions we mentioned earlier. These events mix ancient Shinto beliefs with modern entertainment, and every region has its own unique take. Festivals often include food stalls, music, parades, and portable shrines carry through the streets. For visitors, Japan’s festivals are some of the most exciting, colorful, and unforgettable experiences the country has to offer. If there’s one place that perfectly captures Japan’s love for quirky entertainment, it’s the Pachinko Parlor. Pachinko is a game that looks like a cross between pinball and a slot machine. Players sit in long rows of brightly lit machines, shooting thousands of tiny silver balls into a maze of pins. The goal is to land the balls in the right slots to win even more balls, which can then be exchanged for prizes. Step inside a pachinko parlor and you’ll be hit with a wall of flashing neon lights, booming electronic sounds, and the constant clattering of metal balls. The atmosphere is intense. It’s part arcade, part casino, and part sensory overload. What makes pachinko uniquely Japanese is the way it skirts gambling laws. Technically, cash gambling is illegal in Japan, but pachinko parlors get around this by awarding prizes like electronics, snacks, or tokens that can be traded at a nearby shop for money. This loophole has kept the industry alive for decades. Pachinko is hugely popular, especially among older generations with parlors found in almost every city. For tourists, visiting one is an unforgettable culture shock. Whether you play or just soak in the chaos, it’s a sight of Japan you’ll never forget. [Music] From vending machines that sell umbrellas to pachinko parlors that buzz with flashing lights and endless clattering balls, Japan is a country that constantly surprises the world. Whether it’s fast food becoming a Christmas tradition, fruits turned into cubes, or mascots that scream and dance on stage, Japan makes the ordinary extraordinary. So, which one of these weird things would you try first? Let us know in the comments. And don’t be surprised if Japan invents something even stranger tomorrow.
Did you know that Japan is full of unique and wonderful things? This video explores some fascinating Japan facts, including showcasing some really weird traditions. Get ready to learn some amazing facts only in Japan and gain insight into Japan life that are sure to surprise you. Get ready to travel to Japan and experience it all!
In today’s video we look at 10 Mind Blowing Facts About Japan That Will SURPRISE You.
Discover the best Japan travel tips, Asia travel guides, hidden gems, and foodie adventures with Tea Time Travel. From Tokyo itineraries to cultural experiences in Kyoto, street food tours, budget travel hacks, and traditions, we bring you everything you need to plan your next trip. Explore Japan and Asia like a local with our detailed guides and insider tips.
Also check out: https://youtu.be/9CKyHt7YD2w
Subscribe now for Japan travel itineraries, Asia destination highlights, and unforgettable food and culture experiences.
👉 Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/4nlna1J
👉 Click here to subscribe: https://bit.ly/4nlna1J
AloJapan.com