So I’m in Japan. - Answering questions.
Retara, our correspondent from Japan, recently asked members in our AnimeFanatika WhatsApp group what they wanted to know about living in Japan. Explore with us as we see his answers on your questions.
Good morning kiddos, it would seem that some of you have questions about Japan.
Now, I just so happen to be living in Japan, so I thought to myself “Why not answer some of those questions?”
WHere to find stuff from SOuth Africa and more...
Q: Where can I find Marmite and Fish Paste (Redro in Japan?)
A: You can normally find it either on Amazon (Marmite small bottle 1799円 shipping 3600円) I couldn’t find any fish paste like we have in South Africa (there was a French type but it was nothing like Redro).
Q: What’s something in Japan that feels odd having come from South Africa?
A: Oh, there is so much that I can say here:
If you are from Cape Town then you’ll find the wind a lot softer and often the wind goes away, that’s weird. Funnily during typhoons you might be reminded of home.
Durban? Winter often sees snow and is so dry your lips can crack, but in summer you’ll be reminded of home… unfortunately…
Bloemfontein? Strangely the typhoons reminded me of summer rain in Bloem… just a little softer… the typhoon I mean, the rain lasts longer but the rain never weighs you down.
Culture shocks and being foreign
Q: Culture Shock Time. (I know that was just a comment but I want to talk about it.)
A: My biggest culture shock came when, one night, I struggled to fall asleep and, being beset by wanderlust, I decided to go for a walk outside in the middle of the night.
It was the most stressful walk I ever took in Japan, not because there was any reason for me to be scared, but because that’s what I was trained is the normal state back in South Africa.
I’ve been here for many years now and one of my favourite things is going out in the middle of the night to take some night photos.
I still look around me like someone is following me, but less so. I still look in the reflections of shops to check if anyone is following me in shopping centres, but less so.
My friends just laugh when I tell them it’s my paranoia flaring up when I refuse to sit in certain chairs, but they humour me.
The biggest culture shock was that the country as a whole is relatively safe compared to the rest of the world.
Q: How do locals treat foreigners?
A: How do you treat foreigners in your country? The answer is “It depends who it is not where.”
Most Japanese people are not antagonistic of foreigners, to be honest the ones who call foreign tourists 馬鹿外国人 are normally the long term residents. The locals are actually friendlier (in the countryside) than the foreigners working here.
Big cities can be different because they have to constantly deal with tourists behaving badly, but that’s the same as any big city around the world.
So the only thing I can tell you is that if you are going to tourist traps, be prepared to be treated as something in a trap.
Q 5: Are popular spots at risk of closing due to over tourism?
A 5: Yes and no. Yes the way they are now or were in the past changes, but the spot still remains. Just don’t go cutting holes in photo blocking screens because tourists caused problems and the place had to be closed down for a while or access restricted.
Only in Japan
Q: Tell us how futuristic everything is!
A: It’s super futuristic, I fax my time-sheet to the office every month to get it processed. Some buses use stiffy drives to update fair prices and schedules for the stops. There are unmanned buses on the streets. There are trains that use magnetic levitation instead of wheels.
The whole renewal process for licenses is digital, but you have to take a physical copy of a photo for the officer to make sure you are who you are, and you have to buy government tax stamps to pay for the license… in cash.. at the till next to the line where you give the stamp to the person to prove you paid… they can’t accept money so you have to go from one line to the next.
Man Japanese people love standing in lines.
Q: Have you been to any weird cafes?
A: I have been to Owl cafes, Animal cafes, book cafes, motor racing cafes, and themed cafes.
I have not been to a Maid cafe or anything in that line.
Onsen offences?
Q: How are the non tourist trap onsens? Are foreigners “allowed” there?
A: They are great, depending on the type they can be a bit pricey but they are worth it. Even just the local community bath house is worth a visit.
All of them allow foreigners, unless they don’t, but if they don’t it is clearly stated. Some places are just for residents so I might be allowed some places where you as a tourist aren’t.
The big question I’ve been asked is about tattoos. Yes, some places ban them, but that is because of multiple reasons, one of which is historic precedent but also hygiene and client comfort. Most places that don’t allow tattoos also have waterproof plasters available to cover them so that they are not visible.
Yes the big ban is on visible tattoos, it’s a case of out of sight out of mind.
Conclusion
I hope this answered some of your questions and while this is all based on my experiences, so are all the other opinions. So take it with a pinch of salt and come find out for yourself how Japan is.
We loved putting this article together for your enjoyment and hope you enjoyed the read just as much! If you found it helpful or fun, share the love by posting it on your favourite social media platform.
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics displayed on this page belong to their respective owners or channel. AnimeFanatika does not claim any right over them. Please support the creators by subscribing and liking their content.
Images courtesy of StockCake | stockcake.com