You may have seen or heard things about Japan on the Internet and social media. Many are true, but some are untrue. A few things may surprise you as a foreigner hoping to start a new life in this island country.
Do not be worried. With the correct information, you will be prepared for them. Get ready to find out some fun facts about Japan.
We have listed the top 8 surprising things foreign residents find about daily life in Japan. Keep reading for more!
- Multiply the Taxes by Two!
The first thing that may come as a surprise is Japan’s tax laws. For instance, if you’re coming into Japan to flex with some newly inherited wealth, you may be greeted with an inheritance tax rate between 10% and 55%. Considerations regarding whether you will pay the tax will depend on your visa status and where you wish to reside.
In addition, foreign residents of the United States may find taxes a little stressful despite iDeco/NISA. One reason is that the U.S. government taxes its citizens on worldwide income, so they must provide the IRS with annual tax filings. The only way to avoid double taxes (from Japan and the U.S.) is through the foreign tax credit or foreign-earnings income exclusion claim.
In summary, the complexities of Japanese tax laws for foreign residents depend on the tax treaties between the Japanese government and their home country. It is one of the interesting facts about Tokyo, Japan.
- Friends for a Lifetime
Now, this is a good one! If you struggle to sustain friendships in your home country, you’ll find things different in Japan. People here can maintain lifelong relationships with friends from school or work because they create time for hangouts, get-togethers, and fun reunions.
Many Japanese people we know regularly stay in touch with friends they made years back in high school.
If you’re new to the country and are looking for friends, your office is a good place to start. Other social gatherings at the gym or bar provide a good opportunity to make new friends. And once you do, they can introduce you to their friends, making it easier to grow your circle. This is one of the interesting facts about Japan.
- Japan’s Futuristic Lifestyle May Have Been Oversold
You may have seen several posts online about how Japan is living in the future. These aren’t necessarily untrue, but there may have been some exaggerations. In Japan, businesses still use paper records, stamps (called hanko), and fax machines. The ATMs don’t run 24/7, and online banking isn’t as common as expected.
It wasn’t until recent times that retail stores integrated self-checkouts for customers. Cash is still king, and tap-to-pay card readers don’t work everywhere.
If you think electronics will be cheaper in Japan, think again! This is one of the unusual facts about Japan. Although we are renowned for manufacturing electronics, import taxes make certain items costly. These include PCs, smartphones, and gaming devices like PlayStation consoles. We advise you to compare prices with stores in your home country and buy essential gadgets before coming to Japan.
- Brace Yourself for Train Rides
In truth, train rides in Japan can be calm and stress-free. This is one of the cool facts about Japan. However, things sometimes change during rush hour, especially in highly populated cities like Tokyo. There have been reports of chikan (inappropriate groping) on crowded commutes, an experience that happens frequently enough that a special term was coined: butsukariya, or “bumping man.”
You may occasionally spot a passenger pretending to sleep because they don’t want to leave their seat for priority commuters like aged, disabled, or pregnant people. As a foreigner just settling into a new life in Japan, you should prepare your mind for these experiences.
In addition to the bumping and other undesired body contact, the smell of sweaty people hitting your olfactory lobes in a packed train might throw you off. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do in such a situation, as you can’t force everyone to wear deodorant!
- The Struggle for Pocket-Friendly Data and SIM Plans
An international plan from your home carrier can only take you so far in Japan. Many providers like Google Fi have a timed limit for data usage abroad. What happens when you hit that limit?
You must stay connected to the internet to handle your day-to-day work/business activities, including your personal life. Without an active internet connection, you may often find yourself stranded, and begging random strangers to share their hotspot with you can get embarrassing when it happens every time.
If you want a cheap and dependable data and SIM plan, we recommend OMORIWIFI. We have plans designed to suit the needs of foreigners living in Japan. It is worth knowing that while other providers list plans for as high as ¥17600, OMORIWIFI sells similar plans for as low as ¥5900. It’s also one of the fun facts about Tokyo, Japan. Here’s a breakdown of our package for foreign residents:
Japan Long-Term SIM for Foreign students, professionals, and expats living in Japan:
- Fast 4G LTE/5G unlimited SIM.
- 100GB monthly data supply.
- Flexible payment options (Up-front or 6-month plan).
- As low as ¥5,582/month
- One-time setup fee.
- Free and fast shipping/delivery
- No credit check.
- Excellent customer support in English.
- Wide coverage.
- Reliable internet connection with SoftBank provider.
OMORIWIFI is on a mission to make life easier for foreigners who wish to stay for a long time in Japan. Our Long-term SIM, home Wi-Fi, and pocket Wi-Fi ensure that you are always connected to reliable internet providers.
Find out more about OMORIWIFI’s plans here.
- Ever Heard of the Chōnaikai?
Another one of my favourites amongst the many random facts about Japan is the chōnaikai. The chōnaikai is Japan’s version of what may be known as “neighborhood association” in other countries. Foreign professionals who live in countryside homes or own their residential property may get an invitation to join their Japanese neighborhood association. This is usually a good opportunity to make friends within the local community –although it comes with tasking responsibilities.
You may be on the roster for refuse collection and environmental cleaning besides natural disaster drills and other neighborhood events. You may also be required to pay a member’s fee or join the chōnaikai to enjoy certain privileges –like disposing of your trash. That’s right! Chōnaikai duty is a requirement in some neighborhoods.
- Unexpected Visits from the Police
You may be watching TV in your living room when you hear your door ring and a couple of police officers announcing themselves at your doorstep. Don’t panic! They’re most likely there to inform you of an accident or crime-related incident in your neighborhood. It could also be a routine check.
If the cops have received a report of a suspicious person or persons in the area, they may also come around to inform the residents.
Compared to many other countries, Japan has a low crime rate, which may be why you’ll see many of them reporting to handle an incident since there are more cops to handle the few crimes.
- An Enabling Environment for Sleeping at Work
While you may be used to jumping up in fright when your manager catches you sleeping, things aren’t so tense at Japanese workplaces. This is the last of our weird facts about Japan. Inemuri, which refers to the routine of napping at work, is a phenomenon that could even be rewarded as it shows a sign of hard work and dedication.
It can be practiced at your office desk, during meetings, or on the train. Sounds fascinating, yes?
If you’re ever feeling sleepy at your new job as an expat in Japan, take advantage of the culture of Inemuri, but try not to bother your coworkers by snoring too loudly!
In Summary
Which one of these experiences surprised you the most? Foreign students or professionals who have been living in Japan for some time may already be familiar with some of them.
If you’re new to life in Japan, you have nothing to worry about. Especially now that we’ve told you some surprising things about Japan to look out for.
Just prepare your mind, plan ahead, and make friends to keep you company. If you need a reliable data-enabled SIM or Wi-Fi, remember to check out our affordable plans here.
