Facts About Japan: Japan has been captivating travelers since it first opened up to international trade in 1853. While its many traditions and cultural landmarks persist, Japan is also one of the leading economic and technological centers of the world. Ancient gods and traditional sit side by side with cutting edge technologies and trendy pop culture, and there is always something new to experience on a visit.
From the fashion in Harajuku to perfect produce, to empty orchestras and meal-time etiquette, here are the top 13 facts about Japan you probably never knew. There are plenty of reasons you voted it one of the most beautiful countries in the world, as revealed in our gallery of gorgeous photos of Japan.
1. The oldest company in the world is in Japan
Facts About Japan, Kongo Gumi is the oldest operating business in the world, established in 578. It specializes in the construction of temples and shrines.
2. Japan has the 11th largest population in the world
An estimated 126 million people live in Japan. Since 2011, Japan’s population has been noticeably declining mostly due to low birth rates- some say it is due to expensive childcare and the difficulty of finding well-paying jobs.
3. The Japanese live (almost) the longest
Facts About Japan, Second only to Hong Kong, the life expectancy in Japan is 84, which is 3 years higher than in the United Kingdom.
4. In Japan there is 1 vending machine for every 24 people
With 5 million vending machines- Japan has the highest density in the world. Batteries, ramen, sake, umbrellas. flowers- you name it and the vending machines probably stock it. There’s a reason Japan features in our round-up of the world’s weirdest vending machines.
5. Nearly half the zippers worldwide are made in Japan
Facts About Japan, If you check your zipper, chances are, it will say YKK on it, which stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha. Founded in Tokyo in 1934, it is estimated that 7 billion zippers are produced by this manufacturer each year.
Zippers aside, Tokyo is an exhilarating destination — discover the top ten things to do in Tokyo, and where to stay in Tokyo.
6. Japanese melons can cost you over $200
Facts About Japan, Why are melons in Japan so expensive? These precious fruits play a large role in the country’s gift-giving culture- samurai would offer tangerines or melons to their shogun as a token of appreciation.
Nowadays, farmers meticulously tend to these fruits by hand, which adds to the allure. Crown melons are one of the most renowned varieties and can cost over $200 each.
7. Japan imports over 80% of Jamaica’s annual coffee production
Facts About Japan, The coffee known as Blue Mountain, grown in Jamaica’s namesake region, is highly sought after. Only grown on small family-run plantations at elevations of over 7000 feet, this gourmet brew boasts mild flavors and lacks the bitterness found in most coffees.
As fine as it is, if you haven’t visited Japan to sample Jamaican coffee, you could take part in a Japanese tea ceremony.
8. Japan once had the world’s largest fish market
Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world, famous for its tuna auctions. In 2018 a portion of it moved to a new site in Toyosu where it reopened as Toyosu Market.
9. Japanese cuisine has a meat dish made of horse
Facts About Japan, Basashi is a popular regional Japanese dish, consisting of raw horsemeat slices with ginger and onions. That’s tickled your taste buds, find out more about eating and drinking in Japan. You might also want to find out about other weird food from around the world.
10. In japanese culture it is polite to remove your shoes
Facts About Japan, Entranceways of Japanese houses called genkan signal where you should take off your shoes with the help of its raised floors. The lower area indicates where you should remove your shoes and the raised upper area, often in a different type of flooring, is considered indoor living space.
Find out more about culture and etiquette in Japan.
11. The first geisha in Japan were men
Referred to as taikomochi and sometimes known as houkan- male geishas were jesters of sorts. It wasn’t until 25 years after their glory days that women — then known as geiko — “arts child”, outnumbered the working taikomochi. Geiko then transformed into geisha “person of the arts” as we know it today. Peek into the world of geishas in Gion, the centuries-old entertainment district of Kyoto.
12. When eating in Japan, slurping your noodles is not rude
Facts About Japan, Quite the opposite- slurping loudly in Japan is considered evidence of enjoying your meal. It is also said to add flavour to the noodles. Slurp away on this Get Your Guide Ramen tour in Tokyo that takes you to where the original Tsukemen was invented.
13. Solo dining is common in Japan
Facts About Japan, Hailed as the solo dining capital of the world- Japan’s shrinking population combined with an increase of single-person households has meant requesting a table for one quite the norm. Prefer to share some scrumptious food with good company? Our trusted partner Get Your Guide offers a yummy street food tour through the back alleys of Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood.
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