What is it like to live in Japan?

According to relevant statistics, there are currently 700,000 Chinese living in Japan, with over 100,000 of them holding Japanese citizenship.

Japan is a country with a very clear hierarchy. While this may be less pronounced in places with a large number of foreigners, Japanese communities often have their own unspoken rules regarding hierarchy, seniority, and seniority, as well as gender.

Japan is clean; its infrastructure is highly developed; as long as you have a good job, you don't face much financial pressure; the people are polite and well-organized; citizens enjoy freedom of speech and are respected by the government; and welfare is good...

Recently, a Chinese person who has lived in Japan for many years summarized the differences between life in Japan and China.

1. Leaving Doors Open at Night

This is an exaggeration. I'm not saying that every household leaves their doors unlocked at night. Rather, it's acceptable in Japan. Not to mention that international student dormitories allow for unlocking doors, many two-story houses with small courtyards sometimes forget to lock their doors, especially back doors.

I remember going to a Japanese friend's house for dinner. He'd call and say, "I'm cooking in the kitchen on the second floor. Please come up." Then, a group of us would push the door open and rush in. Curious, we asked him if he hadn't locked it. He calmly replied, "Yeah, that's pretty normal."

We were shocked at the time.

2. Don't Pick Up Lost Things on the Road

When I was studying in Japan, I often compared shoppers. For example, if Supermarket A had cheaper eggs, while Supermarket B had a special on fruit, I'd have to cycle back and forth between several supermarkets. At first, I'd lock my bike somewhere, just like I did in China, and carry the items I bought from Supermarket A with me.

But then I discovered that in Japan, you don't need to lock your bike. You can just put your bag and other belongings in the bike basket and leave it outside. (It's better to carry valuables with you.) This was always the way I lived in Japan. I never lost anything, not even my bike. My shopping efficiency was greatly improved.

3. If someone falls, many people will help them, and emergency services will arrive quickly.

Once, I saw a woman faint on the train. A passenger immediately pressed the emergency call button, alerting the staff that a passenger had fainted. The surrounding passengers then collectively vacated an entire row of seats, and the men worked together to lift the unconscious woman onto a seat, where she lay down. When the train arrived at the next station, the doors opened, and several uniformed staff members, carrying a stretcher, immediately took the woman away.

The train's journey was seamless, and emergency services arrived quickly. The bystanders were also incredibly positive. Looking back at various incidents of elderly-help scams in China, I feel that Japanese society is overflowing with positive energy.

4. Self-service is plentiful

Japan, as if it weren't for the fear of passersby vandalizing self-service devices, is rife with vending machines. Actually, it's not just beverages; supermarkets, hospitals, gas stations, and more all offer self-service payment options. It's incredibly inconvenient if you don't understand Japanese.

That's not all. I want to tell you that Kyoto University's various certificates of enrollment, credits, and graduation certificates are all printed using vending machines! What's more, the printed documents are automatically stamped. What kind of technology is this? No need to queue at the education office.

5. Powerful Public Restroom Facilities

Compared to the filthy and messy public restrooms in China, Japanese public restrooms are incredibly well-equipped. First, there's always toilet paper. Second, they all have the popular toilet seats in China, with a host of features. They can clean your butt, the sound of running water can mask the sound of women peeing, and they automatically heat the seat to keep you warm in the winter. This is a public restroom!

In addition, public restrooms in Japan are also known as "makeup rooms" (けしょうしつ), which, as the name suggests, are where women put on makeup.

When I went to Tokyo Disneyland with a group of middle school students, there was a long line outside the public restroom. We all took the night bus to touch up our makeup, and we socialized with each other, saying, "Oh, your blush looks so good!" "No, your mascara looks so natural!" Therefore, Japanese public restrooms must be kept extremely clean to ensure a comfortable makeup application!

6. Not rushing for food is basic etiquette when dining at a restaurant.

In China, you're bound to say, "Waiter, the food hasn't arrived yet." However, in Japan, after placing your order, you must trust the waiter and the kitchen staff to do their best to serve all guests, so don't rush. Rushing for food is impolite, and if communication is difficult and you're a pushy customer, you'll likely be blacklisted.

7. Go to a clinic before going to a hospital in Japan. Foreigners can also receive health insurance.

For minor illnesses in Japan, you can generally go to a community clinic. There are many private hospitals and clinics in Japan. If a clinic can't treat an illness, they'll refer you to a larger hospital.

As a result, Japan's larger hospitals are relatively infrequent compared to China, so clinics truly serve as a diversion.

Japan's health insurance system treats foreigners equally. International students not only have health insurance, but the government also offers special exemptions.

8. You have to take off your shoes in many public places.

Before you go to Japan, you must know that you have to take off your shoes in many places. One reason is to keep quiet, and the other is for comfort and cleanliness. Remember these places so you don't make the same mistake the next time you visit:

Take off your shoes in fitting rooms. At hospitals. At schools. At the entrance of hot spring hotels. At temples and shrines. At restaurants.

So, avoid wearing socks with holes.

9. Don't talk loudly on the phone or chat loudly on the subway or bus.

I was warned twice in Japan: once when I met a Chinese schoolmate on a night bus. In my excitement, I forgot to speak, and the driver warned me. Another time, I was talking on the subway. I forgot to speak, and a passenger reminded me. I'll never do that again.

10. There are many small shops, so bring plenty of cash; otherwise, they won't accept credit cards.

Unlike major Chinese cities, while Japan has many shopping malls, there are also many shopping streets, and subway shopping areas are populated by small, individually owned shops and restaurants. Many of these don't accept credit cards, so if you're traveling and living in Japan, it's best to exchange cash in advance.

11. Greetings always have a response.

It's said that Asians are more introverted than Europeans and Americans, who will say hello whenever they make eye contact. Nana believes the Japanese are much the same. They'll greet each other loudly and make eye contact. They'll always respond with "Hello" to "Honnichiwa." If you're leaving get off work, they'll also loudly say "Oxianni Shilishimasu." Everyone else will respond with "Obi Resan."

And if you've finished your meal and the waiter says "Ari Gatō Gozaimasu," you'll always respond with "Gochi Zou Sō" (Thank you for the meal).

12. Cars are polite if the traffic light is red or on a side street. Otherwise, they won't look at you.

If you're on a side street and a car approaches, the driver will politely make a "please" gesture and wait for you to pass before moving on. Don't be too quick to praise the driver's politeness, but if you're jaywalking or running a red light, the situation is different. On a normal road, cars don't even look at you and drive at breakneck speed. So, absolutely obey traffic rules!

Japanese society as a whole is a remarkably stable system, operating in an orderly fashion. Like any mature system, its defining characteristics are stability, order, and immense inertia.