What I learnt in Japan while traveling with family of 7 and a baby stroller
What I learned:
- Baby stroller is called "baby car" in Japan.
- Meiji Shrine is difficult for elderly and baby strollers because of the long walk through the park and pebbles on the path.
- Elevators in train stations are very small.
- Gap between the train and platform can be very big.
What my family learned:
- Toilets are always conveniently located inside the train station after entering the ticketing gates.
- Toilets are very clean and have bidets and water sounds to play with.
- No soap in many train station toilets.
- You can buy food inside train stations.
- People do not give up seats to elderly and toddlers in trains.
- Most train stations are not wheelchair friendly.
- Free newspapers everywhere.
- Beautiful wrapping.
- Many people were using plastic umbrellas and left them outside the shop. Nobody steals them.
- Safe to leave your bag and go away to order food.
- Need to take off shoes at some restaurants so the place is cleaner.
- Many eateries use disposable wooden chopsticks (not eco-friendly).
- There are vending machines everywhere, no fear of going thirsty.
- No chilli sauce.
- Less oil in many foods.
- No trash-bins on the streets. (So that's why we have pockets in our bags right?...hehe....)
The last one is very true, we bring the trash the whole daytrip finally found 1 inside train station
ReplyDeleteYeah we usually throw them in the toilet. But sometimes there's not even a bin in there except inside the cubicles for....women's pads...
DeleteIt has always been a mistery in Japanese culture where they rispect the elderly in nearly everything but when it comes to give up seats or help them, that is just forgotten. I rememeber I saw a lady, I would say 70-ish trying to get to the top of the stais in a station with a grocery cart, everyone would just pass by and ignore her so I felt bad and went out of my way to help her. After I intruduce myself and told her I would help her she just turn red and said "its ok...shigau" or something like that, many times over. I insisted and help her anyways and she then gave me like 10000 vows. I would question if she was indeed grateful or just deeply ashamed...anyway I just think is rude that people won't stand and give their sits to the elderly.
ReplyDeleteI think the elderly are embarresed and do not want to trouble other people, so they would rather work on it slowly than accept help.
DeleteBut yes from what I notice, people from the west and even some Chinese cities are willing to give up seats to the needy or help a damsel in need (like helping me lift my huge luggage from the baggage belt)
Huh, I did never have a trash problem. Usually I keep plastic bags from conbini in my pocket, and I was asking koban to recycle it when it get about full. Just find nearest koban and ask him in bad engrish what to do with trash. He will take it from You in 90% cases, and he will show You nearest trashbasket in 10% cases. :lol:
ReplyDeleteewww...
Such nice police! I will be shy~ ...and moreover... I look like and sound like Japanese now...
DeleteHe-he, I found that police in Japan ( in Tokyo ) is very helpfull, and I used them many times by different reasons, and thet did not deny any request.
DeleteEva, shyness makes You look so kawaii !!!
ewww ...
Lol, good and bad. Some say I act too childish, some say I am act too classy :/
DeleteHe-he, there is nothing wrong in being childish or in being classy :P
Deleteewww ...
Hehe thanks :P
DeleteOne of the reason why there are limited rubbish bins in Tokyo is to protect against terrorist attac. In 1995, a religious cult spread toxic gas in subway trains and 13 persons were killed.
ReplyDeleteSince then, rubbish bins in train stations are sometime not available especially VIP guests (e.g. US president) come to Tokyo, because the terrorist could throw toxic (nuclear or biochemical reactive material) substance in the rubbish bins.