13 Things That Surprised Us Living In JAPAN

Even after living here for a few years, these things still surprise me today!
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - 1:01 Number 1
1:02 - 1:59 Number 2
2:00 - 3:31 Number 3
3:32 - 5:07 Number 4
5:08 - 6:19 Number 5
6:20 - 7:58 Number 6
7:59 - 9:28 Number 7
9:29 - 10:42 Number 8
10:43 - 11:58 Number 9
11:59 - 15:53 Number 10
15:54 - 16:43 Number 11
16:44 - 18:13 Number 12
18:14 - 21:21 Number 13

[@seerasan]

I think they need to start making some more vending machines to catch up with the population numbers 😉 What kind of things have surprised you guys about Japan?

[@jamesv6241]

Unfortunately, the population numbers might catch up to the vending machine numbers faster than the other way around 😢

[@tak178]

The portion sizes were a wake up call. America has ridiculous portions. Hash browns would be a whole russet potato. In Japan, you might half of a Yukon Gold. 😂😂😂

[@liviacret9601]

I was amazed by the gas truck's eerie sound 😂 💜 Can't believe almost everything in Japan has its own themed song! Here in France the trash truck's only sound is the breaking noise of the bottles they pick up. Lol

[@Ryukishi442]

About 5,520,000 vending machines according to the Googles

[@grey5626]

I guess until the population/vending machine ratio changes to your preference, you can read or watch 自動販売機に生まれ変わった俺は迷宮を彷徨う to get your vending machine fix? o.O

[@giochacon8354]

I'm a voice teacher, brought me so much joy knowing you girls go karaoke solo, sing your hearts out 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@Norfirio]

Auld Lang Syne means "old long since" literally but better translated as "times gone by". It's played at New Year's to remind you to remember the year that's passed as the New Year comes :)

[@JapanLovers]

#3 - Actually... Bluey is made IRL in Brisbane and that's also where the family live in the anime/cartoon. You can do a Bluey pilgrimage in Brisbane as the locations of more than a few episode are IRL locations

[@oddspongeout]

Right my immediate thought was "but Bluey!!!!"

[@dodiatkins4515]

❤😊My favorite duo. Emma + Sarah = great fun 😊❤

[@dodiatkins4515]

Never a dull moment with Emma and Sarah. Sending Love To The Both Of You. ❤😊

[@deniseleighann2]

The lace curtain is a thing in the UK too. Especially with the older generation. We call them 'net curtains' I rent a house here and it came with them. Means you can have the main curtains open and you can look out but others can't see into your house!

[@liquidsonly]

I don't open any of my curtains. Most passer's by think the house is abandoned. Exactly how I intend.

[@amandahayward]

You pair make me laugh so much 😂. Your videos make my day. Emma, you would definitely need your noise cancelling headphones 🎧 on New Year's Eve in England and Scotland because we drunkenly sing Auld Lang Syne on the stroke of midnight 🎉. I've sung it for years but still don't know all the words 😂

[@christopherirvine5436]

"Tinny and a chill". Peak Oz.

[@seerasan]

Actually picked up saying tinny from my British friend 😂

[@user-ct8tv5lg4e]

Emma and Sarah are such awesome hosts. Their chill vibes always instantly brighten the day. 👏👏👏

[@liquidsonly]

Auld Lang Syne is Scottish. Should be played with bagpipes at midnight on new year's eve.

[@Aldol1994]

I'm Scottish and just remember Auld Lang Syne being the first song I hear every year after the bells on Hogmanay TV shows where everyone is linking arms, arms across there own body, sining it.

[@lejaders]

I'm an expat in China and went to Japan to visit this past January and found it hilarious that you find Japan so loud because compared to China I found it so quiet, and the noises were quite cute 🤣 In China people yell everything!

[@Brooke-dy7gx]

I clicked on this first just because I saw you both! I genuinely LOVE the energy you two have together in content. It's fun, funky and enjoyable. Thank you for this video! I found myself nodding a lot in agreement hahahaha

[@seerasan]

Thank you so much!

[@Ragnarok043]

FYI the reason train transit services dont run late at night is because thats when they do track inspection and maintenance as to not interfere with peak traffic

[@moonfisherman]

Aggretsuko karaoke is definitely a vibe! I agree with the anime aesthetic. I was surprised to see anime used in advertising. I was not prepared for the trash sorting when I got here, but I’ve gotten used to it. Same with no trash bins anywhere! I got used to that too. And a random thought, but I feel like the napkins they give you in restaurants are the worst.

[@kirk3intokyo]

Niijima-mura has some nice beaches, its technically Tokyo and the showers are free, they also have free bbq spaces too, you have to book it but it is free.

[@TheNin-Jedi]

Loving Sarah's laugh every single time. So cuteeee. But I totally agree with getting a headache when around cig smells and smoke. Especially when I'm sick. When I'm sick the smell just feels like death to my entire being. I don't understand how other people can be sick and still want to smoke.

[@andreeapopa7317]

thank you, girls! :)

[@CheesecakezYum]

Funny list! But yeah, love that I can eat by myself alone. Love it

[@kitespongan]

I used to watch movies in the theaters solo when I was younger, it’s nice. ❤

[@alessiman]

Thats why i love shopping in Hard Off. the background music is so subtle you would hardly know its even playing 🤣

[@jlee1522]

I smile that you two are great friends. Must be so valuable to have someone who is in a similar situation as you as a very unique foreigner making a living doing .... this.

[@Highwind2013]

I think what surprises me that you can rent a fridge to store your grocery's and continue your shopping when you are out and about and also those umbrella drying stands where you can dry your umbrella before entering a store so you don't leave a trail of rain water behind you

[@sarahgilford7427]

15:40 here in the UK we sing auld lang syne after the new years fireworks on new years day

[@colinmathie2710]

How dare you slag of Auld Lang Syne 😂we sing that at midnight every Hogmanay in Scotland to bring in the new year, im sure its sung in other countries to.

[@w-z198]

The vending machine made me laugh, kept rewatching it lol 😅

[@silverian]

Auld Lang Syne is piece of music, which I heard when I was travelling in Scotland and when hearing this song it always brings back memories of Scotland. Very nice points of surprises!

[@ms.birdnerd]

It's so funny that the Yakiimo song sounds haunted to you 😂 To me as a Japanese that reminds me of a good old day, asking your mum or dad to get some hot delish sweet potatos in the cold winter time 😊

[@Baemigo]

The smoking thing, I don't smoke but my parents do. You can't buy cigarettes from a vending machine without a taspo which is only available for people residing in Japan. Alternatively, you can just go to 7/11 or others to get some darts. Also, the smoking rooms are intense, I vape so I have to be in there too and the lack of oxygen is INSANE. Comparing JB-Hifi to Bic Camera, Bic is intense like you need sunnies to go in there. Also, the surprising thing cabs are CHEAP compared to Australia. I was quoted $50AUD to go from South Yarra to Melbourne CBD whereas Uber was just under $20 but Akasaka to Shinjuku at like 4am like 1500 yen.

[@brianbuchmeier]

As soon as Emma started talking about noises in markets, “Bii-ku Bi-ku Bi-ku Bicamera” popped into my head

[@ooen]

Yay about time you brought Emma over!! ❤ you both! Being greek, i would feel the same disappointment about Tokyo beaches 😅

[@seerasan]

Unless it’s Okinawa (or one of the other few pretty beach areas like Izu), you’ll probably be disappointed in the beaches here 😂 the beaches in Greece are on my euro bucket list 😍

[@kat.scheer]

Ya, I've started wearing my noise canceling headphones when I go out, even if I am not actually listening to music. Helps me to not get overwhelmed.

[@badgerinabluedress4866]

that was hilarious, but also terrifying... fear the gas man! 🤣

[@bakaichigo]

As someone who grew up in the 90's with a smoking parent prior to the laws shifting here in Canada, I can say it was a nostalgic vibe of the worst kind when I REdiscovered those "smoking sections" and indoor smoking on my trip in 2007... :'D It was probably the most shocking thing I encountered, out of a lot of very new experiences that one was quite unexpectedly old. I remember what it was like going to restaurants when it was still legal to smoke inside, and how we always had to sit there for mom. She doesn't smoke anymore, but it took her so long to get there... So glad she's remained free from the ciggies! :)

[@kvg1979]

The eyes!

[@maru3x]

It's really funny to hear your chat. Thank you! Closing song in the middle of chat is called "Hotaru no hikari", ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9B%8D%E3%81%AE%E5%85%89. It's really common song for graduate season in Japan and is well used as a closing song to send customers to home. 🙂

[@ericifune5543]

I love the yakimo cart.

[@janusu]

I lived in Japan in the early 2000's and they weren't as strict about smoking then with regard to designated smoking areas. A few restaurants had separate smoking areas, but a lot of places let you smoke at any table. Also, I don't remember designated outdoor smoking areas at all. Japanese smokers are generally polite about littering, though. Most of them carried a little portable pouch or mini ashtray to store their butts in until they find a trash can. I'm surprised a pack is still so cheap. I left in 2008 and they were about the same price then. I get nostalgic when I see some Japanese anime because many scenes do remind me of things or places I saw there in real life. And the sounds, too. Like cicadas in summer, or the noise of a shopping street or a train crossing and a train passing by, etc. I never went to the beach the whole seven years I was there, I guess because I'd heard they weren't that exciting. But I regret that, in hindsight. My favorite hot vending machine item was the corn potage (soup). A hot coffee or cocoa would often hit the spot, as well :) A random memory that came to me when you talked about the Auld Lang Syne music was that the Hankyu Umeda station in Osaka would play this lovely acoustic guitar music I think about 15-20 minutes before the last trains left. This was a major hub station, so I don't think the smaller stations did this. I used to go to the late movies because they were cheaper. I remember often running from the theater to the train with a few minutes to spare. I guess the late movies were timed so that you could catch the last train because I was always able to catch it. One important thing that happens after the last train of the night and the first morning train is track maintenance. I used to live near the tracks and would get woken up at like 2 or 3 am by loud track maintenance vehicles moving along fluffing up the rocks that the rails were on (that's what it looked like they were doing, at least) and I guess making sure the rails were straight and in good repair. After living at that location for a few months, I got used to it and slept through the maintenance vehicles (finally!!). But yeah, I think it's actually more about having time to maintain the rails than about forcing people to go home by a certain time. It could be a bit of both, though, I suppose. I've had the good fortune of catching the yaki imo (hot sweet potato) truck and also the ramen truck when I heard the music. They're hard to catch! But you're right, it was never ice cream :( Thank you ladies for sharing your experiences. I love you both so much and watch both your channels. I really appreciate getting my nostalgia fix with you.

[@GioFransesca]

I love how animated Emma is in this video 😂😂😂`

[@ChelseaH1]

you two are so cuteeee

[@cathydadd2198]

Fave fellow Aussies...love your adventures and advice.

[@areasevenpro]

The Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera jingles are actually very soothing. Maybe even therapeutic.

[@blackmennewstyle]

Dark sand generally is volcanic sand people, it's not really surprising since Japan is composed by multiple volcano islands...

[@deniseleighann2]

Great video!

[@dianaa8125]

i laughed so hard at the vending machine quip lol

[@JustAnotherJapanChannel]

Number 6 was a very welcome culture shock to me

[@kanzaki0001]

For the ambient noise, after a while your mind tunes it out. Though people visiting for the first time you just get bombarded with all the sights and sounds. But the effect is more muted if you’re coming from metropolitan area.

[@amuro1701]

Was just there with my brother and remarked to him how brightly lit some of the stores were. Bic Camera was incredibly bright. Definitely brighter than most stores in the US.

[@byghostlight1]

... Cant help but wonder if 'no salt and vinegar chips' is going to make the list...

[@seerasan]

Bonus one for number 14 🫣

[@seijisakumoto8043]

You guys are so informative, entertaining, and sincere. LOVE YOU TOTALLY!!

[@Watchamocalit]

This was so funny

[@JukeboxGothic]

I remember the "last train" when I was in a club near Shinjuku for the fist time. All these kids asleep under the tables. I asked my friend what was going on and he said, "they missed the train". I couldn't believe it. The lack of seats in parks struck me as well. Looking for a dose of nature I went to the big park near Harajuku and ended up walking aimlessly around until a pidgeon fell at my feet being eaten by crows. That was enough nature for the day.

[@grumpus5248]

Lol, I remember scrambling for the "last train" in NYC and was so glad I made it because I woulda been so screwed if I had missed it.

[@KeithSchwerin]

As a kid that grew up with smoking in the 80's in bowling alleys and bars and restaurants. If I go into a bowling alley or bar its really weird for me that they DONT smell like smoke now. I never smoked but I just got so used to that being part of the atmosphere of those places that I kind of miss it. I think its more nostalgia than anything.

[@LazerR0cketB0mb]

The "everyone is a vending machine" version of Tokyo is a thing if you dig the infinite worlds hypothesis. The vending machines gets treats out of humans that stand on the side of the road. And the "new years" song is Scottish.

[@jaybanerjee55]

Thanks Seerasan. I'm in Japan now and used your video's to plan my trip a bit, but mostly on how I should be snacking🙂. Like yourself, coming from a big city (NYC), I definitely see the differences here despite my amazing trip so far. I think the fact that you are being objective and showing both sides of the coin is huge for anyone who stumbled upon your channel. Not going to lie, the vending machines have been absolute gold for me thus far. Keep doing what you're doing here, solid information and a fun way to take in the great info.

[@GAINAX01]

The vending machine statistic cracked me up 🤣

[@user-rr2sn7wo5i]

Big Big Big Big Big camera 😂 ドンドンドンドーんき　ドン・キホーテ

[@FuzzleyFuzzington]

Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song and is sung at New Year yes. Funnily enough New York New York is also a F Off song at weddings, haha. So if you hear that it's time to go.

[@Rudgy]

I always forgot retail shops don’t open until 11am-12pm in Japan.. I’m so use to the 9am openings in Melbourne

[@TheCreepypro]

love hearing these gals and their opinions!

[@itsRebeccaRayne]

I just moved to Tokyo and compared to Europe I’m so relieved people can’t smoke on the streets! I find the smoking culture here SO much better, in London people will just walk around smoking and it’s so disgusting

[@seerasan]

Europe is on another level 😭

[@danwong2191]

That's got mire to do with respect.

[@madhatta6902]

You forgot about the Hard off jingle. And yes, I've done Tokyo to Sapporo. I love looking at how the scenery changes from Tokyo grey buildings to the greenery of Hokkaido.

[@area51l]

You two would suffer if you came to a beach in Connecticut! A lot of "beaches" are like 20 feet of rocks and shells until you hit the... questionable... water of Long Island Sound. There are some actual beaches (with sand!) but they're nothing compared to the beaches I saw when I lived in Florida. Then again, nobody's coming here for the beaches lmao. (If you do ever visit this corner of the US though, I recommend going to the New Haven area. Best pizza, full stop. Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern are the "big 3" but Zuppardi's over in West Haven is better imo and with way shorter wait times. It'd even be worth it to take the train up from NYC just to try out. //obligatory New Haven style apizza shoutout)

[@Dan-Athema]

They both learned about Auld Lang Syne at the same time 😂

[@kurofune.uragabay]

"Liquorland" would be pretty high on a hypothetical list of things I wouldn't expect to see on a j-vlog 😳😄 Not close-close, but there is a number of beautiful beaches on the Izu peninsula (apparently). Perfect if one has (/hires) a half-decent scooter or motorbike. Hadn't thought about it but you're right: I am super picky and abnormally sensitive to music I don't like (on the flipside, I get pretty high on music that I like), so _I can't_ imagine working long days on a workplace where they play the same (bad) jingle, at top volume, hour after hour 😡 (o.m.g.... _sunflower-sunflower_ 🎶... : I would jump overboard, 100%...)

[@RonireneArt]

I used to work in a grocery store and would hear the same announcements hours on end everyday….. the other day I went to one of the branches of that store and it was visceral hearing the same announcements again 😭 was at the perfect moment too because I was just thinking about maybe applying to work there again after school, and mid-thought the announcement came on and I was just like “…ah, nevermind”

[@ludwigrx]

Hi, Sarah! Love seeing your channel grow. ^_^

[@seerasan]

Thank you! :)

[@kingedwin]

I had a friend who delivered newspapers when he was in college, and he hated those gas trucks. He'd be freezing his butt off early in the morning, hearing children singing about being warm and cozy next to a fire.

[@nusu5331]

interesting that drinking and smoking is restricted in australia. everything you told about this topic in japan is the same as in germany including the vending machines for that. The get out song btw is "Auld Lang Syne" which is a scotish folk song...

[@mshara1]

Its nice to see both Sarah and Emily doing more videos on their channels.

[@keithdude30]

Its nuts that Auld Lang Syne is played as a f*ck off song in stores over there 😂. Im from the UK and associate it with New Years Eve, it always brings back proper old memories from my childhood and my grandparents singing it after it struck midnight. I always knew the song was Scottish in origin. I had to google it after watching your video and it was originally a poem by Robert Burns. "auld lang syne” is Scottish-Gaelic for “old long since,” or, more idiomatically, “days gone by” or “time long past". Anyways great video as always, please keep up the awesome content. Long viewer first time commenter from the UK.

[@XYoukaiX]

back in 2012 when I was in Japan for the first time the Station or at least my entrance always closed around 10pm already .... for me this was really weird like yeah in my small town in Germany they also did only run till about midnight but seeing stations in tokyo closing down at 10pm was really weird for me.

[@Dhjvdbkigxdbn]

That song you talked about is school’s graduation song, it’s called hotaru no hikari I think!

[@tw1zt3d]

Jumping on the Japan is anime. I remember first walking out of Kyoto station and looking up and seeing the observation tower and thinking man, how many times have I seen Godzilla destroy that thing?

[@ArtofTZU]

You gals are a riot! Love the energy! You should make more vids together! XD Keep up the awesome work.

[@KateOBrienCreative]

As far as ID checks on vending machines, I'm pretty sure you have to have a licence which is scanned or something. That's what my brother told me anyway and he's lived in Tokyo since 2014.

[@grumpus5248]

About the curtains, tbf it depends on the season because direct sunlight creates heat that taxes the air conditioner.

[@Fujitahomaxi]

Great video! Learn a lot from hearing your experiences. @seerasan do you guys do tours in Japan by any chance?

[@StabStabStabStabby]

Most Australian moment: the beach should be just down the road.

[@lauracoutinho5478]

What was most jarring for me was how much English there is! Signs, menus, announcements on the train, all done in both Japanese and English. The second most shocking thing for me was the opposite of you guys. You say it's loud and lots of noises. I am from the USA, I am used to crowded places being deafening with everyone all talking over one another and announcements blaring louder than even that. In Japan? Unless it's a weekend, everyone is quiet, all over the streets, even the trains themselves are much more quiet than the subways I grew up with in Boston and NYC.

[@bakaichigo]

Lol yes Auld Lang Syn is a song traditionally sung around new years to bring in the new and sing out the old. So, I guess, it does make some sense to use it to signal the closing of the shop for the night... lol

[@TimChuma]

Australia did use rum as currency at one point, there are some underlying issues with alcohol consumption that countries close to Australia have been dealing with recently.

[@arceus54321]

the lack of seating, the lack of public water refill stations and the lack of trash cans really caught surprised me when i visited for the first time last june. i knew about the trash cans beforehand but i didn't think there was actually going to be no trashcans lol.

[@MIZZKIE]

Leaving out trash in a gargantuan city like Tokyo is just asking for the city to be overrun by cockroaches and rats with absolutely no way to wipe them out. Shinjuku is having a huge rat infestation right now because people are starting to litter.

[@Xubuntu47]

Auld Lang Syne is traditionally played and sung at the stroke of midnight to bring in the new year in the U.S. and I don’t know where else. This doesn't mean you have to leave the party lol.

[@zhieson]

"Google' said they're 5.52 million vending machines in Japan in 2023. They're 125.8 million people in Japan, so 1 vending machine for every 23. That is still a lot!

[@MikeFromMTL]

I noticed the lights are so bright in some stores like Bic Camera that it bleaches the nintendo switch games , If you look at the case they go from red to pink depending how long they've been on the shelf

[@seerasan]

That’s insane 😨

[@TimChuma]

When are you going to wrestle Chris Abroad on the bullet train? Just get some of those wrestlers to surprise him one time.

[@papipupepo9321]

ONE MILLION PERCENT agree with the wondering why everyone keeps their curtains closed in Japan, so claustrophobic!! and every house has frosted glass windows 😤 OR NOW in modern houses teeeeny tiny slim windows that remind me of the window in the dungeon cell that Pazu gets put into in Laputa haha

[@lizzie7929]

♥️⛩️🇯🇵

[@Nynke_K]

Very relatable experiences! Except for the Australia-specific ones 😅. Free BBQ spots everywhere? And what's that stuff you don't need to bring yourself?

[@margaret.sc918]

Wild that you can drink in public but not walk and eat.

[@user-mt1hu3oe5t]

Is that so? I eat cup ramen while walking.

[@deaddrunkgamer7399]

there are some vending machines with ID check where you need to scan your card or something cant remember, they're usualy red. though as many things in japan is based on trust system, same as in 7/11 where you only need to tap the screen yes im above the age of 20 or what it is :P Also regarding vehicle with "music" i was walking down a neighborhood in Nakano, and i found it thinking i could buy an ice cream, no! it was a bakery truck like what xD Hate how early the trains stops, really wish they went every 1 indeed, thats why i usualy stay close to where i'm going out to drink so i dont need to worry about it when i travel to japan.

[@phileo_ss]

I agree that Japan is a very noisy place. Auld Lang Syne: the Japanese version is called _Hotaru_ _no_ _Hikari_ (glow of the firefly). The lyrics are totally different from the original Scottish song. It is sung as a concluding song at various ceremonies, probably most notably at school during graduation ceremonies. And of course it is sung as the concluding song of NHK's _Kohaku_ _Uta_ _Gassen_ every New Year's Eve. There is actually an English Wikipedia article about it.

[@amethegoblin]

think when people say it's not like anime are partially right. It'd be weird of everyone talked like they do in the shows, like super exaugurated. & H20 was great! We got a few good Ausey shows here in the UK. My favourite was Around the Twist!

[@RithSV]

Brisbane does have Bluey now though haha

[@marcotixxx]

i tried buying cigarettes off of a vending machine in nakasu. i didn’t know you need an ID. good thing the guy on the next vending machine swiped his ID (maybe a suica or something equivalent) for me 🤣

[@colinmathie2710]

Are you still not allowed to walk along the street with whatever you've bought, you have to find a space or if there's a park somewhere eat/drink it there?

[@ChrisP978]

You can drink while walking legally, it is just considered inappropriate. I think this is something that is the result of crowded Tokyo, you don't want to bump into someone and spill your drink on them.

[@jensebu78]

You are allowed. People just don't do it. If you sit on a bench, eat and drink there, it's not a problem. Just in a normal train or at walking, it's not common...😊

[@MaximSupernov]

In the Netherlands, many houses and apartments feature large, clear windows, allowing a view into people's homes. If curtains are drawn shut, it's often an indication that the residents might be immigrants. 😂

[@tuanphamnguyenminh7119]

Agree😂, me chilling riding bike in my place and feel like i'm in Doraemon

[@Bergkatse2]

I take the Tokido line every day and there are train delays all the time. While I just don’t expect trains to be late like the UK or USA, it’s not unusual for them to be delayed by 1-5 mins here.

[@danwong2191]

Bruh in the uk they just don't show up or there's a strike

[@ThreadBomb]

Are they actually "delays", i.e. running late, or is it just the train stopping at the station until its official departure time?

[@Bergkatse2]

@@ThreadBomb actual delays. Little red notifications on the board apologising for the tardiness etc.

[@Xubuntu47]

Another myth busted:I thought trains WERE perfectly on schedule in Japan. Thanks, Berkatse2. But I bet it's not filthy and all the escalators work. I was shocked to see them working on the escalator in the light rail station downtown last night. Maybe it's the influence of the nearby Uniqlo that opened recently...

[@IanJump]

Sarah, you're a genius! I would absolutely watch an anime where everyone in Japan is replaced with vending machines. Why isn't this a thing yet?!

[@FlorkyDork]

There is an anime where the protagonist is turned into a vending machine. It’s called Reborn as a vending machine, I now wander the dungeon.

[@IanJump]

@@FlorkyDork It's Japan so I can't be that surprised... But I am impressed. We only missed it by 7 years. 😄