Spread the love

Japan may not be one of the largest countries on the globe, but it’s certainly one of the most influential. Home to one of the world’s favorite cuisines, a rich and unique culture, stunning nature and fascinating architecture, this island nation truly has it all.

If you watch anime, enjoy karaoke, love eating sushi or drive a Toyota, Japanese culture has had an impact on you. But if you haven’t been able to visit this amazing country yet, you might be wondering what it’s really like there. And in that case, we’ve got you covered! Bored Panda has searched far and wide to find photos that perfectly encapsulate just how special Japan is. Keep reading to find a conversation with Tanja Warwick, aka Ryokou Girl, and be sure to upvote the pics that couldn’t have been taken anywhere else in the world!

#1 Elevator In Japan Has An Emergency Toilet

Image credits: jimb0z_

#2 This Pizza Box In Japan That Has A Handle In The Middle To Keep The Pizza Flat

Image credits: SaekoZ2

#3 This Quiet Room At Narita Airport For People With Autism

Image credits: PurpleWallaby999

Traveling to Japan is a dream of many people around the globe. In fact, the country attracted a whopping 36.87 million foreign tourists in 2024. Being able to witness the stunning nature in real life, devour the best sushi in the world and visit huge cities that function extremely well sounds magical. But if you haven’t been able to make it to Japan yet, you can live vicariously through the people who shared the photos on this list.

We also wanted to learn more about what living Japan is really like, so we got in touch with Tanja Warwick, aka Ryokou Girl. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain what makes this island country so special.

#4 Meanwhile In Japan

Image credits: NojayGames

#5 These Single Matsutake Mushrooms Cost $100 A Piece In Japan

Image credits: namajapan

#6 Japan’s Most Kawaii Train? It’s Wakayama’s Tamaden! If You Ride The Train To End Of The Line You Can See The Cat Station Master At Kishi Station

Image credits: mmats01

“Japan has a unique history, having been closed off from the rest of the world for more than 200 years during the Edo period,” Tanja noted. “It has led to a unique culture that you won’t find anywhere else.”

“Some things that make it special are the attention to detail and care that goes into everything, the close relationship with nature and appreciation for the changing seasons, and diverse landscapes,” she continued.

#7 This “Supplement Buffet” At A Hotel In Japan

Image credits: koreandude555

#8 A Court Mop That Advertises Cup Noodles

Image credits: jav_city

#9 Sewer Cover In Osaka, Japan

Image credits: SpaceMasala

“Some things that surprised me when living and working in Japan are that, despite the reputation of ultra modern cities like Tokyo, it’s still very much a traditional place. And technology from the 80s and 90s is still commonly used,” Tanja revealed. “For example, fax machines are still used in offices, and you can still go to music stores like Tower Records and Tsutaya to buy CDs.”

#10 There Was An Old Man Walking A Turtle In Tsukishima!!

Image credits: hi_roshishi

#11 If You Look Closely At The Bench In Front Of The Prefectural Office, You’ll See A Dinosaur

Image credits: CODfukui

#12 Probably The Most Beautiful Hotel I Have Ever Been To. Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen Okawaso, Fukushima

Image credits: DaeronOP

We also asked Tanja what some of her personal favorite things about Japan are. “I love that no matter what time of year you visit Japan, there are always festivals and events tied closely to the seasons to enjoy, from cherry blossoms to summer fireworks, autumn leaves and winter illuminations,” she told Bored Panda. “Also the food is always a highlight. It’s rare to have a bad meal, and eating out is so affordable.”

#13 Cats Sleeping Under The Hachiko Statue At Shibuya Station

Image credits: AgentWilson413

#14 Pikachu On My Beer. Tokyo, Japan

Image credits: Berk_canc_

#15 Seen In A Japanese Train

Image credits: enaharkness

What should all travelers know before visiting Japan? “To plan ahead and prebook where possible before visiting popular areas and attractions, especially during peak travel times such as cherry blossom season,” Tanja noted. “Public transport is amazing, and you can get around to most places easily by train/buses.”

#16 Ever Been Walking Down The Street Needing A Bottle Of Soup Stock With A Fish Inside? Fear Not. Osu, Nagoya

Image credits: duckbutcher

#17 [oc] Japanese Moving Company Whose Service I Refused For Being Over My Budget As A Student Has Sent Me 1kg Of Iwate Rice As An Apology For Failing To Provide Me With Service In My Price Range

Image credits: namirgarib

#18 Hungry Deer Stole My Map In Miyajima

Image credits: piggysnothere

Finally, Tanja recommends that travelers don’t just stick to Japan’s “Golden Route,” aka the places that the vast majority of tourists visit, such as Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka. “Think about what you want to experience instead of where you want to go, and you are likely to find much less crowded and more affordable options in other cities,” the expert shared.

#19 This Is One Photo Of A Camping Store In Tokyo

Image credits: theroors223

#20 Clear Coca-Cola Bought In Osaka, Japan

Image credits: LadyEmry

#21 There Are Open-Air Escalators Super High Up In Tokyo

Image credits: mtlgrems

If you’re curious about what else can only be found in Japan, The Travel has an article detailing some items that you’re not likely to find anywhere else. First up on the list is unique Kit Kat flavors. Anything from baked potato to hot chili has been turned into a Kit Kat, so be sure to check out the wide selection when visiting.

The country is also home to some incredibly unique game shows, including Candy or Not Candy, where contestants bite into items to determine whether they are in fact candy or not, and Old Enough!, where children as young as two are sent to run errands by themselves.

#22 Japanese Gum Bottles Come With A Small Pad Of Sticky Notes Inside To Discard Chewed Pieces

Image credits: TheHydrogenator3000

#23 Sometimes Japan Doesn’t Seem Real

Image credits: sjbfujcfjm

#24 Tokyo Tower At Night

Image credits: wmina

If you’re going to be renting a car in Japan, it’s important to know that the traffic lights don’t turn green when it’s time to go – they turn blue! This is apparently because the Japanese language didn’t always have a word for green, so they decided to make traffic lights blue, yellow and red.

#25 I Was Given Scissors To Cut My Soba With In Osaka

Image credits: ThePetiteBaker

#26 A Gigantic Godzilla Appears At A Dam In Saga Prefecture!

Image credits: karcher_japan

#27 An Interesting Choice Of Lamps

Image credits: travelswithsasha

Japan is also one of the only places in the world where you can find extremely expensive fruits and vegetables, such as the $100 mushrooms shared on this list and grapes that cost up to $500. Part of the reasoning behind this is because farmers want their products to look perfect in stores, so many items don’t make the cut. And those that do, come at a high price.

#28 Look At My Cool Hot Chocolate

Image credits: ThatBaguetteBoy

#29 In Japan, The Fuel Comes From Above

Image credits: frozensand

Are you enjoying this list all about Japan, pandas? Keep upvoting all of your favorite pics, and let us know in the comments if you’ve ever visited this fascinating island nation. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article discussing what makes Japan so special, look no further than right here!

#30 Mildly Air-Conditioned Train In Japan

Image credits: adiwet

#31 Japanese Police Cars Can Raise Their Blinking Lights To Be More Visible

Image credits: sand500

#32 Daruma Doll Temple

Image credits: yhknight79

#33 What’s Going On? I Went To The Louis Vuitton Building On Ginza Namiki-Dori Street To Take A Closer Look. What’s Going On?

Image credits: 1101_nagata

#34 These Sausages From Costco Japan Come With Bones

Image credits: Archawn

#35 This Tiny Vehicle I Spotted In Osaka

Image credits: lockdownmnl

#36 Pokémon Park – Namie, Fukushima

Image credits: bigbowlofjelly

#37 Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan

Image credits: SobelOperator

#38 Parking Barrier Or Art Instillation? Both

Image credits: candid_tokyo

#39 Many Japanese Inns Or Ryokans Have Private Room Onsens. This Is A Good Way To Dip Your Toes In So To Speak In The Privacy Of Your Own Room

Image credits: belindafergusontravel

#40 An Abandoned Shrine In Japan That I’m Trying To Fix

Image credits: Kenouk

#41 Found A 4 Liter Plastic Bottle Of Whiskey In Japan

Image credits: SteveCastGames

#42 Cup Noodle Museum. Ikeda, Osaka

Image credits: ejj3nn

#43 A Spicy Vape Sold In Japan To Prevent Overeating

Image credits: StarbuckIsland

#44 This Is What You See When You Go To Ueno Zoo In Japan

Image credits: noty1126

#45 Ice Cream Covered In Gold Leaf From Kanazawa, Japan

Image credits: sofyflo

#46 Apparently It’s The First Aquarium Toilet In Japan Fun Toilet Time

Image credits: yuri.kiwi

#47 Mannequins In Japan

Image credits: arbili

#48 Crazy Abandoned Love Hotel In Japan

Image credits: places_forgotten

#49 Went To A Sumo Wrestling Tournament In Tokyo

Image credits: stoved686

#50 Knife Shopping In Kappabashi Today

Image credits: sixpigeons

#51 Robot Warning About A Road Work Ahead

Image credits: arctickick

#52 This Is A Different Kind Of Komainu

Image credits: tracy_houkishitoya

#53 Kawai Bus

Image credits: aina_casandersen

#54 In Japan They Have Gourmet Kit Kat Shops

Image credits: RegionFree

#55 Foam Beer In Japan. Paid 400 Yen (Us$ 2.60)

Image credits: BocaTaberu

#56 At This English Pub In Japan You Can Order “Only Foam” Beer. They Call It A (Beer) Latte

Image credits: Higgz221

#57 Osaka Metro (Japan) Is Selling Recycled Metro Doors Repurposed As Tables!

Image credits: scamNscoot

#58 Toyota Miraidon Motorcycle

Image credits: LordDremy

#59 Cabbage Being Used As Decorative Flowers In Japanese Public Spaces

Image credits: getott

#60 This Guy In His Cooling Fan Jacket In 36° Tokyo Heat

Image credits: uzi1102

#61 Digital Art Museum In Tokyo, A Must See For Japan!

Image credits: liam92

#62 Nachi Falls, Japan

Image credits: brendanbrown89

#63 Nagano, Japan

Image credits: ag.lr.88

#64 Trucks In Japan Open “Up” So You Can Unload Them With A Forklift Anywhere

Image credits: Dlph_311

#65 This Is One Way To Make Sure Your Clients Never Run Out Of Toilet Paper (Ichiran Ramen, Kyoto, Japan)

Image credits: birdygolfer

#66 Robot Tourist Information In Tokyo

Image credits: Tristanlp

#67 I Caught An Owl Mid-Yawn At The Owl Café In Tokyo

Image credits: kcoolin

#68 POV: You’re In A Smoky Underground Yakitori Bar In Tokyo

Image credits: 2o2yj4m3s

#69 Raised Bumps In A Pattern On A Section Of A Sea Wall (Endoshima, Japan) These Are About 10m Long, Repeated Twice And Have Some Railings To Separate From The Main Walk Area. No Markings, Posters Or Anything Nearby

Image credits: PermissionBest2379

#70 Bowling Balls In Japan Look Like Basketballs

Image credits: BarryxBarry

#71 A Vending Machine For Salad Dressing In Japan

Image credits: Expedite1

#72 Japan Has Red Bean Kit-Kats

Image credits: reddit.com

#73 Futaba Sushi, Ginza. First Opened In 1877. The Current Building Dates From The 1950s. Note The Sushi ‘Yatai’ Cart Built Into The Ground Floor, Right In The Center. Sorry, No Photography Allowed Inside The Restaurant

Image credits: japanpropertycentral

#74 Work Pods In Tokyo Station To Get Those Extra Hours In

Image credits: pubgscrubby

#75 At My First Baseball Game Inside Tokyo Dome

Image credits: bondibeachboy

#76 Big And Small Cans Of Beer In Osaka

Image credits: HeavyConversation161

#77 Miyama, Kyoto Prefecture

Image credits: biwook

#78 Crossroad Things

Image credits: goatofnamur

#79 Great Pricing. Would You Like One?

Image credits: tokyotourguide

#80 Cute Food And An Even Cuter Chef

Image credits: tokyotourguide

#81 Face House In Kyoto With A Super Cute Shop And Gallery Inside And Even Cuter Girl Running It

Image credits: ametchayka

#82 Kitty Temple

Image credits: huyfinity_

#83 Tell Me You’re In Japan Without Saying, “I’m In Japan”

Image credits: krihea

#84 Cool Stuff

Image credits: v_schermack

#85 We Were So Lucky To Spot This While We Were Out And About In The Omotesando Area In Tokyo

Image credits: inseparable.couple

#86 I Think This Building Needs To Call Pest Control?

Image credits: maddymadrid

#87 My Urinal Had A Wonderful View On The Ferry Heading To Shōdoshima Island, Japan

Image credits: MSotallyTober

#88 Mcdelivery In Shinyokohama

Image credits: Tokyodisneysnap

#89 Traffic Cones In Japan

Image credits: sienna23

#90 The Love Hotel I Visited In Japan Had A Water Slide

Image credits: Bemused_potato486

#91 Brought A Film Camera To Tokyo

Image credits: nicholasdavidsmith

#92 This Urinal In Japan Is Integrated With A Video Game That Gives You Points For Peeing On The Target

Image credits: BryantheBrown

#93 Japanese Grocery Store. Healthy Packaged Meals For As Low As $2.30 USD

Image credits: sysifuscorp

#94 Mall Restroom In Tokyo Has A Holder To Put Your Baby In While You Use The Stall

Image credits: rr90013

#95 Nishiki Market, Kyoto, Japan

Image credits: Lobology

#96 Bathroom Symbols At Kyoto Station

Image credits: waidanwojnar

#97 My Friend Jay Is Clearly Having Fun In Japan

Image credits: jengajengagoose

#98 Rainbow Cheesecake At A-Works In Tokyo. It Was One Of The Most Beautiful Things I’ve Ever Eaten

Image credits: jewelkawataki

#99 This Vending Machine In Japan Sells Fish Broth

Image credits: manlyflower

#100 Video-Call Booth In Tokyo Metro

Image credits: excelar412

#101 I Gave Birth To My Son Last Month, And Here Are Some Of The Meals I Had In The Hospital

Image credits: japanese_work

#102 This Cafe In Tokyo Gave Me An Hourglass To Keep Track Of When The Tea Is Ready

Image credits: DabIMON

#103 Cafe Built Around A Sacred Tree In Osaka

Image credits: hasamide

#104 Odaiba Gundam Unicorn In Spring

Image credits: YarnBells3477

#105 “Tulip”. It Was A Nice Feeling This Year Too✨

Image credits: no_rain_no_rainbow3104

#106 Geisha Throwing Beans On Setsubun

Setsubun is a Japanese holiday on February 3rd that celebrates the end of winter and the start of spring. People throw roasted soybeans while saying “Demons out, good luck in!” to chase away bad luck and bring in good fortune. They also eat a special sushi roll called Ehomaki while facing a lucky direction.

Image credits: Sea-Leadership1747

#107 Yasaka Shrine, Osaka

Image credits: jayksofue

#108 Street Food At Fushimi Inari Taisha, Japan

I went to an attraction in Kyoto on a Sunday morning, and there were so many people. At the end of the trip, we walked past some of the food vendors. I would not recommend this place if you’re looking for a quiet spot to rest and find peace—there were just so many people.