Since I got some extra time, I thought I might as well update on le long overdue Japan Trip story. HAHAHA. Yeah it was a few years ago but I'm glad I've wrote something back then on Microsoft Word LOL. Or else I might have already forget what really happened. Tbh I just found this writing by accident (it was on a folder on my lappie) and it seems like it captures the essence of my experience. So yeah...Enjoy!
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There are a few things that I noticed upon going to Japan for the very first time in my life. I think mostly are positive and it’s an eye opener. Since I’ve only been there once and not long, I can’t say that this is a definite post. I’d say just take it as a view/perspective from someone who only been there for 8 days. So yeah, here are a few things that I noticed in Japan. (Ok basically it’s Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Himeji since I’ve only visited these places. Hehehe)
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| Took this picture simply because my friend and I passed by this place countless times |
1. Escalator Ettiquete : Different standing side for escalator (Tokyo vs. Osaka)
Unlike my own country where people usually just stand on whichever side they want, Japan is more similar to Singapore. Except for one thing: Standing side. Been to Singapore and witnessed first hand on how the people there tend to stand on a particular side to allow others to walk on the other side. Thus the view I saw in Tokyo doesn’t come as a surprise. But once my friend and I set foot in Osaka (Can’t remember if it’s Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station), all of the sudden we saw everyone standing on the right side of the escalator. For a moment we were confused if we remembered correctly. Yet our foot just followed automatically and mimic what everyone else do. Like they say: “When in Rome, do like the Romans do”.
As time passed by, it happened that my friend and I looked at each other (as we’re going down the escalator). Both noticed about the escalator thing but wasn’t sure if we want to talk about it or not. Perhaps cause deep down we both think that it’s too random. LOL! Nevertheless, we both ended up talking about it and concluded that we didn’t remember wrongly. That's how we confirmed that Osaka have different standing side compared to Tokyo: People in Tokyo stands on the left and people in Osaka stands on the right side of the escalator.
I am curious what makes different countries and cities have different standing side. I did read a few theories but I still can’t find a solid one to share. Hopefully someone with knowledge on this topic would pass by this blog and enlighten us all? But one thing for sure is that I like the idea of standing on only one side of the escalator. Especially in busy places where some people are rushing to get from one place to another. Though I have read something about how it’s recommended to stand on both side of the escalator and just use the staircases when rushing (As in for train stations in Japan, coz malls wouldn't have staircase right next to the escalator right?). What do you personally think?
2. Knock - knock - knockin’ on heaven’s door
When I first “received” a knock on my toilet door at public places with long queue, I wondered if I took too much time. To be honest I don’t think that I took too much time inside the toilet cubicle till people would rush me.
If it were to happen only once then it would be normal. But it happened to me like 3x in 3 different places. First was at a sightseeing place, secondly was at a busy train station and lastly was at a Kobe beef restaurant. HAHAHAHA.
When I talked about it to my friend, she said that she never had anyone knocked on her door at all…HAHAHAHAHA!!! So was it just my “luck”? And in these “lucky” moments I realized that it happened when the toilet swarmed with people (long queue). Except for the final place which is a restaurant lol. So I believe that people can see (while queuing) if somebody have entered the toilet or not, right? And unlike in Indonesia where people usually queue right in front of each door available, in Japan they queue in a single line. So if they see anyone have left the cubicle then the one queued in front can proceed to the vacant toilet. Which means if anyone knock on my door, it would be because I took too much time right? Not because they wanna check if somebody is inside, yes?
It was still a mystery to this day. Or perhaps it was a hallucination? Or did I have Schizophrenia? Hmm…I wonder. Hopefully it’s one of these 2 or else it’s a bit awkward.
Read from somewhere that usually we have to knock back twice from inside to show that there’s somebody occupying the toilet. But I didn’t do it as I’m shy and unsure if it’s the right thing to do. *slapped
3. Cashier professionalism
Speaking of travelling, there’s no way that you’d miss this one. And I’d say that is one is something NEW for me! I’ve never encountered something like this before. If you’ve been to Japan, then I’m sure you will know what I mean. I’m not sure if other countries were like this too. But in Japan, even cashiers were so professional and formal.
When making a payment, the cashier would tell us the amount that we need to pay, then we would have to place our money on a tray placed on the table. After that they would give us back our balance. Starting with the banknotes, followed by coins and lastly the receipt.
Personally I think It’s cool on how they would count the money in front of us. Mentioning the amount that they’ve counted, pass us the money, then they would move on to count the coins, again mentioning the total amount to us again and pass us the coins. Sometimes they might pass the money together with the receipt paper and sometimes separately (after passing the coins).
What’s amazing is I can’t imagine how much talking they need to repeat the whole time…all the way till work ends…LOLOLOL…I don’t think I can survive talking, repeating the procedure over and over again daily. Hahahha…so I really look up to them. Plus most of them were so nice as they give smiles too.
4. Politeness even when they are not completely wrong and kindness.
Maybe it’s true that Japanese people tend to avoid making problems. For an example, when both people walk from opposite of each other and almost clash, they would bow and said sorry even when we didn’t bump to each other at all. To which it rather makes me feel guilty as well coz I don’t really fancy making people say sorry to me…LOL. It’s rather awkward.
I was impressed though. Coz most people here in my country would just bump to us, acting as if nothing happened and just walk off without saying sorry or anything. Not everyone is like that of course. But yes, many were like that.
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| Blurry but well. I only took this one pic of the store lololol |
5. Paying system at Animate
So when the first time I came across Animate building in Akibahara (I think it wasn’t the main branch coz it’s only a smol one unit building), I was so happy and excited beyond words.
Browsing through every item on every level is like a heavenly task and sure enough I just put whatever took my fancy onto the basket that I’m holding (RIP my money).
Little did I know that I would face a little problem upon reaching the cashier. So when I handed my basket to the cashier, he was like browsing on every item inside the basket. Soon enough he asked me on which floor did i get so and so. It was like a sudden KABOOMMM! HAHAHAHA…I mean I tried not to get myself into a situation where I have to talk in Japanese other than "arigatou" but there you go. FML I thought.
So I am assuming that we need to pay each item on respective floor? Depending on where the book is located? lololol
I told him that I didn’t know, that I forgot where they are from and that I'm sorry. There he was like holding the books again as if trying to find some clue and called like each floor to find out if the books that I took is from that floor or not.
Can you feel anymore guilty? HAHAHAH I feel like I am a disgrace LOLOLOLOL. Some more he was always apologizing to the one he called to ask. Saying something like he’s sorry to disturb, asked if book so and so is from their floor or not. I feel bad ok. I wonder if there’s a sign saying that we should pay on each floor. Hmm. I hope there’s that sign, written in English so us, travellers could make everyone’s life easier by following the rules set.
Partly coz I felt like a potato talking in my beginner level of Japanese. Lots of “eto”, “sumimasen”, “wakarimasen”, “arigatou gozaimasu”. I didn’t manage to build the right sentence due to panic. As in I keep mixing formal and informal words. Sometimes I forgot to add -desu on my words. How much of a potato can someone get? Sorry sensei. I think I failed my RL conversation in Japanese. OTL
Btw the cashier was a young guy. Maybe someone in his college/uni years? And it happened the one attending me was a tall young guy with shoulder length black hair, wearing black framed glass and Animate apron. I’ve always thought that the person who worked there would look like hardcore otaku. But they looked just like everyone else that I don’t think that we can spot whether they’re a hardcore otaku or not.
Anyway, I LOVEEEE the shop. Coz they would give freebies! For my case I was given 2 picture cards and a mini brochure? Though the picture card given is abit hmm. Yes those with gigantic boobs hahaha…
My loots. I didnt take pic of the free boobies illustration card tho hahaha
