Japan is known for its various technological advancements and innovations that, while actually really useful and efficient, many foreigners find odd and strange.
On your next visit to Japan, try to find some of the following products and see for yourself what all the fuss is about:
-
Washlets
The Japanese have made going to the bathroom a lot more interesting with the invention of the Washlets. Created by Toto, a Japanese toilet company, Washlets are electronic toilet seats that feature water spray functions for the cleansing of the private parts. The product was first released in 1980, and has already sold tens of million units in the last 25 years.
Washlets have buttons to activate water spray for the genital and anal areas, to stop the water spray, to adjust the water spray pressure, and others. They are made up of two water spray nozzles, one for the genitals and one for the anus, and these are attached to the toilets in such a way that no water is splashed back. After each use, these nozzles are automatically washed and rinsed with warm water to prevent bacterial growth and foul odors, and then stowed away until next use.
Today, Washlets are widely used in newer Japanese homes, especially in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other urban areas, and a significant number of hotels, hostels, restaurants, malls, train stations, and other establishments across the country have them.
If you want one for your home, visit Toto’s official global website, or check out any online shopping websites, as many of them have it and other electric toilet brands for sale.
-
Unusual Kit Kat flavours
A lot of people are probably aware of only one Kit Kat flavour — the regular chocolate one. However, in Japan, Kit Kat comes in many other flavours that you might not have imagined to be possible.
Introduced to Japan in the early 1970s, Kit Kat has launched more than 200 flavours since. In addition to the original standard variety, some of the most commonly found in supermarkets, convenience stores, and airport and train station shops around the country are green tea, dark chocolate, and strawberry.
Seasonal flavours are also available, like passion fruit ginger, chili, and plum, as well as regional flavours, like azuki sandwich (Nagoya), momiji manju (Hiroshima), and Shinshu apple (Shinshu).
Other popular Kit Kat flavours that are must-try are baked potato, blueberry cheesecake, sweet pudding, café au lait, beni imo, watermelon, pumpkin, miso soup, cantaloupe, brown sugar syrup, chestnut, cherry, double cookie, and cappuccino.
For those with a more adventurous palate, check out wasabi, soy sauce, hot Japanese chili, and sake flavoured Kit Kats.
-
Vending machines for eggs, underwear, and others
Vending machines are not unique to Japan. In many places around the world, these machines can also be found, and they sell food, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.
But, the Japanese have taken vending machines to another level. There are around 6 million of these automated machines scattered across the country, in almost every street corner, and they not only sell the typical food and beverage items, but also other sorts of stuff that foreigners may think as bizarre.
In Japan, there are vending machines that dispense eggs, live crabs, rice, fresh vegetables, bananas, oranges, lettuce, potatoes, and other produce. There are also some that offer some hot warm ramen or fish soup, t-shirt and underwear, surgical masks for your daily commute, condoms, and various other items.
-
Outrageous ice cream
Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in the world. It is most especially enjoyed during the hot and humid months of the summer season.
In Japan, ice cream comes in a wide array of forms and flavours that are not found in other countries.
While it is common to see ice cream in containers, cups, or cones, or in the form of soft serve or popsicles, Japanese ice cream is also available as yukimi-daifuku, which is a sweet dumpling made from mocha rice and stuffed with ice cream. It has a soft and chewy texture, and the mochi and ice cream make an excellent fusion of flavours.
Another notable ice cream type popular in Japan is parfait, which is also common in the West. However, Japanese parfait uses more traditional ingredients that give it an authentic local essence. In addition to corn flakes, puffed rice cereal, whipped cream, and ice cream, Japanese parfait also features different fruits, jelly cubes, anko red bean paste, warabi mochi, shiratama dango (or mocha rice dumplings), and other homegrown ingredients.
Japan also has its own version of shaved ice, which is known as kakigori. Enjoyed by the Japanese for many centuries now, it consists of finely shaved ice topped with condensed milk, fresh fruits, whipped cream, shiratama dango, and anko red bean paste.
When it comes to flavours, some of the most unusual that can only be found in Japan are squid ink, soy sauce, miso, seaweed, bitter melon, wasabi, red beans, purple sweet potato, horse meat, deep fried oyster, ramen, curry, eel, octopus, crab, and beer.
-
Body pillows
Body pillows, or dakimakura, are large-size pillows that are sold everywhere in Japan. They are sometimes also called hug pillows or love pillows.
In the otaku world, dakimakura that have life-size images of popular manga and anime characters printed on them are referred to as waifu pillows or husbando pillows.
The link between dakimakura and the otaku culture started in the 1990s, when the first pillows with anime bishoujo (a Japanese word that literally means beautiful girl) and bishonen (a Japanese word that literally translates to beautiful boy) characters came out.
These body pillows come in 150 cm x 50 cm or 160 cm x 50 cm sizes and weigh less than two kilograms. They are usually sold at anime specialty shops and online shopping websites.
