Often, when we see a particularly innovative or cute design, our brains jump to ‘Japan.’ The East Asian nation has a well-deserved reputation for clever designs and blending the traditional and modern. 

Scroll down and enjoy this peak into some of the most unique ways that Japan does things. Visitors tend to come away with stories of technological wonders and adorable devices. Check out the neatest ideas you can find in Japan and be sure to upvote your favorites and let us know which you would love to see in your country. 

We had the opportunity to speak to two seasoned travelers about Japan and ask some questions regarding travel tips and Japanese culture.

If you enjoy learning more about the 'Land of Rising Sun,’ be sure to check out Bored Panda’s other articles in this series here, here and here!

#1 Japanese Government Sends Individuals Quarantining At Home, Free Care Packages. This Is How Much I Got

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#2 Rice Field Art In Japan

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#3 An Umbrella Sky In Metsa Village, Japan

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Shannon O'Donnell from the travel blog A Little Adrift was kind enough to talk to us about visiting Japan. “Japan is among the most fascinating countries travelers could visit—it's a thoroughly modern country with a culture completely dissimilar to much of the West. You don't find that combination in many other countries. For this reason, I think it's a fantastic spot for adventurous first-time travelers, but tricky for most who don't have their "travel legs," so to speak. You're facing potential culture shock—Tokyo is a bustling, fascinating city that never stops moving, and some pretty strong written and spoken language barriers—English-language penetration is low even in fairly touristy areas.”

“That said, the Japanese offer unparalleled hospitality, the extensive train system is a breeze to use, and travelers never lack for incredible food. So while there are clearly a number of countries in Europe and other areas that are easier for first-time travelers, those with a sense of adventure will find that Japan offers an unmatched travel experience. ” In fact, Shannon believed that the entire world could learn from Japan’s absolutely fantastic rail network, which she described as “fast, clean, and efficient.”

#4 Flower Field In Hokkaido, Japan

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#5 Night Bus In Japan

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#6 I Found This At My Host Family's House In Japan

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We also had the honor to interview the experts at Boutique Japan about visiting it as a first-time traveler. “Japanese people are so friendly and hospitable to visitors (and it's an extraordinarily safe country). There are so many other aspects of traveling around Japan that make it so traveler-friendly, for example, the fact that everything runs so smoothly and efficiently (bullet trains always being on time as just one example!)” 

#7 I Spotted This Bus For Preschool Kids In Nagoya

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#8 I Love The Customized Manhole Covers In Japan. They Have It In Each Locality Around

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#9 A Bookstore In Matsumoto City

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“I find that people in Japan tend to practice mindfulness in daily life, without being pretentious about it. There is a culture of respect in Japan that our travelers always comment on. Wherever you go (whether a fancy restaurant or a convenience store), the service is amazing because people tend to take such care in everything they do,” they added when we asked what the rest of the world could learn from Japan. 

#10 City Lights Of Nagano Seen Through The Thick Fog At Night

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#11 Japanese Hospital Food

People asked me to post pictures of the food I got during my hospital stay (6 days), so here it is. Only two months after the baby was born. Also, I completely lost my appetite while I was in the hospital and didn't manage to eat most of the food, which was very upsetting.

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#12 This Phone Booth In Osaka

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‘Geography is destiny’ is a quote often attributed to Napoleon and it seems applicable to the history of Japan. Island nations are often more insular and the rulers of Japan took this to the extreme. Between the 16th and 19th century, the country was cordoned off to foreigners by law while Japanese people were prohibited from leaving. 

Even though Japan has been ‘open’ to the world for over a century, it remains a surprisingly homogenous nation. Nearly 99% of the population are ethnically Japanese. All in all, this created a culture in many ways unaffected by outside influence. And, as the pictures here might indicate, it really shows! 

#13 There Was A Sales Car Of KFC Without Any Salesman

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#14 This Building In Tokyo With Plants Growing On The Walls

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#15 The Trains In Japan Have "Women Only" Space

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Japanese design tends to follow a few core principles. Simplicity is actually seen as a great virtue, though this may seem strange when your server is a robot or when one travels by bullet train! This is best seen in certain elements of Japanese cuisine. Sushi traditionally emphasized the purity of the fish, which is ideally served as fresh as possible.

#16 This Bakery In Japan Puts Their Leftover Bread In A Vending Machine To Sell After Hours

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#17 The Women's Bathroom At My Nearby Mall In Japan

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#18 The Japanese Government Sends A Care Package If You Have Covid. This Is For A Family Of 2 In Tokyo

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What might strike some readers as unusual is the idea of ‘Fukinsei’ or asymmetry. The idea is to find balance between regular patterns and the unexpected. This is also an important concept in Zen philosophy, as imperfection is seen as a natural part of life to be embraced. Look around you. Many examples of natural beauty are actually quite asymmetrical.

#19 Pikachu-Themed Train In Japan

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#20 I Went To Shinjuku And Saw The Coolest Advertisement Display

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#21 My Favorite Shop Sign In Kyoto

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#22 I Found This Locker Area In A Science Museum. Nagoya, Japan

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#23 A Fire Hydrant In Tokyo, Japan

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#24 These Fruit-Shaped Bus Stops

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#25 This Kyoto Station Has 12 Floors Of Escalators

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#26 Mini Japanese Garden Between Seats On A Train To Kyoto

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#27 Shopping Mall Food Court In Japan Offers Napkins To Wipe Tables. After Cleaning, Everyone Unfolds Their Used Napkins And Stacks Them Neatly

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#28 This Toilet Refills With Water For Flushing As You Wash Your Hands

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#29 To Boost The Economy, Japan Gives Out Free Money Coupons To Use In Local Supermarkets And Restaurants If You Are In-Country Traveling

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#30 Extra Train Seat In Japan

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#31 This Japanese Restaurant Has A Tiny Mountain Fuji In The Base Of Their Glasses

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#32 This Japanese Claw Machine Lets You Win A Cheesecake

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

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#34 Train Seats In Osaka Have This Pattern To Remind You To Offer Your Seat To The People That Need It More

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#35 Chiba Urban Monorail In Japan

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#36 This Beautiful Statue In Sendai, Japan

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#37 Speaker Shrine In Japan That You Can Bluetooth Your Own Audio To

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#38 Shopping Carts In Japan Have An Umbrella And Cane Holder

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#39 This Hook-Shaped Restroom Door Handle So You Wouldn't Need To Use Your Hands

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#40 People In Japan Lined Up With Social Distance To Use The Smoking Room In The Office Building Where I Work In

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#41 A Chopstick Store In Kappabashi Street, Tokyo

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#42 In Japan, There's A Privacy Button That Plays Sound In The Background Of The Toilet So That No One Would Hear Your Business

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#43 I Tried One Of The Best Capsule Hotels In Tokyo

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#44 Sewer Cover In Osaka, Japan

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#45 Japan's Advanced Pillow Technology

The light side of the pillow is softer, and the darker side is firmer. Also, the pillow could be rolled or flattened depending on how the person likes to sleep.

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#46 Japan Has A Star Wars-Themed Plane

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#47 Train Station In My Town Has A Line For Visually Impaired People

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#48 Hotel In Tokyo Has A Free Smartphone To Use While Being There

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#49 A School In Japan Came Out With New Uniforms For Students Who Liked Neither Skirts Nor Pants

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#50 If You Have A Cup Of Noodles In Japan, You'll Get Cats On The Inside Of The Lids. However, At A 6% Chance, You'll Get A Tibetan Fox. Middle Right

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#51 3D Coffee Art

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#52 These Are Refrigerated Lockers To Store Your Groceries. Saw This At The Airport In Hokkaido, Japan

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#53 This Bag Of Spider Snacks You Can Buy At The Supermarket In Tokyo

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#54 This Priest Is Blessing A Land In Tokyo Before A Couple Breaks Ground For Their New House

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#55 Taking Historic Architecture Into Account When Adding Vending Machines

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#56 Curved Escalator In Japan

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#57 Traditional Wedding Ceremony In Tokyo, Japan

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#58 Some Grocery Carts In Japan Are Designed To Stack Everything Vertically, And To Cut Down On Aisle Congestion

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#59 This Road Looks Like A Rollercoaster

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#60 This Bench In Yokohama Is Slanted Inward, Which Causes The Users To Awkwardly Slide To The Middle

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#61 In Japan, Almost Every Bookstore Gives Book Covers So That No One Will Know What You Are Reading On The Bus

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#62 This Robot Delivering Food At Gusto Near Seibu Chichibu Station

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

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#64 This Torii Gate Looks Like It's Out Of A Video Game, But It's Real And Awesome To Check Out At Night

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#65 A Bloom Of Jellyfishes On The Beach Near My Home In Southern Japan

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#66 Gum In Japan Comes With Little Sheets Of Paper To Wrap Around And Throw It Away Cleanly

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#67 Fourth Floor Escape Hoist In The Hotel's Laundry Room

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#68 The Elevator In This Japanese Apartment Has A Container With Food, Water, And A Portable Toilet In Case Of Malfunction

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#69 Today I Lived Out One Of My Dreams And Drove Around Tokyo As A Mario Kart Character In A Go Kart

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#70 Compressed Japanese T-Shirt

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#71 Table For One At A Japanese Restaurant

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#72 The "Toy Story" Woody Transformer, Seen In Tokyo Disney Sea Park

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#73 These Dots On My Beer Can. In Braille, It Says Alcohol

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#74 My Human Dad Waiting Next To A LEGO Dad In A Department Store In Japan

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#75 This Is One Photo Of A Camping Store, "Upi Omotesando" In Tokyo

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#76 This Sriracha Vending Machine I Stumbled Upon In Japan

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#77 This Pizza Place In Japan Has Been Counting Pizzas For 60 Years

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#78 Landscape-Friendly Vending Machine

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#79 I Never Thought The Time Would Come When I Would Give A Presentation In The Train Station. This Is How It Looks Like Inside

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#80 A Honey Dispenser At A Hotel In Japan

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#81 Some Little Buddhist Figures Called "Jizo" Are Especially Popular In Japan

The Jizo statue is the guardian of children who died before their parents. The Children can't cross the river to the afterlife because they haven't done enough good deeds and made their parents suffer. That's why they spent their days making towers of stones to help gain merit for their parents in their afterlife.

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#82 This Fake Food Shop In Kapabashi Street, Tokyo

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#83 A Cat-Themed Train With Onboard Library In Japan

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#84 This Is How The Train With Nobinobi Open-Plan Sleeping Area Looks Like

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#85 I Saw This Awesome Sewer Cover While Walking In Tokyo

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#86 Starbucks In Kyoto, Japan

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#87 The Playground In Shizuoka Park

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#88 Japanese Washing Machines Comes With Suction Devices To Reuse Bath Water

A general practice within Asian cultures is that baths are not used for cleaning yourself but just for soaking. It saves you time and money.

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#89 Japanese Men Reading Manga At 7-Eleven During Their Lunch Break

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#90 I Love The Food Displays In Japan

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#91 A Train With Children's Seats And A Cafe

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#92 Japanese People Love Curry So Much That You Can Stumble Upon A "Bookstore" And Then Realize That The Books On The Shelves Are Not Books, But All Kinds Of Curry

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#93 Japanese Hotel Gives You A Phone To Travel With Just In Case You Don't Have Access To Yours

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#94 I Climbed Mountain Fuji Yesterday, And Someone Ordered Domino's Pizza

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#95 The Butter In Japan Is Pre-Sliced

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#96 Only Japan Airports Arrange Luggages By Color

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#97 Gundam Factory In Yokohama

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#98 Ah Yes, I'll Have A Cup Of Ramen With My Whiskey

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#99 This Packaged Egg In Tokyo

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#100 Costco In Japan Has A Sushi Section

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#101 Some Subways In Japan Have Ramps For Bikes To Help While Climbing The Stairs

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#102 This Decorated Japanese Train

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#103 Pavilion Tokyo 2021. An Interesting Tea House In The Middle Of The City

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#104 Edo Era Starbucks

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#105 This Japanese Bakery Makes Cakes That Look Like Beer Or Cocktails

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#106 Kusatsu Onsen. Ubatake Hot Springs Cooling Outlet

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#107 School Lunch In Japan. The Christmas Edition

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#108 The Zauo Fishing Restaurant In Japan, Where Customers Can Catch Their Own Fish And It Also Has Seating Areas Shaped Like Boats

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#109 A U-Shaped Road That Jumps Out Into The Sea

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#110 Raw Horse Meat-Flavored Potato Chips In Japan

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#111 Public Facilities In Japan Have An Umbrella Rack At The Entrance

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#112 The Beer-Flavored Water In Japan

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#113 The Godzilla Surprised Me When I Turned Around The Corner

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#114 This Automated Car Delivering Groceries

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#115 Today I Came Across Some Honey, Infused With Japanese Hornets

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#116 Japanese Bartender Breaking Apart 10,000-Year-Old Block Of Permafrost Ice From Antarctica

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#117 In Japan, There Are Eggs Benedict-Flavored Pringles

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#118 A Building Called "The Face House" In Kyoto, Japan

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#119 So Amazing To See Diver City With A Gundam Statue

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#120 Japanese Grocery Stores Sells Pre-Poured Wine Glasses

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#121 Oedo Onsen Tokyo's Hot Spring-Themed Park Will Be Closing Soon, So I Made Sure To Stop By Yesterday. Very Cool Place

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#122 These White Strawberries In Japan

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#123 Meat Vending Machine In Kyoto

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#124 A Bottle Of Soup Stock With A Fish Inside In Osu, Nagoya

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#125 Reduced Tax Rate At Movie Theaters In Japan. You Can't Eat Snacks Before Entering The Theater, But You Can Eat During The Movie

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#126 The Ichigaya Fish Center In Tokyo

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#127 These Sausages From Costco Japan Comes With Bones

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#128 Whale Meat In Japan. Now They Even Sell Whale Meat In Vending Machines

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#129 Universal Studios In Japan Sells Shark Meat Nuggets

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#130 Whale Meat In Japan. It Shocks So Many Foreigners

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