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'In the elevator...' Reasons why a British person was shocked when they visited Japan

Last updated: 10 March 2023

The UK, located far away from Japan and about a 12-hour flight, boasts beautiful streets and historical landmarks. Its distinct culture captivates many Japanese visitors. If British individuals were to visit Japan, what sort of impressions would they form? In this instance, we will provide an overview of "what surprised British individuals upon arriving in Japan" from previously published articles. (Please note that the subsequent comments are the personal opinions of the respondent.)

"Why do some people get upset when things don't go according to schedule? It can be difficult to travel or go out with them because they become so fixated on every minute. It's too meticulous to worry about things in one-minute increments. In Japan, trains run on time (which can be surprising), so even if you're a little late, you can just catch the next train."

In the UK, it's common for trains to be delayed and events to start late. You can imagine the temperament of Japanese people who are concerned about every minute when you see them squeezing onto a train that comes every five minutes. Sometimes, it might be a good idea to have some leeway and let one train go by.

A British person in their 20s was pleasantly surprised by the menu item, "curry rice."

"I already knew that curry rice was one of the Japanese dishes. When I had curry for the first time in Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. It's sweeter and richer than Indian curry and goes well with rice. Nowadays, I eat it frequently enough even to make it at home."

Japanese curry rice is not only delicious to eat at restaurants, but homemade curry made from roux is also quite tasty.

A British woman who came to Japan to study abroad was surprised by the behavior of Japanese men.

"When I was in the elevator, I noticed that men often got off before women. In the UK, men often let others go before them, so I was surprised."

It's hard to imagine Japanese men not showing "lady first" behavior... Although Japanese people are good at queuing up, it seems that there are not many people who prioritize women to let them go ahead. It's a little sad...

"I love black tea, of course, but I love Japanese green tea so much that I always keep it in my room. It has just the right amount of bitterness but is easy to drink."

It would be great to receive praise for Japanese green tea from someone from the UK, which is known for its black tea. The taste, which is bitter but not too astringent, is also appreciated by a British woman in her 40s.