"I'd tried okonomiyaki and yakisoba at a Japanese-style izakaya back in Canada, so when I came to Japan I was excited to try the real thing. What really caught me off guard was that you actually cook the okonomiyaki yourself at the table! The staff walked us through the steps, and once we got going it was so much fun, my friends and I were all laughing and having a great time. We ended up cooking batch after batch with different toppings until we felt like true okonomiyaki pros.

And of course, the taste was amazing, especially the version topped with pork and melted cheese. The sauce and toppings drizzled on top at the end were incredible. I actually jumped a little the first time I saw the bonito flakes 'dancing' on top from the heat! Between how delicious it was and how much fun it was to cook ourselves, it's become one of my favorite memories from the trip. I'd love it if a place like that opened up back home in Canada."

Many visitors coming to Japan say they want to experience Japanese culture firsthand, and okonomiyaki delivers on that while filling your stomach too. As this Canadian traveler mentioned, getting to cook your own okonomiyaki really does come as a big surprise to visitors from abroad. It might not be quite as famous yet as sushi or sukiyaki, but as a dish that lets you soak up Japanese food culture to the fullest, it definitely deserves more recognition among travelers.

"A few years back I visited one of Japan's famous cherry blossom spots, and Ueno Park was absolutely packed. It was exactly like the crowds you see in manga and anime. But with cherry blossoms blooming everywhere you looked, it was impossible not to feel happy." (Canadian man)

Ueno Park is known as one of the busiest cherry blossom viewing spots in all of Japan, and pretty much every local has heard of it at least once, since it makes headlines on TV and in the news every cherry blossom season.

"Convenience store bathrooms in Japan have saved me more times than I can count, and they're always so clean, which is great. The only awkward part is having to ask the staff, 'Can I use your bathroom?'" (Canadian woman)

One thing that surprises a lot of visitors about Japanese convenience stores is the bathrooms. Under normal circumstances, most convenience stores in Japan let you use their clean bathrooms completely free of charge. In many countries abroad, public bathrooms often come with a fee, so this comes as a pleasant shock to plenty of travelers.

That said, keep in mind that convenience stores in busy central areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro often don't offer bathroom access these days. If you're heading into the city center, it's a good idea to scope out bathroom spots ahead of time.

"Common-law marriage is pretty mainstream in Canada. You get basically the same legal protections as married couples without actually having to get married. In Japan, though, it seems like you're often not recognized as a real partner unless you're officially married." (Canadian woman, 30s)

In Canada, common-law couples receive nearly the same legal rights as married couples, so it's treated as a legitimate option rather than a lesser alternative. In Japan, common-law relationships do exist, but they still don't come with anywhere near the same rights as marriage.

For example, unmarried couples can't share joint custody of their children, and if a partner falls seriously ill, it can be difficult to prove the family relationship, which sometimes means being unable to sign consent forms for a partner's surgery. In an era that increasingly values diversity, it would be wonderful to see equal rights extended to those who choose common-law partnership as their path.