After being in Japan for two weeks now, I have realized a few differences that, in my opinion, make Japan better than the U.S.

1. Heated Toilets

Coming from Florida where is was about 60~80 degrees F to Osaka, Japan where its anywhere from 25~50 degrees F, it's no surprise that I would find it unbearably cold here. Which is why the first, and probably my most favorite, thing I noticed in Japan has was Heated Toilets! This discovery happen something like this:

It was another cold day in the dorm during orientation week and I had been walking a lot that day. My legs hurt so much I just couldn't do that weird hover squat thing that girls usually do. That's when it happened. I realized that my seat wasn't as cold as you would expect being that it was 45 degrees F that day and I had only been in Japan for a few days. Then I noticed was that the seat started to get warmer! It was so nice! Japan has, in a way, ruined me because now I will always expect those wonderful heated seats.

Now there are other things about Japanese toilets that I find amazing and fascinating, but I will have to save that for another post. Final thought: if you come to Japan, you must sit down!

2. Showers and Bath Tubs

Now I promise this post isn't totally about the bathroom; but the Japanese have showers and baths figured out. First of all the Japanese believe in warming the body not the room. So many rooms have their own heating and cooling unit and only the ones in rooms that are being used are on. This being said, when you turn on the shower to hot it is actually hot! I know for most people this may not be a big thing but every apartment or house I have lived in, it take some time to warm up. Even when I turn it all the way up its still not hot enough. However, it takes no time for the water here in Japan to be boiling hot or freezing cold depending on what you prefer. As for the baths, Japanese people don't use baths to clean but to soak. This may be weird for some people but in the Japanese manner you shower and clean yourself then soak in the tub to warm up your body before leaving. Most Japanese houses have a modern system that has a control panel where you can set the water temperature. My host mother has the water set to 40 degrees C which is roughly 104 degrees F. Honestly I can only say in for five minutes or less but it still feel really good because at night it can get to 20 degrees F and the house (besides my room and the living room) is freezing!

3. Betsubara

Betsubara is a Japanese word that's literal translation is "extra stomach." It's the thought that even when you eat a lot of food, you always have room for dessert. The word it self is only really used by children BUT from what I have observed so far, almost everyone partakes in it; either that or people just leave room for desert. This is a custom I have come to learn and understand from Japan that I absolutely love! The desserts in Japan are so much more extravagant than in the U.S. so it's no wonder why people want to leave room for some. My favorite (so far) is the parfaits. I had a chocolate parfait that had chocolate ice cream, cornflakes, pudding, chocolate sauce, cake, plus a cookie straw with lots of whipped cream on top! Also, the whipped cream that they use in Japan for desserts is so much better. It not as sweet and has more flavor. Its almost as if they hand made it in the back just for me before putting it in my crepe. Even some cakes are covered in it! My only complaint is that while the desserts are so good, they are a bit smaller in the U.S. I could actually eat an entire cake my self here and maybe one day I will try to!

4. Food Displays

If you ever come to Japan you will notice that in front of food restaurants there is usual a window where they display these plastic like versions of the food they offer in life size. Its the most glorious thing besides heated toilets! As a person who is not confident in reading Japanese, I can see what each store offers and decided what I want biased on that. Most of the menu's also have pictures on them so worst case scenario when I cant read the menu I can just point to the picture of what I want. This makes the dining experience in Japan that much more enjoyable because I can see exactly what I am ordering. Plus the food almost 99% always looks like the display! I wish some places in the U.S. did something like this because I am more likely to be adventurous and try new things if they look good. However, this is also one of those things that makes Japan special so I guess it shouldn't be brought to the states.

5. Transportation

So coming from Florida that has little to no transportation, Japan has this stuff figured out to a T. You can always find a bus near by that will always start/end at the nearest big train station. You can take trains anywhere in Japan and even take the bullet trains for longer distances. Plus the fair is much less than in the U.S. from what I have seen after going to New York a few times. All of the transportation is 97% exactly on time and super clean too! They are also not as noisy. I got a bus pass for my area that was about $90 but I can use in unlimited for 1 month on any Keihan bus. Considering the fair to and from my host family alone for 1 month is about $161 if I were to pay cash, its totally worth it! Even though I live and my school is in the Hirakata area, I can use my bus card in Kyoto, downtown Osaka, even Nara as long as it is a Keihan Bus. Unlike the in the states, Japan has different bus companies depending on the area you are in. You can also get an ICOCA card which is basically like a debit card for buses and trains. You add money to it, then use it and keep adding to it when needed and so on. I'm not too sure if the U.S. has something like this that can be used for trains and buses in mostly all cities but it comes in handy when I want to take a train to downtown Osaka or Kyoto and don't want to have to worry about carrying cash on me. Also (theoretically) if i needed to take a bus other than the Keihan Bus, then I should be able to use the ICOCA card instead. Its not uncommon for people to have both or even multiple bus cards.

All in all these are only a few of the things I noticed that makes Japan better in my view. Some of which where also been a big culture shock for me when I first came to Japan. However, I have come to realize that these little things make living in Japan more comfortable and more enjoyable for everyone. If you come to Japan than maybe you will agree with me too!