The first thing I had to get out of the way before arriving in Japan was a 15-hour flight to Hong Kong. The four-hour flight from Hong Kong to Japan was even more torturous. When the plane finally landed in Narita, my left ear was clogged, both of my legs had fallen asleep, and I was in dire need of a bed. The rest of my trip, however, was far more pleasant. Here's what I learned during my trip.

1. There are vending machines everywhere.

Everywhere you go, you'll see one, whether you're at a shrine, temple, museum, park, or mall. They might seem a bit excessive at first, but they are the most efficient vendors at any tourist attraction. There are even vending machines that dispense cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, ramen, hot meals and soft serve ice cream!

2. Tipping is disrespectful.

I learned this during my first night at a hotel. After leaving a 1,000 note on the table, I was given strange looks by an attentive waitress who immediately returned the money back to me. After this incident, I learned that tips can be regarded as very degrading here.

3. Jaywalking isn't common.

While doing some last-minute shopping at the Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Arcade, I crossed streets when they were empty, not when I was indicated to by the streetlights, like I do in the streets of New York City, where I was born and raised. I garnered a few dozen stares every single time I jaywalked, without fail.

4. Lawson stores are extremely popular.

These convenience stores are Japan's upgraded version of a typical 7-Eleven in America. There are 7-Elevens in Japan, but Lawsons have myriad items upon items. They have everything you can imagine: surprisingly fresh sushi in packages, hundreds of ramen brands, thousands of different candy bars and chocolate packages, and medications for any sick traveler.

5. Most of the population is healthy.

Everywhere I went, I saw teens, adults, and elderly on bikes. Moreover, in all of the 21 restaurants I went to throughout my trip, a lot of the food was low in oil and fat. Indeed, my diet throughout my trip consisted mostly of udon, miso soup, rice, congee, and sashimi. Even when I went to a Japanese barbecue restaurant, all of the meat was fresh and lean. It's not surprising that the life expectancy in Japan is 80 years for men and 87 years for women, according to the World Health Organization.

Although I learned so much in Japan, there are no words that can fully describe a country and its culture. If anyone wants to learn more about this beautiful nation, just let me know, and we can go to Japan together!