Found in Japan

Traveling to a foreign country is a mind-expanding experience. With centuries of history to explore and different foods to taste, it is easy to forget that the everyday life of the locals can differ from ours as well.

While we were visiting Japan, we had a chance to encounter some things we don't find here in the United States. Beautiful Buddhist temples and shrines, Manekko Meki cats, and a wide variety of new taste sensations.

Below are just a few of the things that stood out to me when we were there.

Toilets in Japan

Toto toilets are the toilet of choice in Japan. If you have never experienced a full service Toto, be prepared. Toto is a line of plumbing fixtures that is sold outside of Japan; however, their automated toilets are usually found almost exclusively in high-end hotels and private homes.

A standard high tech toilet in Japan.

Japan loves to provide many mechanized options regardless of the activity. In every toilet we encountered, you have a choice of a heated toilet seat, a sound playing to mask bodily sounds, bidet options and even a gurgle at the onset that to me sounded like the toilet filling up.

Each toilet had a slightly different way to flush. Some had a handle, some a button on an electric panel, all usually in Japanese. In Japan, going to the bathroom is an experience, not just a necessity.

Vending Machines

When in Japan, especially in Tokyo, make sure to stop at a vending machine. They have vastly different options than ours. Our guide Lilian wanted a hot coffee and she went to a vending machine to get one.

It dispensed a metal can with hot coffee inside! You can even get pre-sweetened and creamed coffee dispensed. The vending machine also sold cold ice tea and water.

If you have extra Yen coins when you are getting ready to leave then load up the Suica (metro card) and use it at Haneda or Narita airport vending machines.

The Harry Potter Train Station

The Harry Potter themed Akasaka train station in Tokyo.

If you are a Harry Potter fan then you must make a stop at the Harry Potter themed Akasaka train station in Tokyo. The walls of the station are lined with portraits of wizards and muggles and even the outline of a flying car. Outside the station you will find the exhibit The Making of Harry Potter.

Collectible Key Chains

Japanese school children and even adults enjoy collecting small keychains made by the Sanrio company (maker of Hello Kitty) that they hang from purses and backpacks. When my daughters were little girls they loved going to the toy store to pick out Japanese erasers or other items that were small and came in plastic eggs.

I did not expect to find entire stores devoted to these items in Tokyo but they were found in many of the areas we explored.

A store containing walls of collectible keychains.

These are just a few of the wonders I experienced while in Japan. With all that Japan has to offer tourists it would be a shame not to put this country on your bucket list of places to visit.