Things that are different

Hello and love from Japan. We miss all of you, and even in the first 5 days here, all in Kyoto, there are things that are very very noticeably different, so many that I am moved to have my very first post be Things That Are Different, Japan chapter.

Ok, we're gonna start with toilets, so if you don't like detailed discussion of toilets, skip this paragraph. I myself am not big on toilet discussion, but attention must be paid. Ok--there are two types of toilets, eastern and western. In public bathrooms there are directions on the stall wall for how to use the western style toilet, pointing out that you do not stand on the seat. The eastern style is the hole in the floor variety, but most of my info here is about the Japanese version of our own western toilet. First, THE SEATS THEMSELVES ARE HEATED. Like a heated seat in a car. Then, there are TWO different bidet type options, which you can set with buttons. Two different "shapes" of spray-from-below. Then, another button you can push for "Special Deodorizing." Then, as if that wasn't enough, there's a button you can push that plays a recording of a flushing sound, for more "Sound Privacy." !!?? This panel of options that looks like you could fly a plane with it is available on every single public toilet that is western style.

We are staying in a Japanese style room in our Gion hotel, so we are experiencing what we also see at the temples. Japanese rooms are always flexible. They can be any room, anytime. They are tatami mats and not defined by permanent furniture, so if you bring in a table, it's a dining room. If you lay out futons, it's a bedroom. In our hotel, the staff makes these shifts when we are out, and we spend most of our time on the floor. Being American we tend to mess up the room, but the lack of room definition seems extremely comfortable and civilized. What would seem like a small room if it had furniture seems like a big room without it!

Pillows. One side cotton pillow like we are used to, the other side filled with small plastic beads so it moulds to your head. Incredibly civilized and effective.

Shoes. Very seriously, no shoes in the house or the room or the temples. Do not even step on the wood with a shoe. Balance carefully as you take them off so show stays on stone and sock goes on wood. Ok?

Tops of taxis have adorable and easy to see shapes that light up when they are free, like little taxi hats. Hearts, moons!

Buses--you pay at the end of the ride as you get off, out the front door. You get on from the back door. There's a change machine IN the bus in case you need change. What if people just hop off through the back door and do not pay for their ride? As WM pointed out, it just doesn't seem like anyone Japanese would even think of doing that. Why would you do that?

Keeping on the public transportation theme a moment, everything is scrupulously clean. No litter. The trains are spotless and the seats are a brilliant brilliant emerald green, like the most beautiful green ever. Like Oz Emerald City green. Velvety.

There really really are temples (Buddhist) and shrines (Shinto) around almost literally every corner. Huge ones. Tiny ones. Gardens, pathways, buddhas, stone figures, bright bits of cloth, fortunetelling papers and prayer plaques and awnings under which are a dazzling array of amulets and good luck charms in every possible color. Rituals and objects and offerings we do not yet understand.

Starbucks. Yes there are several Starbucks and we went in to check out What Is Different. They give you a menu. They are extremely, extremely nice. They serve cherry blossom themed cakes and donuts. They serve green matcha tiramisu. The food all looks way better.

Food in the market. We went to the big outdoor market, and it's hard to even know where to start. Grilled huge shoots of bamboo, tiny candied octopus on a stick, every color rice ball, pickled cucumber in a sea of brown nut paste, a machine that squirted out cookie batter and grilled it to golden brown in front of your eyes, fish fish fish. Tentacles. Steam and smoke. Bean paste in every shape.

Surgical masks, in order not to share ones germs, everywhere in the streets. At least 3 or 4 people wearing them at every bus stop.

Liter bottles of water sit outside the front doors of houses in order to "keep away feral cats" . . . the cats apparently see themselves reflected in the water bottles and get scared? This is what we were told.

Small dishes of salt on the sidewalks in front of stores. This is Shinto, for protection and good fortune.

All the great use of faux English words on ordinary products. "Gum Syrup" that comes in little coffee creamer containers to sweeten tea. Ice cream called "Coolish" or "Cranky." Coffee in a vending machine called "Rainbow Boss" with a picture of a square jawed dude with a pipe against a rainbow background.

Teeny tiny things. Toothpaste in a mouse size, cream pitchers for ants, spoons and forks for little squirrels.

More to follow. Arigato.

- Jessica