So we’re finally back from our honeymoon trip to Japan. It is such a surreal place to tell you the truth. I’m amazed by their culture, their discipline and their technology, but why the lack of updates? Well here’s why and some random thoughts too:
- Japan is considered as the place with the latest in technology. So why is it so hard to find free WiFi? Sure, hotels have Internet access, but you have to pay for it? That is just wrong. I didn’t bring my laptop, so my iPhone was the only gateway to the Web. I had to stop by the Apple Store just to check my e-mails…
- Japan as a whole is one of the cleanest countries I’ve seen, but one question puzzles me: where do they put their trash when there are so few trash cans for the public?
- Japanese people are so polite. Their discipline is at another level. The train/subway ride is very quiet because people either sleep or play/text with their phone. Notice that I didn’t said “talk” because people are discouraged to talk on the phone.
- I only heard one cellphone ring for the entire trip. And no, I’m not talking about our mobile phones…
- While they are friendly and polite, I did notice that they are sometimes not being courteous by giving up their seat to the elderly. I later noticed that they do give way if they were sitting in the priority seats. Talk about going by the books.
- Montreal’s STM and AMT should take note of Japan’s subway and train networks. They were rarely delayed and give detailed information on the upcoming train. And if they were late, passengers were always informed on the wagon’s monitors. The bullet train is truly remarkable and pleasantly smooth. How can they afford so many? And their magnetic levitation trains are scheduled for 2025…
- Navigating throughout the train/subway network is not that hard.
- Abercrombie & Fitch has an 11-floor store (!) in the Ginza district, which is like a fusion of a store and nightclub, similar to the NYC store on 5th Avenue. I swear the floor staff are all models.
- Don’t get fooled by the “table charge” in restaurants. It’s a way for them to charge tourists extra.
- You can only last for so long in such a small hotel room.
If you need some information about Japan, ask away in the comment section.
by Richard Pham
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