JapanUp! magazine

The Cafe Table Trust Test If you are sitting in a busy coffee shop in Los Angeles and need to use the restroom, what do you do? You frantically pack up your laptop, grab your smartphone, and carry your heavy bag with you into the tiny bathroom stall. Leaving your valuables completely unattended on an American cafe table is basically an invitation for theft. But if you visit a Starbucks in Tokyo, you will witness a scene that defies global logic. Japanese people regularly leave their expensive iPhones, designer bags, and laptops sitting alone on a table just to “reserve”…

Ask any professional skier or snowboarder where their dream destination is. Many will say “Japan.” Specifically, regions like Niseko (Hokkaido) or Hakuba (Nagano). The snow here is legendary. It has a nickname among international athletes: “Japow” (Japan + Powder).

The Daily Tremors If you live in or visit Japan long enough, you will inevitably experience it: the sudden, gentle swaying of the room, or the rattling of your sliding doors. Japan is officially one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the entire world. This is not bad luck; it is purely due to its terrifying geographical location. The country sits precariously on top of four different colliding tectonic plates right along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Because of this incredibly unstable geological foundation, tiny, unnoticeable earthquakes happen almost every single day, and larger, highly noticeable tremors are simply accepted…

Not Just for GrandpasIn the past, saunas in Japan were seen as a place exclusively for tired middle-aged businessmen. But over the last 10 years, a massive “Sauna Boom” has exploded among young people, especially men in their 20s and 30s. It has evolved from a middle-aged habit into a trendy, subculture lifestyle. The Magic Word: “Totonou”The ultimate goal of this boom is to achieve a state called “Totonou” (to be arranged, or to be in tune). It is a euphoric, trance-like state you reach by repeating a cycle: Hot Sauna ➔ Freezing Cold Bath ➔ Resting in the fresh…

Ask any professional skier or snowboarder where their dream destination is. Many will say “Japan.” Specifically, regions like Niseko (Hokkaido) or Hakuba (Nagano). The snow here is legendary. It has a nickname among international athletes: “Japow” (Japan + Powder).

The American Fitting Room Experience Trying on clothes in an American department store or fast-fashion retailer is a highly utilitarian experience. You grab a few shirts, walk into a dimly lit cubicle with a simple curtain, and stand on a dusty, hard floor with your shoes on while you quickly change. If you accidentally drop a white t-shirt on the floor, it is almost guaranteed to get dirty. But if you decide to go shopping for clothes in Japan, you must prepare yourself for a completely different level of retail etiquette. In Japan, the fitting room is not just a…

The Awkward Hand-Off When you buy a cup of coffee or a souvenir in Los Angeles, the payment process is highly physical. You hand your crumpled dollar bills directly into the cashier’s palm, and they hand your change and receipt right back into your hand. But if you try to hand a 1,000-yen bill directly to a cashier in Japan, you will experience a brief, awkward pause. The cashier will gently bow, avoid taking the money from your fingers, and politely point to a small plastic or leather tray sitting on the counter. In Japan, handing money directly to a…