17 Fun Facts About Japan to Know Before You Go

Sushi, sumo wrestling and geishas. Before I went to Japan, I knew it was a cool place with a quirky culture unlike any other, but I can’t say I knew many more facts about Japan to give more depth to what I saw.

But after five weeks in Japan, I came away feeling a little more educated. Still so many questions though. I’ve since been back and thanks to having a guide for a week in Shiga, I’ve learning more facts in Japan and wanted to share them with you. 

Here are the wackiest and weirdest facts about Japan in the hope you’ll be as equally intrigued and want to go on your own Japanese adventure. Japan really is one of my most favourite countries in the world. 

Interesting facts about Japan 

1. Watermelons are square

The story goes that over 40 years ago someone had the genius idea of genetically modifying watermelons so that they’d fit more neatly inside a fridge. And so the square watermelon was born. 

While they look really cool, the fruit doesn’t have as strong a taste in this shape so instead of eating them people tend to keep them as an ornament, kind of like a house plant. Fruit is really seen as a luxury in Japan and is fairly pricey and so this kind of quirky treat is often given as a gift.

2. A people crammer is a real job

Well technically that’s not their job title, decades ago they were called oshiya or pushers but now regular railway staff are tasked with pushing as many people into a train carriage as they can. There are just too many people trying to use the system to get where they need to go, especially in somewhere like Tokyo, so they’re needed on the platforms.

I was recently on the train in Osaka when this happened – it was horrible! 

Top tip for Japan: avoid public transport at rush hour. 

3. There’s a maid/master subculture

Japan loves a maid cafe. In fact, there are over 200 of them.

Never heard of one? Well you go inside a brightly decorated cafes and choose yourself a maid from a menu. Then, rather than a waitress, the maid will serve you. They’re usually dressed to the nines in a traditional maid’s outfit complete with a pinafore and headpiece and the maids see patrons as their masters and play this dramatic subservient role.

I went to a Maid Cafe in Akiharaba in Tokyo, totally unaware of this fact about Japan. It was definitely a strange experience…

4. Japan has a ‘suicide forest’

This is possibly the saddest thing about Japan: they have a high suicide rate and there are certain places in the country people go to do it.