5 Things That Surprised Me When I First Moved to Japan

Hello, Andrew from Globarx here!

Here are five things that surprised me the most when I first moved to Japan.

1. The Incredible Level of Safety

I knew Japan was safe before I came, but experiencing it firsthand showed me that it was safer than I could ever imagine.

It’s common to see people park their cars at a convenience store, leave their car on and the engine running, and walk inside without a second thought. This sort of thing is extremely common in Japan. Even more surprising—people will “reserve” a seat in a park or café by leaving their purse, wallet, or even their phone unattended.

Back home, that would be an invitation for theft. But in Japan, it’s actually more likely that someone will take your things to the nearest police box because they think you lost them. That level of safety is something I still find incredible.

2. The Complicated World of Trash

Japan is quite a clean country, but actually throwing items away can be a headache..

At many workplaces, you can’t even throw your garbage away in company bins. You’re expected to bring it home with you. And once you do, the sorting begins: burnable, non-burnable, plastics, cans, bottles… all with different colored bags and strict collection days. In certain areas, you even have to write your name on your garbage bags so officials know exactly who it belongs to. For me, it was one of the most surprising (and honestly confusing) parts of daily life in Japan.

3. People Who Get Way Into Your Personal Space

Japanese people are known for their politeness, and that’s absolutely true. But every now and then, I’ve run into situations that felt… a little too close for comfort.

I’m about 196 cm (pretty tall for Japan), but despite my size I have these awkward moments on a regular basis. For example, while shopping at a mall, a random guy just grabbed my arm out of nowhere. He started shouting “Tenagai, Tenagai” (which means long arms in Japan) and then called his kids over to look at my “super long arms.”

I didn’t know what to do—I didn’t even speak Japanese back then. It was one of the strangest experiences I’ve had here, but definitely not the last time I encountered someone fascinated by me.

4. Pitch-Black Rural Nights

In rural Japan, nights are extremely dark. Unlike big cities filled with neon signs and glowing streets, the countryside you will struggle to see down your road.

Streetlights are rare, and the ones that do exist are dim. Walking at night without a flashlight or reflective vest feels almost dangerous because it’s so easy for drivers not to see you.

It was a shock for me, coming from places where streetlights are everywhere. The countryside may be peaceful, but once the sun goes down, it feels like another world.

5. People Run… Everywhere

This one still makes me laugh. In Japan, people run—a lot. To catch trains, to get to class, even at work. This may be because in Japan’s culture, it is important to show effort and what better way to do that than running?

One of my funniest memories was asking a store clerk where the mustard was. They thought for a moment, then sprinted off full speed without saying a word. Not knowing the custom, I ran behind the store clerk because I thought I was supposed to follow them. Later I learned: you’re not supposed to run with the workers. You’re supposed to wait while they run around for you. That is definitely a lesson I won't forget.

Final Thoughts

Japan is full of surprises—some funny, some challenging, and many that make daily life uniquely memorable. These five moments were just the beginning of my journey, and they’ve shaped the way I see life here.

And if you want to see these moments in action, check out the full video here: 5 Things That Surprised Me About Japan

Thanks for reading.

Email: andrew@globarx.co.jp（Andrew Smith）

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■ About the Author

Andrew Smith

Originally from Louisiana, USA, Smith is an English educator and content creator based in Ehime, Japan. With a background in media production and experience as an NBA digital reporter, he moved to Japan in 2020 driven by his passion for Japanese culture. After four years teaching English across all age groups, he joined Globarx in 2025, where he now leads business English initiatives（Globarx English） and social media outreach for North America.