19 Amazing Things That Only Exist in Japan

MariCar is a company that lets you take part in a public go-kart race through the street of Tokyo. You even get your option of which classic Mario Kart character costume you want to wear. We already called Yoshi, so get over it.

Shinkansen bullet trains are operated by Japan Railways and are some of the fastest develops in the world. Not merely are they speedy — they’re efficient as well. In fact, the average lag day is merely 36 seconds. Your move, Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

When green tea leaves are roasted before brewing, the resulting liquor is called hojicha. When you stimulate hojicha into a Frappuccino at Starbucks, as merely Japan has, the resulting liquor is called delicious. Get lost, matcha — there’s a new tea in town.

If you think this treat is sweet, then you should really check out this next one…

At the Totti Candy Factory in Harajuku, you can order a giant rainbow-striped cotton candy treat that would give your dentist nightmares. We dare you to try and finish one of these things( pics or it didn’t happen ).

Keikyu Corporation, which provides access from Haneda Airport to Tokyo and Yokohama, created a robot rental service that dedicates multi language guidance and directions to international tourists. But can they tell us what “ Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto ” means?

In Japan, you can buy just about anything from a vending machine, from bread in a can to bras to pornography. Arguably the best thing you can purchase: sushi rolls. Sushi conveyer belts are so 2018 anyway.

In order to protect their female passengers from unwanted sex attention, Japanese railway companies have created women-only train cars, with most lines in Tokyo providing ladies’ wagons since 2005. Once again, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, get on it.

Japan’s TOTO lavatories are so tricked out that they basically do everything but go to the bathroom for you. With an automated eyelid, cleansing nozzle, flush sensor, and a whole guide volume to go along with it, learning to use Japanese toilets is basically as complicated as learning to speak Japanese( but wholly worth it ).

Chances are you’re going to get totally addicted to this next one…

Even though gambling is still illegal in Japan, there’s still plenty of Pachinko, a popular arcade game that first originated back in 1920 s Japan. Players flock to Pachinko parlors in droves, and even though wins are offered prizes instead of money, it’s estimated that $209 billion is spent on Pachinko annually across Japan. Have they ever tried Angry Birds though?

Did we mention you can get literally anything from a vending machine? Japanese Gacha capsule vending machines let you pick out the perfect headpiece for your feline friend. They even have a” Kawaii Kawaii Neko Hitsuji-chan” collecting, or” Cute Cute Cat Sheep ,” that will turn your kitty into a little lamb( and will probably also get you scratched across the face ).

If you’re looking to ride in style through Japan, you can do so on the Asakusa Ueno Panda Bus. Not only does it take you all the route from Asakusa all the way to the Skytree complex and back in an hour — it’s also free! Honestly, do you even need forms of transportation other than this?

Japanese mail boxes are anything but ordinary — you can find mailboxes shaped like tea urns, birds, trains, fish, and even adorable Kokeshi doll. We don’t even mail letters anymore, but we’d get a penal just to use one of these.

At Floresta Nature Donuts in Japan, you can buy the sweetest little dough babies that money can buy, with everything from penguins to chicks to teddy bears. They’re also organic and all natural, but we honestly donut care because they’re too cute to devour anyway.

Now gear yourself up for these last few items…

Pepper is the first humanoid robot capable of recognizing human emotions, and you can meet one in more than 140 SoftBank Mobile stores in Japan. The next move for Pepper is into more than 1,000 Japanese Nescafe sales outlets to tell clients about new products. We’d likely be very scared if Pepper wasn’t so cute.

Though the official sumo tournaments only take place 6 days a year, you can find a sumo tournament, or basho , to attend almost anytime you want. You can even attend a morning practise, or sumobeya , if you want, but apparently participating involves more than supersizing your McDonald’s meal.

The Robot Restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku nightlife district taking dinner and a indicate to a whole new level. With warrior princess in sequined bikinis fighting 10 -foot-tall transformers with laser beams, you’ll be too thrilled to even feed your food. We hope you’re taking notes, Chuckie Cheese.

At Nara Park, you can shakes hooves with the most well-mannered deer you’ll ever encounter. If you bow to them, they’ll even bow back. These little woodland beings can make for a sweet Instagram( though apparently they don’t all play nice ).

Japan doesn’t simply offer a huge array of sushi rolls — some public restrooms even offer your T.P. roll of option. Who would have thought that you could swipe right on your ply count? Bless you, Japan. You simply get us.