A few quirky things about Japan that surprise almost every visitor — small details that explain a lot about how life there actually feels.
In Japan, fun facts comes down to a few things: there are more elderly people than children, kit kats are a national obsession, and there's an island overrun by rabbits.
Japan has the world's oldest population. Adult diapers outsell baby diapers. Vending machines selling everything from hot soup to umbrellas exist partly because labor is scarce.
Tip: Robot restaurants and automated hotels aren't gimmicks — they're solutions to a real workforce shortage.
Japan has produced over 300 Kit Kat flavors including wasabi, sake, sweet potato, and matcha. The name sounds like 'kitto katsu' (you will surely win), making them popular good-luck gifts for students before exams.
Ōkunoshima, a small island in Hiroshima Prefecture, is home to hundreds of wild rabbits. Visitors come specifically to be swarmed by friendly bunnies. The island also has a dark history as a WWII poison gas factory.