I came back to Japan about a week ago. When I arrived at the Haneda airport, the warm humid air welcomed me, and I realized that I had finally returned to Japan for the first time in four years. Before the pandemic, I used to visit Japan every summer, but since the summer of 2019, I have been unable to visit my country due to the pandemic and my work. This time, for that reason, I experienced the counter culture shock!

Visiting a foreign country for the first time is exciting, but it’s also a little scary because you’ll probably feel a little culture shock. Even I started to feel anxious a week before the trip, and I felt awkward when I got off the plane. It is completely normal to feel nervous before the trip, so don’t worry!

Today, I’d like to share my five counter culture shock that I experienced in Japan.

1. Everything is small

You might have heard about it before, but it’s true. Since my flight arrived in Tokyo late at night, I stayed at the business hotel, which was very small. There were two single-size beds in a room, a small bathroom and a table and except that, there was almost no space for yoga. After living in a big apartment in the U.S. for 8+ years, I was a little surprised how small a Japanese business hotel is.

The next thing I realized was how small each shop was. Of course, a convenience store is small, but other shops, such as supermarkets and drugstores, are much smaller than those in the U.S.  The good thing is that it is less likely to get lost in a large supermarket, like in the U.S.  Other small things I noticed were the portion at the restaurant, amount of vegetables and frozen foods and, etc. As a conclusion, I might have to say that everything is too big in the U.S.

2. A counter is low

This one is similar to the first one, but please let me share it because I literally cried about it when I returned to my parents’ house. The kitchen counter and the table were so low that I felt like a “Kyojin” (giant). I am a 5’2 (157 cm) woman… Even at the supermarket, all the shelves were low and reachable for me, which is good, but I still feel awkward.

These are the first culture shock that I experienced. Can you guess the next three? Stay tuned for the next blog!