Many images we see from Japan give the impression of a fast-paced lifestyle, with Japanese people crammed onto bullet trains, rushing towards the future with their flashy gadgets and gizmos.
There is also more peaceful side to Japanese culture, think Buddhist temples, traditional Japanese gardens and the ancient art of calligraphy. Silence in Japan is a valued in conversation – they actually use this to communicate! Silent pauses in conversations are not uncomfortable, rather a time to reflect and gather your thoughts.
You have to love the idiosyncrasies of the Japanese people – displaying the ‘peace’ sign in every single photo, the wacky fashion of the young Harajuko girls, and their craze for karaoke.