Welcome to the Future, fellow travellers. Welcome to Japan.
No matter where you come from, no matter what you've experienced, be prepared to be astounded. You're going to think you've stepped into the future the moment you arrive in Japan.
Yet at the same time you'll also feel a bit like you've stepped into the past too. Sounds confusing doesn't it? Don't worry, it really is a wonderful experience and one that you're going to love.
So what is so futuristic about Japan?
As you start to explore the streets of Tokyo and other parts of Japan you'll see things that are so different to the things we do in the West. Here's a few things we've found that we think puts Japan well and truly into the Future.
Trains - Japan is famous for many things including it's train. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Bullet Train or Shinkansen. These Shinkansen have been around pretty much since the first Tokyo Olympics back in 1962 and while todays models are more streamlined and go a lot faster the technology is uniquely Japanese and very futuristic. If you are only travelling to Tokyo it's unliklely that you'll get a chance to see for yourself just how amazing these trains are because they are designed to go long distances, very quickly and very comfortably too. The Shinkansen comes in a number of varieties and they travel the length of Japan whisking business people and travellers to and from some amazing cities. The fastest I've travelled on the Shinkansen is 318km per hour some go a little faster depending on the route. When we were last in Japan, Japan Rail announced a new mag lev train they were working on which will travel at just over 600km per hour. Booking seats and getting to yours is simple and they are almost always exactly on time (very very rare for Japanese trains to be late, usually due to an external issue). So very futuristic, sophisticated and comfortable way to travel around Japan. Recommend getting a rail pass before you leave your own country if you plan on travelling outside of Tokyo or Osaka.
Robots - Japan has been using robots in manufacturing for many years, however, keep your eyes open as you wander the streets and shops of Tokyo and other Japanese cities because you will come across robots in the most amazing places. The robot in the main image above, is called Pepper and is commercially available for families, schools and businesses to purchase for a number of applications. You'll see Pepper in many restaurants as a friendly concierge keep you entertained and managing your position in the queue as you wait for a seat in busy restaurants, they are being used in homes as companions and to help with children's home studies. Last week I read a story about a convenience store chain that has installed a fried chicken robot in several stores that makes fried chicken without needing any humans to manage the process. You insert your money and it makes you a tasty snack. There are robots that pour drinks in bars and robots that deliver your sushi to your table. An interesting pop up experience that is currently underway involves robots that are controlled by people who have a disability, in a cafe where they are taking your order and bringing your drinks and meal to your table and being driven by remote control. It is a fascinating idea and is providing some meaningful employment opportunities to a group of people who do it tough.
Taxis - First let me say that Japanese Taxis don't look very futuristic, in fact they're quite the opposite. A typical Japanese Taxi looks like it was made in the 60's or at the very latest the 70's (there are new cabs coming to the streets of Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics that look a bit lot like English Cabs). So are Japanese Taxis super futuristic on the inside? No. What makes them futuristic to me is, when you hail a Japanese Taxi and when it pulls up for you to get in, the door opens automatically, you get in, the door closes automatically. So you never have to touch the door handles, just get in, go to your destination, pay your fare and hop out. The doors actually are operated by the driver but isn't that more futuristic than the way we do things?
Toilets - There have been lot's of people talking about Japanese toilets lately. Apart from the fact that no matter where you go in Japan to use a bathroom, the toilet facilities are always spotless. What you will soon discover is that the Japanese have taken toilets and made them almost an experience! When you first use a Japanese bathroom, (with a Western style toilet) you'll see a panel next to the toilet with buttons and icons. This allows you to control the features on the toilet from the comfort of your seat. Want a bit of music or gentle ocean sounds to hide a nasty bottom cough, there's a feature for that, want the seat a little warmer, just adjust the temperature and it's perfect (this is great feature in Winter as the seat is kept warm), Japanese homes and bathrooms generally don't have room for a bidet so they have ingeniously designed a little robotic arm that comes out at the touch of a button and gives a gentle warm spray in the appropriate area, some even have air dryers built in. You may even find some bathrooms where the toilet seat automatically closes when you get up and spend up when you enter the room. So are Japanese bathrooms from the future? Absolutley.
Convenience Stores - Hang on a minute, how can a convenience store be futuristic? Before we go any further, throw away your current understanding of convenience stores from your country. The only similarity is they are both stores and they both sell things. That's pretty much where the similarities end. A Japanese convenience store or Kon-bini is an amazing place. They are located everywhere, most are open 24/7, prices are quite reasonable and the food is actually edible. Plus, the staff are incredibly helpful. Your local Kon-bini is the place to go to pick up a late night or early morning snack, grab an amazing ice cream on your way home (try the Coolish they are just the best), grab a few cold beers for when you get home or pick up some essential supplies like coffee or tea etc. Most have ATM's inside, we travel with a pre-loaded travel card and the Kon-bini is a great place to get our cash. So maybe one day our local convenience store may transform into a Japanese Kon-bini, I doubt it. Make sure you visit one of these when you come to Japan.
