The suicide forest
Aokigahara, a forest at the base of Mount Fuji, is like something out of The Blair Witch Project. It has an historic association with demons in Japanese mythology, and is the second most popular place in the world for suicides, after San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. More than 50 people took their own lives here in 2010 alone, and an annual body hunt is undertaken by volunteers. The forest is also noted for its quietness, thanks to the wind-blocking density of the trees. Hikers are advised to use plastic tape to mark their route and avoid getting lost.
Naked festivals
Hadaka Matsuri is a bizarre festival involving thousands of Japanese men removing their clothes in public due to the ancient belief that a naked man has a greater ability to absorb evil spirits. Only the most intimate parts of the body are covered, using a ‘fundoshi'.
Inemuri
In Britain, falling asleep in the office is likely to earn you a ticking off from your boss, or worse. But Japanese business culture recognises the employee who works so hard they are forced to engage in "inemuri" - or napping on the job. Rules do apply - you must remain upright, for example - while some people even fake inemuri, to make their bosses believe they are working harder than they really are.
Love hotels
These short-stay hotels, designed for amorous couples, have proven increasingly popular in Japan, where space, and therefore privacy, are at a premium. An estimated two per cent of Japan's population visit one each day.Love hotels can usually be identified by the offer of two different room rates: a "rest", as well as an overnight stay. The name, and the presence of heart symbols, is also a giveaway. They are usually found close to train stations, near highways, or in industrial districts.While the cheapest love hotels will be pretty basic, high-end establishments may offer extravagantly decorated rooms, often with bizarre themes and costumes for hire. The rooms sometimes feature rotating beds, ceiling mirrors, karaoke machines and neon lighting.
The 'cuddle cafe'
The first Soine-ya (which means "sleep together shop") opened last year in Tokyo, allowing male customers to sleep next to a girl for a fee. Sexual requests are not allowed, it insists. Instead the men can purchase extras such as "staring at each other for a minute" (¥1,000) and "stroking the girl's hair for three minutes" (¥1,000).Other unusual establishments are numerous. In an interview with Telegraph Travel, Stacey Dooley, the television presenter, recalled a trip to a Tokyo cafe "where the waitresses, who were dressed like maids, ran around singing and serving ice cream. It sounded sinister but it was all very innocent. There was another place where you could pay to have a cat sit on your lap. Your expectation is quite high when you go there because you think something is going to happen. But then you discover that the cat just sits there while you have a cup of tea."
Double tooth
Unlike the majority of the world, the youth of Japan are spending considerable sums of money on attaining uneven or "snaggle" teeth. It is known as "yaeba", which translates as "double tooth," and is one of the country's most recent odd fashion trends.
Noodle slurping
Japan is a country renowned for its extremely polite mannerisms. However, one custom challenges the Western understanding of being refined. When eating noodles, slurping is essential to communicate the enjoyment of the meal. Gratitude is shown through the magnitude of the noise made during consumption.
Ganguro
Ganguro, which literally translates as ‘blackface,’ is a fashion which sees girls take tanning to a new extreme. Every week they dye their skin as dark as possible and then apply huge amounts of foundation. Black ink for eyeliner, platform shoes and bleached hair completes this extremely curious fashion trend.
Mr. Kanso
This is a surprisingly popular Japanese restaurant that only serves canned food. Instead of providing a menu, those who dine there have the opportunity to select their meal from the shelves that adorn the walls and are supplied plastic cutlery to enjoy the contents of their can.
The capsule hotel
The capsule hotel originated in Osaka, Japan. It features a set of extremely small capsules designed for basic overnight accommodation for those on a budget. Capsules are stacked side by side with one unit on top of another to maximise space.
No comments:
Post a Comment