Managing autism and first impressions in Japan

27 comments

1. I highly advise you to deeply re-consider Tokyo as a destination. It’s the largest city in the world. The most crowded. People packed in trains like sardines during 50% of the day. Crosswalks, streets, that in any shopping or semi popular area will be crowded. Finding a quiet spot? Sometimes impossible if needed immediately. It can take a plow through a crowd for 7 minutes to get to the quiet spot. Even people who have no diagnosis freak out here. If you are desperate for Japan, try going to a smaller city or rural area.

   1. People will stare. Many might stare. Generally they will not interfere. Autism exists here too so people see it. They may not understand it, but they have seen the stimming.
   2. Rather than asked fellow tourists or others, your best bet is to find a native Japanese person that can translate for you. Explain the issues and have them write up some short explanations. You can print it on cards to show people if needed.

2. I can’t speak to specifics, but overall I don’t think it will be a problem on your trip. Japanese people are definitely less familiar with a variety of disabilities but as a culture, they believe in minding your own business/keeping to yourself in public, and so I don’t think you’ll get more than a few looks or concerned/curious comments. Also, if you are not Japanese or Japanese looking, you definitely have a bit more leeway to break Japanese social norms. Sorry this is vague, but I do think you’ll be able to have a great time there!
   My Japanese isn’t really good enough to come up with a concise way to explain stimming, though, so hopefully someone else can help you there 🙂

3. This does not sound like a really good idea.

4. i unfortunately have to say i agree with u/cynicalmaru. i’ve been to tokyo and the only word to describe it IS “overstimulating.” crowds on streets, on transportation, in stores. there is NO quiet space unless you’re in a residential area, but if you’re taking a trip/vacation then you’re likely not in one of those districts.

   if people see her stimming they probably won’t interfere, but there are situations where it might be possible that she can’t stim. i remember being literally chest to chest with people on the subway, and we were all jammed in by one of those people literally employed to shove you into the train. there was NO room for anything. i couldn’t even grab my phone from my pocket, my arms were pinned to the sides of my body.

   i’m not saying you shouldn’t go, but for someone who can get sensory overload it can be a nightmare. stimming may be impossible, there are no quiet places, and the japanese tend to be very polite and reserved. its quite possible you will get strange looks and/or judgement.

   overall though, i do wish you the best during your future trip and hope you both have a good time!

5. I was in Tokyo summer 2017. For what it’s worth, I didn’t find it overwhelmingly crowded. I never had the “sardine” experience on a train. I think we travelled off-peak times, like 10am or 8 pm. I think crowded streets and crosswalks are to be expected in areas like Shibuya, but my husband and I also walked around many empty, smaller streets. Crowding was the exception, not the norm.

   Actually, one of the lovely things I discovered about Tokyo was just how easy I thought it was to duck into a quiet place when needed. Alleys abound with cafes, restaurants, boutiques, book shops, many with capacity for 5-10 people, perfect to catch your breath. On the whole, these spaces play music at a reasonable level and Japanese people are quiet and respectful. I agree with others that you might get stares, but so will any foreigner.

   Nevertheless, I have to recommend against any arcade, pachinko place, or entertainment district, especially at night. The sounds/music are oppressive!

   I’m neurotypical and don’t live with anyone with autism, so you’ll have to determine what works for you. Still, I don’t think Tokyo is an impossible visit if it’s something you’re excited about. You can also take the train to any number of chiller areas. I loved going to the Inokashira zoo to pet the guinea pigs! It’s also a pleasantly walk to the Ghibli Museum. And Meiji Park is a peaceful oasis in Harajuku, probably my favorite area in Tokyo with towering trees, wide walkways, and quiet. You’d never know you were in the city.

6. Japan is polite, there likely will not be any issue with people being rude, aside from stares. As a matter of fact there might not be any acknowledgement at all. I had an issue in which I briefly thought I may need help. I got overheated in a restaurant in Shibuya, and needed to cool off quickly. I indicated distress by calling for help “Tasukete”. In the end, I received none, and had to get icewater myself.

7. A lot of people here advising against it, but I want to offer my thoughts as someone living in Tokyo with sensory issues. As long as you avoid traveling at peak hours (before 10am, after 6pm) the trains are usually half empty and people are generally quiet.
   Unfortunately many of the top tourist areas of the city are some of the loudest and busiest, however if you visit in the morning you can avoid the crowds. There are many charming, less touristy areas with lots of quiet cafes and parks.
   There’s no need to worry about how people will react to your friend’s stimming etc. As others have described, people generally will keep to themselves. I highly recommend she bring some headphones as shopping areas can be very noisy and sunglasses if she is sensitive to bright lights. I hope this helps, have a great trip!

8. There’s a lot of words of discouragement here, so I want to share my opinion as someone who does have autism (although I’m very low needs / high functioning)

   I found Tokyo fairly easy to navigate, and shopping centres etc much quieter than at home. I did have a problem with arcades, as the loud noises hurt my ears. I didn’t mind how crowded train stations were, as people walked in one direction with purpose, rather than ambling about, so I didn’t have to think as hard about where things were.

   I did experience burn-out one day, but I just needed my travel buddy to figure out the best way “home” so I could rest. We stayed in a residential area, rather than in the city, which was both good and bad (long travel times vs. quieter environment)

   As I get distressed from interacting with others, the language barrier was honestly a relief, I could relax without being expected to uphold small talk. Also having a “gaijin pass” was good.

   Honestly, I enjoyed my time out of the cities the most, and would spend more time wandering streets, visiting smaller towns etc when I go back again.

   As for direct answers to your questions:

   1- I personally don’t stim (I mask pretty hard), but I doubt it’ll be a problem. As long as she’s not making loud noises in a quiet space, people might stare, but generally won’t come up to you. If it is causing an issue in a public space, you may just be asked to leave.

   2- Again, I doubt there’ll be an issue, but it might be a good idea to take a card with English and Japanese on it to just say “I have Autism, thank you for your patience” to show people in case a situation does arise.

9. A lot of helpful information here. It might be good to take them perhaps somewhere smaller, Hiroshima, possibly Kyoto or Hokkaido?

   I can’t speak to the autistic experience but I found Hiroshima to have a nice slow pace. I ventured to the Floating Torii Gate and the boat ride was pretty cool. Osaka can be busy but not like Tokyo.

   I would love to go back. Hope you get to go one day!

10. This doesn’t directly answer your question, but Mobility International has a range of articles written by travelers with autism. It’s geared towards study abroad, but might also be helpful to review.

    – [Autism and International Exchange Tips for Travelers ](https://www.miusa.org/resource/tipsheet/autism)
    – [While You’re Abroad: Tips By and For Travelers With Autism ](https://www.miusa.org/resource/tipsheet/autismadvice)
    – For a quick and always easy quiet spot head to any department store ladies room. [Department stores in Japan](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0003551/) are often connected to or right across the street from major train stations and names to look for include Daimaru, Takashimaya, Hankyu, and Isetan. If you go to one of the restrooms on the upper floors of department stores there will usually be a bench or spot to sit and often a mother’s/nursing room where you could sit quietly. There are also often larger handicapped/osteomate restrooms in stations or some department stores where the two of you could close the door and be entirely alone/quiet. They also have restaurant floors on the top of the building and nice food halls in the basement where you can buy prepared food to go and take back to your room to eat if you need a quiet break and aren’t up for a restaurant meal. See [“Most Popular Department Stores in Japan” ](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a9000049/)
    – [Wheelchair Accessible Toilets in Japan (Private spot for quiet time if needed) ](https://www.accessible-japan.com/wheelchair-accessible-toilets-in-japan/)
    – You can also review the [Accessible Japan website. ](https://www.accessible-japan.com) It’s geared towards travelers with physical disabilities but some of the info/resources might be helpful.

    I also agree that Tokyo, especially if coming in the heat/humidity of summer, can get to be a lot. It’s a hot, humid, concrete jungle with lots of music/adverts/announcements where ever you go. If possible, come between November – April so you can enjoy the pleasant fall or spring weather and avoid summer at all costs. However, if you seek them out, you can find gardens and parks that are peaceful oases. I like to plan a visit to a garden for early to mid-afternoon as it’s a nice break and even in the heat of summer it feels cooler wandering through a garden and finding a bit of shade.

    – [JapanGuide: Parks and Gardens of Tokyo](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3034.html)
    – [8 Best Tokyo Gardens ](https://jw-webmagazine.com/7-most-gorgeous-japanese-gardens-in-tokyo-600b87064dd8/)
    – One of my favorite gardens is the [Institute for Nature Study ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3044.html) near Meguro station. It’s a large park with a pond and you’ll see songbirds and beautiful plants/trees. There are often people there painting and it just feels nice and relaxing. Buy a bento/sandwich from a convenience store and enjoy a leisurely picnic here.

    Also, consider some day trips outside of the central city area but play things by ear as sometimes you just need a down/slow day where you sleep in or head back to the hotel midday for a nap/rest. If you aren’t trying to cram too much into each day you’ll have a more relaxed/fun trip overall.

    – [Top 25 Easy Day Trips From Tokyo ](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/easy-day-trips-from-tokyo/)
    – [Enoshima Island Day Trip Itinerary ](https://trulytokyo.com/enoshima-island-day-trip-itinerary/)
    – [Kamakura Day Trip Itinerary ](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-kanagawa/in-kamakura/article-a0003564/)

    Finally, lump your travel by district. Head to one district in the morning and plan for your top must-see in that area first and then wander around a bit to see other nearby sites and shopping areas. That way you’ll spend less time time in busy/crowded trains and not lose time traveling across the city each day. It’s not the best travel deal, but if you realize after getting here that the trains are too much there is a sightseeing bus you can use that will take you around the city to many of the key sights.

    – [Tokyo Districts ](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-kanagawa/in-kamakura/article-a0003564/)
    – [12 Unique Tokyo Districts and Neighborhoods ](https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002322/)
    – [Tokyo Neighborhoods and Area Guides ](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/neighborhoods)
    – [Tokyo’s Best Old World Districts ](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/shitamachi-old-tokyo-neighborhoods/)
    – [Tokyo SkyHop Bus ](https://skyhopbus.com)

    As long as you remain flexible and play things by ear based on how you and your travel companion feel each day you should have a nice trip. Every traveler gets tired, hot, hungry, and crabby sometimes so these tips are important for everyone when in a crazy huge metropolis like Tokyo. I love getting out of Tokyo to the countryside and smaller cities of Japan too, but if what you really want is to see/experience Tokyo don’t be afraid – you’ll have a great trip!

11. Locals in Japan generally do not have a great knowledge on what 自閉症 (jiheisho = autism) is and it will be quite difficult to explain.

    It might be better to explain the specific things that she is sensitive to for example,

    not good with crowded places (人が多い場所が苦手 – hito ga ooi basho ga nigate)

12. I had to look up what stimming was. The only time I could see anyone having a issue with it would be if it happened on a crowded train during rush hour. Which is like 7-10 am and 5:30-8pm. Other than that people will maybe quickly look but keep walking. A crowd won’t develop to watch if thats what she’s worried about.

    The card idea sounds great from previous posts. Get them in the standard Japanese business card size.

13. I’m ASD and I’ve been to Japan (pre-diagnoses), tho I don’t have many obvious visual stims. I do have very severe sensory sensitivity – and can personally say Tokyo is completely doable!

    Tokyo *can* be overwhelming, but if you do your research it can be mitigated. Don’t get on trains during rush hour, either walk around or get on the train not-on-rush-hour.
    Idk how it’s gonna be post-rona, but Harajuko on weekends is packed AF, it’s still nice during weekdays so you could go then.

    Personally I booked a hotel in the middle of Shinjuku – then a lot of interesting things were in walking distance and I didn’t have to get on a train early morning to keep me occupied. A hotel in a “not fun” neighborhood will be cheaper but having to take public transport to get to the fun bits might be too much for your friend.

    I don’t think many Japanese people know what autism is… I’d go with other people’s suggestions and just saying she’s not good with crowded places.
    Yes people will stare, you are foreigners, they won’t approach you tho – so try to ignore it to the best of your ability.

    Personally, I found Tokyo to be on the boring side when I avoided the very crowded overwhelming bits. 🤣 I was there for a week and could have probably shortened it to 4 days.

14. I think you’ll be fine as long as you go at your own pace and avoid rush hour. In my daily commutes I often see non nt people stimming, speaking to themselves or making sounds. Unless someone seems very loud or upset, I’ve rarely seen much of any reaction from other people.

    You might get more comments outside of Tokyo, especially from older people. But even then it will probably just be friendly semi nosy comments. If you’ve been here before, you probably at least know some basic phrases to say, “don’t worry, she’s fine.” Chances are they’ll just ask what country you’re from and go on their way. (I feel like I get that question every time I set foot outside of Tokyo. It can get tedious but I think people mean well and just want to interact briefly.)

    I also often see people wearing a small red badge with a white plus on their backpack. I don’t know, but my assumption is that it means they have some kind of medical condition and it’s a indication that others should be understanding or helpful if needed. It might be something to look in to if the person you’re traveling with is comfortable with it.

15. 1. Yes, some people might give you the stare of disapproval but most people will mind their own business.

    2. If you don’t speak japanese this will be a hard one since a lot of people in Japan doesn’t speak english and if they do it Will be basic english. I don’t think that this will be an issue though because i doubt that there will be any confrontation at all.

16. As an Autist myself who went to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (among other cities) I must say it can be challenging. Tokyo in particular has the problem that you can have a relatively calm street or park and round a corner and suddenly you reach time Square levels of crowds. The upside is that even in tourist spots there’s always a more silent place just around the corner. Especially in the morning Tokyo can seem like a ghost town. Explaining the condition might be a bit hard but having a high rate of disabled and elderly people themselves Japanese tend to be understanding if you tell them your company is disabled (in romaji eg “Juudo No shogai desu”). Also if you have a certificate a lot of attractions such as museums, shrines and temples will be free of charge for her and perhaps for you as well.
    Transport will potentially be a nightmare for her. Avoid travelling using the metro between roughly 7 and 9 in the morning at all costs. Buses however should be fine, as should shinkansen, and regional trains. In case the metro still proves a problem there are often so called pink cars for women which are usually a bit more empty. In case you are male and not Japanese you’ll be stared at but they will assume a simple gaijin slip up and not bother you riding on a pink car. Also consider buying a green card membership for JR as those cars cost a bit more but are pretty empty most times of the day. Think of them as a sort of 1st class in metro and local trains.

    Avoid visiting festivals (espc. Shrine festivals) in city areas as they’ll be very busy and even side roads are often overrun in the temple area. Other than that keep sunglasses or similar at hand during nighttime as some parts of Osaka and Tokyo are plastered with bright ads and signs. Think about avoiding pleasure and entertainment districts such as dotonbori, kabukicho, akihabara and roppongi at nighttime as they’re packed and very stimulating in auditive and visual regards.

    Other than that I would say go for it. If you plan ahead well enough it should be manageable even to the extend that she can visit major sights.

17. Personally…I would advise against Tokyo at night if you have sensory overload issues or crowd issues….its a nightmare if you get easily overstimulated…would suggets Tokyo by day and somewhere more calm at night….and I learned that the hard way…me and partner visited Tokyo before the pandemic,and he has issues with huge crowds…he doesn’t have autism…he told me what its called but I forgot…we didn’t think and booked 2 weeks in Tokyo…it was the worst trip of my life…not because of Japan or Tokyo…that was awesome…but because my bf was on the verge of a full meltdown the entire time because of the crowds…lights and such didn’t really overstimulate him…guess the crowds were just too much for him…and people did stare when I would try to calm him down….and we had no way of explaining what was going on because neither of us knew any Japanese :/

    But if you are worried someone is going to point and laugh at you….never heard that happening and it didn’t happen with us…I think people were just curious about what was going on 🙂

    I would do what someone else said here….have someone write her condition on a card in Japanese and check if her meds are legal if she takes some…the meds thing applies to any foreign country you visit…not everything is legal everywhere

18. I have similar issues and was very afraid when I left to Japan for my exchange semester back in 2017. I still went because I wanted to experience life on the other side of the globe and that always kept me going.

    Surprisingly, I got better along with the overstimulation than in my home country! Everything in Tokyo is just more in order, the people are quiet and polite, it was easy to navigate subways and stuff because the system is made so well and clear. No stenches, no terrible chaos, seldom loud noises (except if you go to Akihabara and the likes).
    I was still exhausted after every trip around the city I took, but it was all in a manageable range. It actually boosted my confidence a lot because I was suddenly able to go places without totally freaking out – she’ll be fine!

19. People in this thread are acting like there aren’t at least thousands of autistic Japanese people live in Tokyo already. There are absolutely spots which are overstimulating, but it’s pretty ableist to be like “don’t go to one of the biggest cities because it has robot restaurant.” That said, don’t go to robot restaurant.

    There are some places in Tokyo which really lean into overstimulation as an aesthetic, either intentionally or as a result of lack of space. However, most parts of Tokyo aren’t more overstimulating than any other big city. Planning and preparing around/avoiding the overstimulating neighborhoods (Kabukicho, Akiba, etc.) by going earlier in the day, bringing headphones and sunglasses, and practicing making a quiet, dark space without needing to leave where you are will go a long way in making your trip an enjoyable one. If you do find yourself in an overstimulating place (e.g. Don Quijote in Akihabara) then going to a corner, and just implement what was practiced.

    In terms of stimming, I wouldn’t worry too much, people won’t bother you unless it looks/sounds like you’re having a problem. I know sometimes stimming can be vocal, which might be more problematic, but a simple “gomen nasai” should smooth things over. Still, it might not hurt to have a few cards in Japanese explaining things just in case. Especially if you have an unrelated medical emergency, it can be helpful to medical personnel.

    Finally, if you do plan a diverse trip around Tokyo you’ll find there are lots of very tranquil spots well within the city. Some fantastic gardens typically have entry fees, so they’re rarely if ever crowded. Lots of cafes don’t have a lot of seating, so off peak hours can be very relaxing because it’s physically impossible for them to be crowded. Temples and shrines that aren’t tourist sites are almost always places of tranquility, and because of this a certain level of reverence is expected. If you’re more than 5-10 minutes walking away from a major train station, and it’s not rush hour, things tend to be pretty chill. I’ve had lots of experiences when I’ve been the only person in a shop because it’s the middle of the day on a Wednesday and all the regulars are either at work or school.

    Feel free to message me if you have any questions!

20. Great advice here. I want to add that if any of her stimming or sensory overload behaviors get quite loud indoors, be prepared to leave or move to a different location. One thing about Japan in general, even in a busy city like Tokyo, is their indoor voices are like our library voices. If you’re loud in a restaurant or cafe, you will be stared at and it’s very uncomfortable for you and everyone around you. Just a heads up.

21. For the first question, I think that in general people mind their own business. Yes, for sure there is people who might look at your, but in most situation, I doubt you should have any concern. Best case, a kind person will ask if you need any medical assistance if she seems unwell and worst case, could get the attention of staff or security if it was more sever, like being extremely loud for an extensive time, breaking stuff or assaulting people (just saying as a worst case scenario of what could happen with some intellectual disabilities, not talking specifically about autism or your kid). So from what you describe, you should be fine.

    If the question of mental health in Japan interest you, then I would recommend the documentary Mental by Kazuhiro Soda. Let’s say that there is a strong stigma about mental health in Japan, it’s something that people tend to hide rather than publicly try to explain. To be honest, I am not sure how much people know about intellectual disabilities and how much they would understand if you use the word autism.

22. There’s a guy on my train every morning who stims and vocalizes from time to time. Most people don’t even look up from their phones. I think the general MO here (sometimes to a fault) is to mind your own business until someone prevents you from minding your own business. I feel like people stare less here than they do in places like Europe or the US, or at least, they’re sneakier about it.

    I’ve also seen something called the “Help Mark” (ヘルプマーク), a red tag with a white cross, which people with hidden disabilities wear so they don’t have to explain why they need to use the priority seat, or might need special accommodations. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it used by people with autism before, so it might be helpful to your situation in addition to the printed cards other commenters have mentioned.

23. I’m not on the spectrum and *I* find Tokyo, at least near Shinjuku, to be overstimulating. Depending on how far from the hotel you are, maybe plan and budget for a taxi back if it gets bad enough to pull the ripcord.

24. Someone recommended hiring a guide, I think that’s an absolutely, fantastic idea for this situation. Our experience in Tokyo varied from crushing crowds/sensory overload to quite walks around the Imperial Palace and the parks. We hired a guide for a few days in Tokyo to get our bearings and it was absolutely worth it. PM if you need a recommendation, I used a guide who I think might be ideal for your situation.

25. Spectrum traveler hear. I (23 at the time of 2019) for the most part am really adjusted but I still can have the rare case of sensory issues that are visible to someone on the outside. I had some issues with auditory in japan through out Tokyo (I’ve been to Tokyo and Kyoto). I believe they are [sonic devices](https://www.google.com/search?q=sonic+devices+to+keep+bugs+away&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS831US831&oq=sonic+devices+to+keeo+bugs+a&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33i10i22i29i30.21143j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) (targeted towards bugs or maybe kids but I dought the latter) I can’t remember except 2 places. [Seibu Shibuya](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Seibu+Shibuya/@35.6602498,139.7004088,177m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x60188ca858d16775:0x95a770f2600e3211!4m5!3m4!1s0x60188ca86b3740b9:0x5d0968ff236330a0!8m2!3d35.660227!4d139.7003304?hl=en) had one. The second place where I had an auditory issue with more often (Hotel was in close proximity) was in Shinjuku at [Cinecity Plaza](https://goo.gl/maps/kxbJyKBXPhWZYVYZ9) coming out of Toho building across the street. I knoticed it and it sounded like a panic alarm or a less loud fire alarm but my friend (22) couldn’t here it. other wise that I had no issues.

    We timed the trains (Like the Yomanota) from 7-9 ish (a lot of places open late too) and 5-7 ish. We only been on a train where the pushers were on standby at the time once.

    If you want to get away from the crowds get away from the stations and main thoroughfare. It’s not that hard to get to an isolated place to de stim even while being next too the party central that is Shinjuku.

    Edit:

    I have a kind of low key Pachinko parlor suggestion. [Nakano Broadway](https://goo.gl/maps/iYnPVTLnXVPJYbXTA) has a pachinko parlor (plus coin pushers and other common games) in a relatively low crowd and not music that turns the base up to 11. If you like anime and manga and/or old vintage stuff as well there’s a ton of specialty [Mandarake stores](https://www.mandarake.co.jp/dir/nkn/index-en.html#googtrans(ja|en)).

26. >What is the reaction likely to be to these behaviours in Japan? Will people just stare a little but let her be herself or will it become a concern?

    Unless you are somehow causing othes problems which I can’t see happening based on your descriptions, most people will probably just ignore her. They might notice but it’s not uncommon to see retarded people off by themselves doing whatever in the train or elsewhere. I have one retarded man who often rides my train and makes loud animal noises, people notice and occasionally someone might stare but everyone just leaves him be and 99% of people don’t bat an eye, no one cares.

    >What is the best way to explain this in Japanese if necessary? It’s very difficult to get any information on what the most current correct term for someone with autism or intellectual disabilities is in Japanese, but she wants to be able to explain in case there is an issue.

    Why? Don’t say anything. People who know about these conditions will realize what it is an be considerate. People who don’t will just think you are weird and go about their business. I can’t think of any situations where you will be benefited by trying to explain it to anyone, most likely you’ll just confuse people.

    Autism in Japanese is 自閉症 FYI.

    There’s not really any special things to do if it’s autism that is managed well. I think it’s a very personal issue and the needs and measures taken will have to vary significantly from person to person. I’d not expect you’ll enjoy the crowded trains or other crowded areas but who does, can’t make that judgement call here on whether or not they can handle it or not, that will have to be their own call.

    Most people in Japan mind their own business and don’t bother conserning themselves with others. Good for anyone with a mental disability as they are largely let be. Bad if you want special understanding or accomodations because most people don’t know or care about making them.

27. I am surprised that no-one mentioned these

    1- It is well known that Tokyo and all major city trains/subways are super crowded during the rush hours, regardless of your friend’s condition better to stay away from public transportation during that time frame. The same rule applies to popular landmarks during the peak season (cherry blossom, new years, etc.)

    2- Because of cultural reasons, Japanese people show LESS facial reactions to people around them and in general criticizing or blaming others is less common.

    3- Compared to other countries, places tend to be quieter though