I’d absolutely have to highlight the bathrooms here. They are sealed from top to bottom and even incorporate magnetism in their design! I can snap the magnetic soap holder I bought from the 100 yen shop anywhere – even onto the ceiling! Not that I would actually do that, but it’s still nice to have the option! Lol.
Heated vending machines, they’re so luxurious.
Agree with bathrooms. I love the unit baths, and the fancy toilets. I also love my kotatsu.
The water heater. Set the temp and forget about. No messing with knobs to get the hot/cold mix just right.
the food packaging in general. There’s all sorts of neat wrinkles to their design and all of them are different.
The gold standard in a category of its own… the washlet.
TV in bathroom.
Toilet roll holders, the design is so simple yet so much better than having to deal with the cores.
I saw a rubber mat thrown over some construction broken sidewalk for my bike to ride over.
The shower toilet. I don’t know how the rest of the world lives without it.
Fax machines.
…
Having a printer and document scanner and ticketing machine thing in every combini is awesome. Japan puts the “convenience” back in convenience store.
The whiteboard at the old company I worked at with its own printer attached.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned banana holder!
The place where the toilet paper goes into (i.e. toilet paper holder) So simple, yet so well thought out
I really like the self heating bath tubs so everyone can take a bath in hot water, i know this is not only Japan but as a third world country girl trains, specially the Shinkansen makes me so happy and I am impressed by them daily
Tell me you’re writing a buzzfeed article without telling me you’re writing one.
It’s not an everyday item for me (I don’t own one) but I am forever in awe of the coats with small fans for construction workers to reduce body temperature. It’s brilliant.
I like the faucet built into the toilet. Upset our new house didn’t have an option for that.
Baby strollers at the mall and grocery stores and shopping carts with cell phone stand attachments.
Not a product but really appreciate the luggage delivery service from the home to airport even if it’s in a city farther away.
Not just one thing, but generally stuff you can find in 100-yen shops. They sell a lot of small items designed specifically to solve little everyday problems
Definitely the washlet, it’s weird for me not to have it when i go back to Europe.
But I disagree on the kotatsu: we don’t have it back home because we have central heating and proper insulation, so that we don’t freeze inside even if it’s minus something outside! Rant over.
Packaging design is a different level
I was fascinated by the Kotatsu when I first arrived, and quickly bought one for my not-so great, barely furnished apartment. I also had a kerosene heater. Yes, this was many decades ago.
But my love for the Kotatsu is gone. I don’t need to sit on the floor with my feet too hot while my upper body is cold. Maybe I just have better heating options these days.
Train systems, i wish my country had as many trains or more
• Heated toilet seats
• 24hr convenient stores that sells pretty much everything you need (also so easy to pay for things and mail things!)
• 100 yen shops (especially Seria!)
• Small portions / compact designs (like 軽自動車, or small portion snacks, small portable fans, etc.)
• Movie theaters (I love their popcorn and also generally how clean it is)
The large dust pan “Temi” it can be used for everything. As a tray, a bucket super useful for blue collar work things.
The jackets with fans in them, pretty neat idea. No idea how well they work but it seems like every one who works outside in Japan and elderly have them
My toilet, the wife and I bought a new house, was built last year. It’s got a toto neorest. Auto flush, anti smell system, bidet. best throne I’ve ever owned mate.
Honourable mention; the bath system, don’t know what it is, but it self fills, keeps the temp, and self cleans. Also has an intercom to the panel in the living space.
Bless you Japan.
Disposable rain covers for handbags/purses/satchels. All sizes, 100 yen c:
They’re probably terrible for the environment, but the dispensers at the doors for buildings that offer plastic wrap for your umbrella so that it doesn’t drop all over the floor and create slipping hazards.
The arse fountain in every toilet. Magical item from the future.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it surprised me, but those egg hole punchers that help peel egg shells easier after boiling is something I haven’t seen elsewhere.
The culture. After 16 years here the technology is boring and non-innovative. But the culture of Japan and country life is fascinating. Love Japan!
You know what’s more innovative than a kotatsu? Insulated homes with heating.
I never saw heat pads before until I moved to Japan (カイãƒ).
41 comments
I’d absolutely have to highlight the bathrooms here. They are sealed from top to bottom and even incorporate magnetism in their design! I can snap the magnetic soap holder I bought from the 100 yen shop anywhere – even onto the ceiling! Not that I would actually do that, but it’s still nice to have the option! Lol.
Heated vending machines, they’re so luxurious.
Agree with bathrooms. I love the unit baths, and the fancy toilets. I also love my kotatsu.
The water heater. Set the temp and forget about. No messing with knobs to get the hot/cold mix just right.
the food packaging in general. There’s all sorts of neat wrinkles to their design and all of them are different.
The gold standard in a category of its own… the washlet.
TV in bathroom.
Toilet roll holders, the design is so simple yet so much better than having to deal with the cores.
I saw a rubber mat thrown over some construction broken sidewalk for my bike to ride over.
The shower toilet. I don’t know how the rest of the world lives without it.
Fax machines.
…
Having a printer and document scanner and ticketing machine thing in every combini is awesome. Japan puts the “convenience” back in convenience store.
The whiteboard at the old company I worked at with its own printer attached.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned banana holder!
The place where the toilet paper goes into (i.e. toilet paper holder)
So simple, yet so well thought out
I really like the self heating bath tubs so everyone can take a bath in hot water, i know this is not only Japan but as a third world country girl trains, specially the Shinkansen makes me so happy and I am impressed by them daily
Tell me you’re writing a buzzfeed article without telling me you’re writing one.
It’s not an everyday item for me (I don’t own one) but I am forever in awe of the coats with small fans for construction workers to reduce body temperature. It’s brilliant.
I like the faucet built into the toilet. Upset our new house didn’t have an option for that.
Baby strollers at the mall and grocery stores and shopping carts with cell phone stand attachments.
Not a product but really appreciate the luggage delivery service from the home to airport even if it’s in a city farther away.
Not just one thing, but generally stuff you can find in 100-yen shops. They sell a lot of small items designed specifically to solve little everyday problems
Definitely the washlet, it’s weird for me not to have it when i go back to Europe.
But I disagree on the kotatsu: we don’t have it back home because we have central heating and proper insulation, so that we don’t freeze inside even if it’s minus something outside! Rant over.
Packaging design is a different level
I was fascinated by the Kotatsu when I first arrived, and quickly bought one for my not-so great, barely furnished apartment. I also had a kerosene heater. Yes, this was many decades ago.
But my love for the Kotatsu is gone. I don’t need to sit on the floor with my feet too hot while my upper body is cold. Maybe I just have better heating options these days.
Train systems, i wish my country had as many trains or more
• Heated toilet seats
• 24hr convenient stores that sells pretty much everything you need (also so easy to pay for things and mail things!)
• 100 yen shops (especially Seria!)
• Small portions / compact designs (like 軽自動車, or small portion snacks, small portable fans, etc.)
• Movie theaters (I love their popcorn and also generally how clean it is)
• Don Quixote
• Trains and buses!
Fax machines
Fan jackets
https://preview.redd.it/h3xmfo0endmb1.jpeg?width=678&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb1ca23f3280622570ce30152809d7562c2cd7d3
The sub kitchen sink food catcher.
The large dust pan “Temi” it can be used for everything. As a tray, a bucket super useful for blue collar work things.
The jackets with fans in them, pretty neat idea. No idea how well they work but it seems like every one who works outside in Japan and elderly have them
My toilet, the wife and I bought a new house, was built last year. It’s got a toto neorest. Auto flush, anti smell system, bidet. best throne I’ve ever owned mate.
Honourable mention; the bath system, don’t know what it is, but it self fills, keeps the temp, and self cleans. Also has an intercom to the panel in the living space.
Bless you Japan.
Disposable rain covers for handbags/purses/satchels. All sizes, 100 yen c:
They’re probably terrible for the environment, but the dispensers at the doors for buildings that offer plastic wrap for your umbrella so that it doesn’t drop all over the floor and create slipping hazards.
The arse fountain in every toilet. Magical item from the future.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it surprised me, but those egg hole punchers that help peel egg shells easier after boiling is something I haven’t seen elsewhere.
The culture. After 16 years here the technology is boring and non-innovative. But the culture of Japan and country life is fascinating. Love Japan!
You know what’s more innovative than a kotatsu? Insulated homes with heating.
I never saw heat pads before until I moved to Japan (カイãƒ).
Sliding doors
Almost flat magnetic door stop
Modular bathrooms that reduce so much cleaning
Microwaveable foods with vent
Dual function (heater/ac) air conditioners
Magnetic showers