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Japan
Let's explore one of the world's most fascinating countries — packed with surprises, stories, and pen pal potential.
The Basics
3 Things That Will Blow Your Mind
Genuinely. You'll want to tell someone immediately.
Japan has a vending machine every 23 people
Japan has more vending machines per person than any other country — around 5 million of them. You can buy hot ramen, fresh eggs, umbrellas, books, and even neckties from vending machines on ordinary streets.
The bullet train is never late
Japan's Shinkansen bullet train network has an average delay of under one minute per journey — across the entire network. If a train is more than a minute late, the operator issues an official written apology to passengers.
Japan's imperial family is the oldest in the world
The Japanese emperor comes from a family that has reigned continuously for over 1,300 years — possibly much longer. It is the world's oldest hereditary monarchy by a very long way.
Famous For
Cherry Blossoms
Every spring, Japan's cherry trees burst into pink and white blossom for just a week or two. The Japanese call it sakura season — millions of people picnic under the trees to celebrate.
Sushi & Ramen
Japanese food culture is extraordinarily deep and regional. A bowl of ramen in Tokyo tastes completely different from one in Osaka. Sushi chefs train for years before being allowed to serve rice.
Temples & Technology
Ancient shrines and temples sit right next to the world's most advanced cities. In Tokyo you can walk from a 1,000-year-old shrine to a robot restaurant in ten minutes.
Games, Anime & Manga
Nintendo, Sony, Pokémon, Mario, Dragon Ball, Studio Ghibli — Japan's contribution to global pop culture is almost impossible to overstate.
Did You Know?
Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes every year — most too small to feel. The country is built for it: buildings sway instead of crumble, and schoolchildren practise earthquake drills the way others practise fire drills.
Pen Pal Connection
A child in Japan might write to you about their school club (robotics, calligraphy, tea ceremony, football — most students do one after school every day), cherry blossom season, a temple visit, or their absolute favourite snack from the convenience store.