1. Impeccably clean and efficient - trains famously run precisely on time but their discipline, punctuality, and cleanliness extends to most aspects of public life - sidewalks, roads, restaurants, all forms of public transport, and virtually all public areas are clinically clean and impressively efficient.
2. Serious and seriously polite people - my impressions are titled towards Tokyo (only been there and Kyoto thus far), but people are amazingly focused, yet polite. In other places I've noticed a high intensity (NYC in particular), the professionalism often gives way to short or even rude behavior towards others. A mere glance at public officials in Japan often elicits a polite, welcoming head bow.
3. Design and Engineering - I'm convinced the Japanese have much higher manufacturing standards than Americans. We've stayed in hotels ranging from 3 to 5 stars. Normal things like furniture, appliances, and fixtures are built with incredible attention to detail. As a small example, their water seals in bathrooms are leak proof. If water isn't meant to be there, it just won't be, despite how you use the faucet/door/tub.
4. Food is diverse - had a minor debate on this with someone that's been living here for a while, so not confident on this one but Japanese food is a hell lot more than sushi and ramen and the flavors are wide ranging. Obviously some ignorance coming through here, but yakitori, sukiyaki, soba, udon, and tempura are just a few of the things I've discovered thus far.
5. Tons of history - their culture is steeped in long standing tradition. It's easy to feel the longevity of their civilization. They didn't just wake up to the marvel that is Tokyo - it shows their civilization is centuries in the making and developing still. They've readily adopted good ideas from the west and incorporated them seamlessly into their own culture. Fashion is a good example. Their formal wear is almost exclusively western. I've seen more suits in Tokyo than ever before - on men, women, boys, and girls. Very impressive, even if a little tedious. Finally, a little reading reveals that Japanese life was historically fairly entrenched in military principles and ideas (lofty status of the samurai and such). Things have obviously changed since WWII but my take is that the discipline and rigor of modern Japanese life is rooted in their historically militaristic attitudes and identity.
In brief, it's like visiting a real life exhibition on a parallel civilization that existed before our time and advanced on its own but occasionally meshed with isolated ideas from the west. I said to Kasey, if we have kids, some day I want to send them to Japan for a few years so they don't grow up to be entitled, self-assured brats.
Addendum - it looks I missed a few essentials so here goes:
6. Asian toilets - the kind where you have to squat.
7. Heated toilet seats - with control panels.
8. Karaoke - saw a few places but couldn't tell if more common than America say. Probably.
9. Anime - half a shopping district, in Akhiabara, was devoted to it. Supposedly considered alt-culture by the locals.
10. Automatic taxi doors - the doors open/close automatically. The taxis themselves are not new but all taxis have them. Very useful.
11. Train exit indicator - the LCD panel on subway trains indicates where the closest exits will be after the train stops. It's incredibly useful. The locals seems to optimize for the right train car.
12. Floor guides for the visually impaired - sidewalks and all walking platforms have texturized features that serve as walking tracks / a form of Braille for the visually impaired. These are everywhere. Including inside our hotel. In general Japanese society caters especially for visual impairment. Pedestrian crossing areas have audio cues.
13. Cherry blossom viewing spots - countless designated areas for seeing them. The locals are as taken by these fleeting blossoms as foreigners. They flock to them in scores and set up picnics directly beneath them. It makes being a blossom obsessed tourist a little less embarrassing.
14. Varying degrees of foreign-friendliness. While public transit has a lot of English signage and restaurants frequently have English menus, it's not hard to find yourself in a Japanese-only zone. As an example, we were in a taxi that advertised itself as foreign friendly.
15. Tattoos - Public pools and baths are no tattoo zones. Because only thugs have tattoos. I agree.
16. Bowing - already covered under politeness, but this deserves a special mention. You can seemingly initiate a never ending sequence of bowing with almost anyone. As a mini-competition, this will be tough to win. I've gone as many as seven times back and forth and yet to have the last bow. I even got out-bowed as the elevator doors closed on me. Several times.
