Tyler Cowen lists some small observations on a recent trip to Tokyo. Here’s some of my own, having lived in Tokyo for the past 18 months:

All public schools use a chiming clock to tell the time, the chimes are identical for every school, and they play a gentle version of the chimes of Big Ben in London.

Advertisements on trains and in public places don’t highlight URLs any more, they show you a search box with what to search for.

People do not eat in public unless there is a seat to sit on. As a last resort, squat (do not sit) on the pavement. Walking and eating simultaneously is rude.

Phone cameras make a very loud sound when you take a picture (and you can’t turn the sound off), for obvious reasons.

Mobile phones often have a built-in flashlight, which is much more useful than you’d expect.

People who were walking often start to run when going up stairs.

In winter, drink vending machines sell hot cans of coffee as well as cold drinks.

There are very few public rubbish bins. Take your trash home with you.

Restrooms are generally pretty clean, but there is often no soap and/or no means of drying your hands. As a result, many people, especially women, carry a small hand towel, and some people carry soap.

Movies are very expensive, about 2,000 yen per person. Renting a DVD is very cheap, about 350 yen for an overnight new release.

You can easily buy cigarettes and beer from vending machines, although soon you will need an electronic ID to prove you are old enough.

At home, your electricity plan determines how much power you can use at any given instant (e.g. 30 amps). Exceed the limit and all the electricity to your apartment shuts off, without warning. If you want to increase the limit, you have to pay a higher monthly fee.

Car drivers are generally very careful and cautious. Bicycle riders are not, and often ride on the wrong side of the road, though red lights, etc.