Seven "Shocking Experiences" Japanese People Encounter in China on Their First Trip Abroad

A Japanese article titled "Nakazawa Seiyo," published by the Japanese media outlet ROCKEN NEWS on August 6, recounts the author's first trip abroad to China and the seven culture shock incidents that left him astonished.

The article states: "I'm not particularly interested in traveling overseas—I prefer staying at home, so I've never been abroad. Deep down, I have a certain resistance to crossing borders. But this time, I was invited to China through the YouTube channel 'Butch Tabi,' which specializes in exploring fresh stories across mainland China."

Therefore, when I made my first trip abroad, cultural shock was inevitable. I'd like to share seven things that shocked me.

· Shocking Incident 1: "Cashless Payments." Cashless payments in China far exceed those in Japan. From trains to morning market stalls and local shops—even in rural villages—all transactions are conducted via Alipay or WeChat Pay. I visited places ranging from bustling cities to remote mountainous areas, from tourist shops to tiny local eateries serving only locals—and I never once used cash. The local payment systems are also quite accessible to foreign tourists.

Shocking Incident 2: "Surveillance Cameras." Surveillance cameras are everywhere across China, even in remote areas such as Shanxi Province and Beijing. As a Japanese person, I was initially startled... But upon reflection, I had no intention of breaking any laws, nor was I here to commit crimes. Once you get used to it, it actually enhances the sense of safety for ordinary people.

Shocking Incident 3: "iPhone Camera Shutter No Longer Makes a Sound." In Japan, even when an iPhone is set to silent mode, the camera shutter still produces a sound. However, after entering China, the shutter sound disappeared. At first, I thought something was broken—but clearly, it’s because I’m no longer in Japan. Even the same iPhone will disable the shutter sound if you enter a country where it can be silenced. Thus, my iPhone remained in silent mode, and it knew I was in China. By the way, apparently, only Japan and South Korea do not allow shutter sounds to be turned off.

· Shocking Incident 4: "Toilets." Most Chinese toilets cannot flush toilet paper down the drain. So what happens to the paper used to wipe after using the restroom? There’s usually a trash bin beside the toilet—just throw it there. I believe many Japanese people would find this hard to accept. But I quickly adapted; however, changing deeply ingrained habits proved difficult. Out of habit, I accidentally threw paper into the toilet several times, so I had to constantly remind myself. During my ten-day stay in China, the only toilet I saw that could handle toilet paper was in a shopping mall—where the toilet paper was specifically designed to be flushed safely. This experience made me appreciate Japan’s sewage infrastructure.

Shocking Incident 5: "Shared Bicycles." The impression that "China is a bicycle kingdom" has long existed, but I was still surprised by how widespread shared bicycles have become. It’s hard to compare with Japan’s shared bike system—Chinese shared bikes are parked along sidewalks, seemingly available to everyone. After actually using one, I understood why they’re so popular. The usage is incredibly simple: just use your smartphone to locate, pick up, and return the bike nearby—it’s extremely convenient. This system enables people to easily traverse large cities, and the well-developed road networks make it possible. As Japan moves toward stricter regulations on bicycles, I feel like I’ve witnessed another future for cycling.

Shocking Incident 6: "Discrepancy Between AI Information and Reality." Since I smoke, I always check in advance where I can smoke, just in case. When I looked up Beijing’s smoking regulations using AI, I thought they were very strict. But in reality, it felt surprisingly convenient. Even in hotels, there are no indoor smoking areas—you must find designated outdoor spots. Setting aside airports, the absence of smoking areas in hotels is indeed quite strict. Yet outdoors, the environment felt similar to Japan. The AI said hotels were smoke-free, but when I arrived, I saw both elderly and young people smoking everywhere. Of course, people smoked while walking on streets, outside train station ticket gates, or waiting for taxis. In fact, ashtrays were even placed directly under "No Smoking" signs. What shocked me wasn’t about smoking etiquette—it was the discrepancy between AI information and real-life experience.

Shocking Incident 7: "Warmth and Hospitality." Actually, current relations between China and Japan are rather cold, and anti-Japanese sentiment online is growing. I originally expected to be met with indifference—or worse, hostility, even imagining people might throw stones at me. But when I actually interacted with local Chinese people, my impression was exactly the opposite. When I told them I was Japanese, many responded with, "Really?" Then our conversation became lively and warm. When we took photos together, people gathered around, creating a festive atmosphere—so most people, regardless of nationality, seemed genuinely happy. They were much more welcoming than I had imagined. The atmosphere on site deeply reminded me that, whether Chinese or Japanese, people are fundamentally connected.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872763346401344/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author