A Tech Tour in Japan: 5 Things that Prove Japan is Living in the Future

Japan can be considered a whole new world. It’s the favorite destination for tech-savvy people who want to go beyond reality for a while and explore a futuristic landscape that seems part of an SF movie. Japan has always had a vibrant culture, so the continuous tech advancements are no surprise; the Asian country took technology to another level. Offering us a sneak peek of what the future could look like. In this article, take a Japanese tech tour and explore the 5 things that prove Japan is living in the future: 

1. Tech Streets

Akihabara is known as Tokyo’s district of technology. Hundreds of electronic shops offer everything from second-hand goods to brand-new phones, computers, and components for gadgets. The tech realm has tall buildings filled with neon lights and ads that showcase anime characters and manga, giving visitors a glimpse of the otaku culture. In the electric town, you can explore a fully digitalized world, where visitors can learn about robotics at the Tsukumo Robot Kingdom, which is a specialized store that showcases impressive robots and components you need to make your own tech creation. To take a break, in the Chuo-Dori Avenue area, you can find multiple restaurants, pubs, and café anime-themed where waitresses cosplay adorable characters and serve you cartoonish and colorful or even personalized food you must absolutely show to your friends. In fact, if you are willing to head to your Japanese adventure, make sure you purchase a Holafly’s digital SIM card for Japan so that you can share with your loved one all the incredible pictures you take in the tech world. 

2. Robot Restaurants and Cafes

Robot restaurants and cafes are among the main attractions in Japan. You can bring your culinary experience to another level by trying these incredible locations: 

• Henn na Café: Sawyer is a robot barista who works at the Henn na Café.  Its only job is to make freshly brewed coffee, which you can receive once you choose your beverage and bring the corresponding QR code to the “worker.” 
• Pepper Parlor: The semi-humanoid robot Pepper is a multilingual server that is ready to take your order at the Tokyo Plaza Shibuya. The adorable character is able to deliver orders and clean the café. 
• Yakiniku King: the robotic-delivery concept turns SF movies into reality. You can experience the incredible tech innovations at the Itabashi-Maeno Cho outlet in Tokyo to see robots zoom around the restaurant with freshly made food. 

3. Capsule Hotels 

Why spend hundreds of dollars for a luxury room in a fancy hotel when you have the opportunity to experience a futuristic night staying in a capsule? This concept is commonly found in movies, where future-inspired characters sleep in pods and wake up in a robotic environment. These pods provide the bare minimum in terms of space, but it can be a lifetime experience. The first capsule hotel was designed by Kisho Kurokawa in Osaka in 1979 and then became a real trend representing Japan. Nowadays, this concept is present in big train stations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Sapporo. The capsules are located next to each other on multiple levels, usually giving visitors a macabre imagination, but if you are a solo traveler who plans to stay there for a while, you can relax your mind in the common areas for entertainment. 

4. Bullet Trains 

Yes, fast trains are pretty common in many countries, but Shinkansen bullet trains are unparalleled. The network consists of multiple lines, the most popular one being the line passing Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. The high-speed train operates at 300 mph, being the most efficient alternative to air traveling up to 700 miles. For tourists, it’s the fastest way to explore the beautiful country. Besides having comfortable seats, you can also take advantage of the free Wi-Fi available on board; you can take your bike with you with no additional fees, and you can take two big pieces of luggage and easy access for passengers in a wheelchair. There are three types of classes: Ordinary, for regular seats found in all Shinkansen trains, coming in rows of 3 or two. Green cars, instead, are comparable to business class airlines, as the seats are more comfortable, passengers have more foot space available, and they’re just 2 per row. Lastly, the grand class is the first class of airplanes. This class offers even more spacious seats and additional amenities and services. 

5. Vending Machines for Everything 

You can find vending machines everywhere, in small or large cities all over the world. The concept itself is not revolutionary, but the fact that Japan puts everything into a vending machine is. The country has nearly 5.52 million vending machines that provide all the customer’s needs with a few clicks. Japan has the most transformative vending machine technology that offers clients a wide selection of foods, beverages, books, canned bread, snacks, full meals, pet food, and accessories, or other services with high-tech integrated software.