8 Incredibly Interesting Facts About Japan

Japan has been captivating travelers since it first opened up to international trade in 1853. While its many traditions and cultural landmarks persist, Japan is also one of the leading economic and technological centers of the world. Ancient gods and traditional customs sit side by side with cutting edge technologies and trendy pop culture, and there is always something new to experience on a visit. From the fashion in Harajuku to perfect produce, to empty orchestras and bizarre meal-time etiquette, here are the top 8 facts about Japan you probably never knew.
1)A Highway that Goes Through a Building

In Osaka, the Hanshin Expressway goes directly through the Gate Tower Building’s 5th, 6th, and 7th floors. In reality, the workers in the building don’t really notice as the walls and floors of the building are soundproof and the highway doesn’t actually touch the building.

2)Japanese Trains are Extremely Punctual

Trains in Japan are so punctual that it’s scary! A In fact, in 2017, the Tsukuba Express line between Tokyo and Tsukuba made global headlines when the management of the train line apologized publicly for leaving the station 20 seconds early.

3)Japan has the World’s Deepest Underwater Postbox

The deepest underwater postbox is located in Susami, which is a famous fishing town in Wakayama Prefecture and was recorded by Guinness World Records in 2002. The postbox is located 30 feet underwater and since 1999 has collected more than 32,000 pieces of mail.

4)69% of Japan is Covered in Forest

When you think of Japan, you probably think of all the different cities there are in the country. Surprisingly the majority of Japan at 69%, is actually covered in forests.

5)About 1500 earthquakes strike Japan every year

The frequency of the earthquakes is caused by the location of the country across three tectonic plates called the “Pacific Ring of Fire”.

6)Japanese melons can cost you over $200

These precious fruits play a large role in the country’s gift-giving culture- samurai would offer tangerines or melons to their shogun as a token of appreciation. Nowadays, farmers meticulously tend to these fruits by hand, which adds to the allure.

7)The Last Emperor in the World

Japan is the only country in the world with an Emperor. Even though the Emperor of Japan doesn’t hold much power and mostly plays a symbolic role, they are still a proud part of the traditions in Japan.

8)No Shoes Allowed Inside

Before entering any Japanese house, you will most likely be asked to remove your shoes and will be given a clean pair of indoor slippers to wear. What makes Japan unique is that you’ll also see this happen at restaurants and even in some workplaces. In Japan, it is deemed rude to wear shoes inside a house.

Interesting Facts About The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a sovereign country situated off the north­western coast of the European mainland. The total area of the United Kingdom is 240,000 km^2 (94,000 square miles). In this article are some interesting facts about the U.K. :
 UK is a vast country, but no matter where you stay, you’ll never be further than 115 km from the sea.
 Tea is by far the most famous drink among Brits. It is estimated that they drink 165 million cups of tea every day.
 London houses more than 8 million citizens who communicate via different languages. It is estimated that more than 300 languages are spoken in the city.
 Oxford University is the oldest higher education institution in the U.K. Until 1877, it’s lecturers were not allowed to get married.
 French was the official language in the U.K., from 1066 to 1362 for almost 300 years.
 Smith Jones and Williams are some of the most common names in the U.K.
 Shakespeare added approximately three thousand words to the English language.

Fascinating facts about The Netherlands that may surprise you

The Netherlands is known as the land of tulips, windmills, canals, clogs, and coffee shops, but there’s also much more to this wonderful country than meets the eye. We’ve shared 4 fun facts about the Netherlands you might not know.
1) Dutchmen are the world’s tallest people
The tallest people in the world live in the Netherlands. The average height for Dutchmen is 183cm (6ft), while women average 171cm (5ft 7in). Some theories attribute Dutch genetics, universal healthcare, low social inequality, and a diet rich in cheese and dairy products.
2) The Netherlands is the world’s biggest flower exporter
The Netherlands is known as ‘the flower shop of the world’ and for good reason. They produce 80% of the world’s flower bulbs. The country accounts for nearly 90% of the world’s total area of tulip farms (around 11,000 hectares), and they produce 4.3 billion tulip bulbs annually.
3) Home births are still popular in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has one of the highest home birth rates in the developed world. Around 30% of Dutch women deliver their babies at home, and this figure has changed little since 1990.
4) The Dutch own more bicycles than any other country in the world
The Netherlands is home to more bicycles than people, with over 22 million bicycles in the country. There’s an average of 1.3 bicycles per person (many people own two bicycles).

MEXICO

What comes to your mind first when you think about Mexican culture? Mariachis, tequila, tacos, breathtaking beaches and cactus? These are all legitimate associations – but Mexico’s natural and cultural diversity includes much more than that. The 7 surprising facts about Mexico described below will show some other aspects about the country that you were surely unaware of.
1) 69 different languages are spoken in Mexico.
This makes Mexico one of the countries with the richest linguistic diversity in the world. In addition to Spanish, there are 68 indigenous languages that include náhuatl, mixteco and otomí, amongst others. No other country in the American continent has a comparable diversity of indigenous languages as Mexico. Just as Spanish, the indigenous languages are recognized as national languages.
2)Mexico is Latin America’s most visited tourist destination.
According to the World Tourism Organization reports, Mexico is the Latin American country with the highest number of international visitors and is ranked #10 worldwide. This comes as no surprise given the diversity Mexico has to offer in terms of culture and nature. 32 locations in the country have been awarded as World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. Once again, Mexico leads the ranking in the American Continent in this category as well being placed #6 worldwide.
3) ​​Mexico is the country with the largest number of taxi cabs in the world.
60,000 registered taxis ride Mexican streets, and most can be found in the Capital City. Besides, taxi fares in Mexico are cheaper than in almost any other country in the world.
4) Color TV was invented by a Mexican.
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena is the inventor of color television and was born in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. In 1940, the then 23-year-old requested a patent for the first color image transmission system, which was later on used in the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
5) The meteorite that wiped-out dinosaurs struck Mexico.
The meteorite that wiped out dinosaurs 65 million years ago hit the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán. A 180 square meters crater with a depth of more than 600 meters was left behind. Employees of the state oil company PEMEX discovered the crater in 1981 while drilling an oil well.
6) Mexico’s Economy is Booming
Mexico is the 15th largest economy in the world and the 11th largest in terms of purchasing power parity according to the IMF. Some of Volkswagen’s best-selling cars are partly produced in Mexico, and the country has become a new hotspot for research and development.
7) ​​Mexican cuisine is officially World Cultural Heritage.
In 2010, the UNESCO added Mexican cuisine to the list of Immaterial World Cultural Heritage. Mexican cuisine roots date back from colonial times where Spanish cuisine met native preparations thus creating a unique blend. Indigenous ingredients include corn, avocado, beans, cocoa and many more. In Mexico, there are 64 different varieties of corn. No other country in the world can claim such diversity.