Japanese innovation has always been more than advanced technology. Their love of perfection and dedication of convenience explains why they have so many mind-blowing designs and thoughts. Check the amazing ideas below and see if you are dying for any of them!
1. Warm welcome from robot receptionist
Find this quirky and efficient receptionist in Henn na Hotels (means Weird Hotel in English). The English-speaking receptionist is a vicious-looking dinosaur, and the one speaking Japanese is a female humanoid with blinking lashes. By interacting with the touch panel screen, they will vocally and visually provide guests with all the information they need.
2. Nothing CAN’T be found in vending machine
Sake is usually served with food but if you need a quick shot of liquor, this is the vending machine for you. This machine at Niigata Station offers a range of sakes to try ranging in alcohol strength.
Here is your perfect last-minute gift, this flower vending machine might not only save your time but your relationship too! More vending machines completing the urban myths by selling underwear, soy sauce, party items, frozen crepes, ties etc. Look for the surprises in the small alleys next time when visiting Japan.
3. Self-parking pillows and slippers
It is no surprise that we will be experiencing self-driving cars in the near future, yet now you can experience the auto-parking self-parking cushions, tables, and of course, the tiny-wheeled slippers in a traditional Japanese Nissan ProPILOT Park Ryokan in Hakone.
4. Sorting luggage by colour
You might run into this scene, seeing Japanese airport staff sorting luggage on the belt by their colour. This is not related to innovation but the obsession with perfection and hospitality are the qualities to be appreciated.
5. The Futuristic arcade gaming centre
Japanese arcades are everywhere in Japan. You have probably seen quite a few while walking about in busy areas. Usually referred to as game centres here in Japan, these tall buildings exist for the sole purpose of bringing you entertainment and are as popular as ever.
Gaming is not only a child’s hobby, and you will find both “salaryman” in suits and high school students in Japanese game centre, who might be a master of reaction and beat music games. Some even developed into an indoor amusement park, providing a huge variety of VR entertainment and attractions.
6. Multi-function self-cleaning toilet
In Japan, to drown out the sound of you going about your business, there is a function that simulates the sound of flushing water. Sometimes this sound automatically starts playing when it detects that somebody has entered the cubicle.
Besides from the ordinary washlet bidet function (which is still uncommon in most other countries), the latest Japanese toilet even save you from cleaning the dirty toilet bowl! You can preset and monitor your family’s usage on your mobile apps or manually activate with the buttons on the panel.
7. The loving magic mirror
Novera is an interactive mirror similar to a typical home makeup mirror, equipped with a monitor display, camera, and speaker, that compliments and chats with users through a male voice or texts appear on the display as a speech bubble. The mirror can scan and read the emotions of the user’s face, but it is still in its prototype phase, with no release date available yet.
8. Virtual crane games with real gift
In this time of social distancing, you can play a real crane game online and get official Japanese plushies and figures deliver to your door. It is just unbelievable to see how the Japanese bring their favourite game to another level.
9. Automatic underground parking facilities
Isn’t it cute seeing cars parking like model cars in shelves? ECO Park™ is an automated car parking facility developed with the concept of “Culture Aboveground, Function Underground”.With a compact entrance/exit both aboveground, the ECO Park has an underground parking capacity of 50 or more cars. Similar concepts can be found in Amsterdam as they introduced an underground bicycle parking system as well.
10. “Cutting-edge” shaped fruits
Whereas in many Western cultures, apples and oranges are prized for their nutritional value, the Japanese see fruit in almost spiritual terms, regularly offering it to the gods. It is said that the Japanese eat with their eyes, these labour-intensive shaped fruits are also luxury gifts to show respects to someone.
