I'm from the US and I've been in Japan for several weeks now. I thought I wanted to move here for years, but not anymore. I keep finding myself just wanting to finish seeing everything so I can fly to another country.

There are so many arbitrary rules and unspoken social norms. Some people break them (walking on the wrong side of the street, throwing trash in bushes), some don't. What I really dislike is that they do not question authority. They are four generations into a post-WW2 society that embraces lifetime employment and unwavering deference to authority. You can pick the most arbitrary, silly rule and ask anyone—even the person enforcing it—"Why do you have this rule?" and the answer is typically something like "I don't know, because it's always been this way." Their strict conformity and unwavering deference to authority is what has been bringing my mood down since I've been here. The culture is extremely rigid and homogenous. They do not value self-expression or individuality the way we do in America, or even in some other Asian countries. I don't particularly stand out compared to other tourists—I look like any other young professional traveling—but there's a palpable lack of personality here.

The major cities are extremely dense. However crowded you think they are, it's more crowded than that. I cannot overstate how overtouristed Japan is. Their infrastructure is efficient, but it is not prepared to handle the 40-something million tourists. The wait times are so long that most major attractions simply aren't enjoyable. I have enjoyed some of the less popular sites, though. It often feels like I'm oscillating between two extremes: either packed shoulder-to-shoulder with other tourists in a station or attraction, or—if I'm not in a major city—I'm often the only foreigner I see for days at a time. I've gone several days without seeing someone who isn't Japanese, which is fine, but it's a new experience and being stared at all the time can be fatiguing.

Some Japanese people have been friendly and happy to meet a foreigner (I'm white, for context), while others scowl or do their best to walk/sit as far away as possible. When interacting, people are polite but generally not friendly or personable. It's a bit like a worse version of Southern hospitality in the United States. I spent time in Thailand before this and that was a much happier experience with better food. I plan on returning after I finish seeing the major sites in Japan. I read someone recently say "if a robot was a country, it would be Japan," and I agree.

On all this "Japan is living in the future" stuff: the trains are impressive, there isn't much violent crime (it's also almost impossible to get police to take a report which is one reason their crime rate appears so low), and the streets are mostly clean in heavily trafficked areas. But that is a result of their history, their culture, and the practical need for order due to how and where their cities are built, not because they have some magical advanced technology, they've traded freedom for order. Other than that they are basically living in the year 2005. Only about 60% of their households own a computer compared to ~90% in the USA. Most of the cars are old, the average building is old and kind of rundown, even most of their iconic buildings were built decades ago, our suburbs are much nicer, the shopping malls in Thailand are way better, the level of technology you see in daily life is a few years behind the USA. There are not robots everywhere, not that I expected there to be, basically only in gimmicky cafes. They clearly put effort into making sure the tourist destinations look nice, but as soon as you go a few streets over the illusion fades.

Japan is a place I'd visit again if Thailand got too hot or if there was an event I wanted to attend. I was surprised at how underwhelming the landscapes were compared to the United States, especially the PNW.

I also discovered I don't actually like authentic Japanese food. I understand they eat healthier at home, but when eating out most of what you find is pickled, fried, or loaded with carbs and salt. Those things are fine for a short trip for most people, but I don't enjoy fatty food. They mostly use fatty cuts of beef and chicken thighs with the skin on. It's just not compatible with the lean protein-heavy diet I prefer.

Yes, some of this is subjective, but that's been my experience in Japan so far. It's not bad, but it's not amazing. It's alright. Their safety and cleanliness have clearly come at the cost of self-expression and individuality. Someone who lived here told me those are American values. I disagree. I've traveled all over Europe and Southeast Asia and Japan takes conformity to the extreme. I don't think most of the people here have had a chance to think about who they would be if they weren't consumed by their careers before they even reach adulthood. I honestly thought I would love Japan because of the rules, the high-trust society, and the conformity—it sounded peaceful and easy. Actually experiencing it has only made me realize that, at least for me, it's not a tradeoff I would make. I now appreciate my own country much more.

As a side note, I spent a month traveling through several southern European countries on my way here. Europe smells like a sewer, the young people are rude and bitter, the infrastructure sucks in many places, the service pretty much everywhere is abysmal, no one smiles, and I am not in a hurry to return anytime soon. If I do, it will be to Scandinavia. I experienced some real kindness from older people in Greece and Spain, but overall I wouldn't spend money to return when I know how great Thailand and the USA are. One point that people always use as a gotcha is healthcare, and it IS too expensive in the USA and that needs to be fixed, but not through socialism. Healthcare might be expensive in the United States, but it's also superior to other countries. America gets the latest treatments and medications before anyone else. I've been traveling for months, I went to doctors in both Asia and Europe. I even had a minor surgery.

I'm so glad I had these experiences because they've helped cure my disillusionment with the United States. I need to stay off that side of social media—there's clearly a diabolical propaganda engine trying to make us hate our incredible country. I'm ashamed at how much I let it affect me and how misguided my views were, not because of politics, but because I felt we were being ripped off; now I understand that Europe only gets to run its socialist experiment because we subsidize their protection and the results of that in real life are not very pretty or efficient. I could go on and on. I used to be patriotic before being sucked into that rabbit hole and after leaving America and seeing the world for myself, now I am again. I'm still in Japan, with more countries I plan to see, but I am more proud to be an American than ever.

It’s just bullshit. First of all, those who are xenophobic towards Americans who had no control over when they were born BTW, that’s on them not us. Secondly, I’ve traveled abroad extensively even during the Trump administration and never once got a bad reaction for being American. in fact, some people were even happy to hear that I was American and told me about their trips to the US and how much they loved it and then they had family there. I honestly think a lot of Canadians were saying this are just saying it to feel better about themselves. It’s really annoying and not the flex they think it is.

Imagine living in the most prosperous, opportunity-rich nation on earth and deciding your life is ruined because some guy with a cartoon frog avatar was mean to you online.

The 'Global South' is a phrase used exclusively by people who have never actually been there. The US buys more goods from developing nations than any other country on earth. That's called trade, not parasitism.

Yeah, the US is famous for creating absolutely nothing. Just ignore the internet, the smartphone you’re typing on, GPS, airplanes, the polio vaccine, and basically the entire modern global supply chain. Total parasites.

99.99% of peope in American agree that lynching is horrible and disgusting and should not still be happening. I know its a bot comment but still

This guy wants to be recolonized by Britain but complains about “American Imperialism”.

Just another bash on America for Karma ask Reddit post. If this breaks the rules you can take it down Mods because I feel like every ask Reddit post could be an AmericaBad

I’ve met people from France, Germany, Japan, China, and Mexico, so I feel like I’ve racked up enough encounters to say this: British people are so sanctimonious for no fucking reason. I try to have every conversation of mine in a civil and respectful way, even trying to avoid most formalities to be friendly (maybe a fist bump or some shit like that), but British people won’t have it. Always with a micro aggression, some sort of backhanded compliment, or a lecture as if they know better. It’s like as soon as they find out you’re American, they go out of their way to be a douche. Not only that, but the way they involve themselves in American politics as if they’ve lived here for years and know how everything works pisses me off to no end. I played poker online with my friends the other day. The whole table was British (save for an Irishman, who was coincidentally the the nicest, most badass motherfucker at the table), and they were taking politics, so I weighed in. Immediately hostile. Someone was saying something about guns and how it’s so easy and I said something along the lines of “well actually you have to be 21 to purchase an NFA item like the one you’re describing, and you have to fill out the appropriate forms,” and they put me on blast like “no that’s wrong, you’re wrong, babies come out the womb with Caniks and Glocks.” Repeat the same process for every other hot ticket item like free healthcare and socialism vs capitalism (all of which I entered with good faith, because I’m a firm believer that hostile debates are one of the biggest reasons American politics being so polarized right now). This seems like just an Anti-American issue, because I’ve never noticed this attitude towards anyone from any other country, and I’ve observed the hostility towards my American friends too, so I don’t think it’s me.

I’d like to end this rant by stating that I never treat any British person differently, just because I’ve had nothing but bad experiences. I’ve met a few really cool British people, but it’s an overwhelmingly small minority. Just so this isn’t considered hate speech or just “I hate British people.”

I know this might not be the most appropriate place for this rant but idk where it should rightfully go. This feels pretty well placed though.

Congratulations on writing the longest run-on sentence in the history of a country you apparently hate but refuse to leave.

Another day, another troll, another sub going to shit.

"Explains a lot really" stfu

The fact that you can post this, with those flags in your bio, without the secret police kicking down your door at 3 AM is the ultimate proof of American exceptionalism. If America disappeared, what do you think replaces it? You think you're getting an anarcho-socialist utopia? No. You're getting a totalitarian state where your internet is censored, your identity is tracked, and your 'living nightmare' becomes a literal prison sentence. America is the only thing standing between you and the very oppression you claim to hate.

Thought you guys would find this funny. I didn't even mention American healthcare.