Value Village

600 questions for when you are stuck or curious on a trip to Japan

What people who come to or live in Japan usually misunderstand. 600 questions, all with sources. If reading does not settle your question, you can send a request to people on the ground.

Everything here is a draft (before legal review; sources not yet verified). Answers on beauty and health will not be published until checks under Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act are complete.

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100 questions

Q. What are the common misunderstandings about napping? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about pillow height? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about bedroom temperature? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about using a phone before bed? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about morning light? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about the body clock? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about drinking water (hydration)? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about posture at a desk? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about bath temperature in Japan? Health
Q. Bath or shower in Japan — what do people get wrong? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how long to sleep? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about caffeine? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about stiff shoulders (katakori)? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about eye strain? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about "hie", always feeling cold? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about swollen legs and feet? Health
Q. What do people get wrong about feeling unwell in Japan's rainy season? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about "natsubate" (summer fatigue)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about choosing supplements? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about what time to go to bed? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about catching up on sleep at the weekend? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about eating before bed? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about the order in which you eat? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about salt intake? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about skipping breakfast? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about getting through pollen season? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about dealing with dry air in winter? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about daily step counts? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about measuring blood pressure at home? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about Japan's annual health check? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about snoozing (going back to sleep after the alarm)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about snoring? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about oral rehydration solutions and sports drinks? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sayu (plain hot water)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how to take a sauna? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about stretching? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about radio calisthenics (rajio taisō)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sitting too long? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about taking your temperature? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about getting enough dietary fibre? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about jet lag? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about alcohol and sleep? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about waking in the night? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about "tech neck" (straight neck)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about foot baths and half-body baths? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about protein intake? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about snacking? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about weighing yourself? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about choosing a clinic and knowing when to go? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about daylight hours and mood? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about when to take a bath before bed? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how bright a bedroom should be? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about mattress firmness? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about getting enough iron? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about chewing your food well? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how much sugar to eat? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about taking the stairs? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about a stiff lower back? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about air conditioning and your health? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about vitamin D and sunlight? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sparkling water? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about herbal teas? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about deep breathing and relaxation? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about taking breaks at work? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about UV rays and how you feel (summer sun and fatigue)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about tiredness and swelling from standing all day? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about fermented foods and the gut? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about fat intake? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about feeling unwell when the seasons change? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about staying healthy when working from home? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about when to brush your teeth and about flossing? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about bad breath? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about dry eye and eye drops? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about cleaning your ears? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about cutting nails and ingrown toenails? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about low-temperature burns (heat packs, hot-water bottles, kotatsu)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about using pain-relief patches (shippu)? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about preventing falls and "locomotive syndrome"? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how often and how much to do strength training? Health
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about dealing with a hangover? Health
Q. Is it true you can get heatstroke indoors? Prevention and first response Health
Q. At the first signs of a cold, is over-the-counter medicine enough? When should I see a doctor? Health
Q. Do hand-washing and gargling really help prevent colds? What is the right way? Health
Q. For constipation, what should I change first? What to do before turning to laxatives Health
Q. Does listening to music through earphones every day damage your hearing? What volume and how long is safe? Health
Q. Is 16-hour fasting (time-restricted eating) good for you? Is it safe to keep up? Health
Q. In winter, does raising indoor humidity help you avoid colds? What percentage should I aim for? Health
Q. What is a "blood sugar spike"? Should I worry even if my health check is normal? Health
Q. On your back, on your side or face down — which sleeping position is best for the body? Health
Q. Is it true that walking speed matters more than step count? How fast is fast enough? Health
Q. How do I read the heart rate on my smartwatch? What is a normal resting heart rate? Health
Q. When is the best time to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines in Japan? Health
Q. How long can I wait out a headache? How to spot a dangerous one Health
Q. Motion sickness: what can I do beforehand, and when should I take the tablets? Health
Q. Nosebleed: tilt your head back? Stuff in a tissue? The right way to stop it Health
Q. Period pain: does warmth really help? Over-the-counter painkillers and when to see a gynaecologist Health
Q. Leg cramps at night (komura-gaeri): is there a way to prevent them? Health
Q. Sneezing and a runny nose indoors that will not stop. What actually works against house dust? Health
Q. Thumb or wrist pain from my smartphone. Is it tendonitis? What to do and how to prevent it Health
Q. Should I see a dentist even without toothache? How often to have a check-up, and what happens Health