What surprised me most when I came to Japan was the trains. They are punctual to the minute, and even a one-minute delay brings an apology over the station speakers. In my country a ten-minute delay is normal, so at first I couldn't believe it. The morning trains are extremely crowded — so full that station staff sometimes push passengers in. Yet even when it is packed, everyone is quiet; almost no one talks on the phone. People listen to music, read, or sleep. You don't need to buy a ticket — you can ride with a card, which also works at convenience stores, so it is very convenient. The one problem is that the last train is early: after midnight you have to take a taxi home.