Cars are a lot more boxy over here. I remember when the Cube just came out in America and everyone made fun of it a bit. I think there was even a commercial with people driving refrigerator boxes when another car would be well and clearly on display amidst all the cardboard. And then people noticed how these boxes kinda, just kinda, looked like the Cube.
Well anyways, here, boxy things like the Cube are the norm and people love their little box cars. Many of them happen to be Kei cars, which are a type of compact car that is narrower than many of the compact American cars. In America compact might mean like a lower roof kind of car, like driving a Corolla versus a Suburban. So it was odd coming to Japan and seeing these tall but extremely narrow types of car. Though that interestingly does not mean it is any less comfortable in the car; though in the back, you might be sitting two instead of three, though again some cars still have that three-seater option. But then again the Japanese three-seater would not have to be as large as an American three seater as they are a definitely thinner population here. OK that is not the case really, they are not thinner per say, but more averagely proportioned with well balanced diets. Take from that what you will...no OK, I am calling Americans fat. Yes, I am, it's true.
These Kei cars are extremely popular to drive since they cost a lot less, your insurance is a lot less, and most people don't have that big of family to pack into a car. Also, they really rely on their public transportation a lot more than most other countries, and therefore find less reasons to drive. Gas is extremely expensive and cars are just too small to entertain kids for extended periods of times. And trains are just so cheap and convenient in comparison, so why not visit grandma via the JR lines? Precisely the Japanese mindset. But the few that do have cars seems to vastly prefer these Kei cars. And for those who have a little more money, they will get a larger version of these Kei cars, which are at that point no longer considered 'kei', or gasp something like a Prius. An interesting fact between the two car-types, is that you can differentiate them by their license plates; kei cars will have yellowy-orange plates, where are a normal vehicle will have white plates.Toyota does seems to be one of the more popular choices of normal car here in Japan, well at least as far as normal sized Japanese cars are concerned (Suzuki Wagon R seems to be the most popular kei car that I can seem to determine). At least they hold their Toyota's in high regard, with things like the Nagoya Toyota car museum and their well esteemed eco-friendsly cars. But again, you would have to pay more money for the car and the insurance and probably the plates as well. I almost wonder if you have to pay more just to use the toll roads when you are driving a normal sized vehicle. They really seem to like to punish you for driving one. haha.
And for people who really have money to throw around, they will get the foreign imports, but not just ANY foreign import, they would get the ones with the driver still one the right side of the car. And when going through toll roads, they have special booths set up to specifically accommodate these people.
Yellow plate.
Also...crazy decor
Check out the boxyness.
That silver one is a Suzuki Wagon R
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