"no extreme looks nor dresses as it flightens neighbours"

Japan prep is hotting up and, as I trawl the internet, I've had a few surprises. Check out the beard rule, and the dictate re smoking at one hostel I won't be going to:
This place has many house rules / local rules. If you are not comfortable following them, the place may not be for you; may be better you just book a regular hotel instead. The rest of people who are OK with local house rules, you are very welcome!
No drug, non-smoker only. 
No noticeable big tatoos, no thick beard, no extreme looks nor dresses as it flightens neighbors. It is VERY IMPORTANT to KEEP A GOOD RELATIONAHIP WITH NEIGHBORS at this place.

- DO NOT TALK IN THE HALL WAY nor in the ELEVATOR AREA.  
- If you are a smoker, DO NOT SMOKE not only inside the building but also NOT ON BALCONY, NOT EVEN IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. Do so away from the building where neighbors cannot see, even if it's raining or snowing.

And then I found this wonderful BBC video of the packed-lunch rat-race. Watch it, at least until the Michael Jackson face! Juan asked me, "Are you sure you're going to the right country?!" But of course - it will be everything I am not.

I have to confess that progress in learning Japanese is err not very fast. After one lesson with an ex-Berlitz colleague I'm falling back on random Youtube videos. Click here for a taste - which you might think characteristic of the Berlitz style of teaching. But believe me this takes parrot repetition to new heights. And I still can't get it! After a zillion repeats I can just about get out a few basic greetings.

And finally, a French friend has wished me bon voyage with this cute and insightful image:
Il faut parfois faire le tour du monde - pour se trouver soi-même. Indeed...