Forget the audio aspect of visiting Japan.
It's truly an amazing, eye opening experience.
After spending a couple months, mostly in Kyoto,
I felt as if I'd returned to dirty, gray, ill-repaired third world called Los Angeles.[/QUOTE]
I hear exactly what you are saying. It is a cultural shock.
Japan, as well as many other countries (like Singapore), are very classy, clean, and civilized and when you live there for awhile, and then return to USA, well, it's 'different'. Back in the USA where you get mixed drinks in plastic cups.
Yes, the Japanese coffeeshops are a real treat (if you can get away from the cigarette smoke). I always thought that "Doutor" (pronounced "dow-TOW-ru") was an unfortunate name; it looks like "doubter," ie: someone who doubts.
On the subject of Japanese coffeeshops, I LOVE jazz
kissaten (jazz coffeehouses). The one that I visited, in my wife's hometown of Kumamoto, was a cellar club in the city center, very beatnik-y. Behind the bar (which sold alcohol in addition to espresso and food), was a large collection of jazz LPs and a nice stereo. On each of the tables were scraps of paper and pencils - you wrote down what you wanted to hear (I chose Thelonious Monk, "Brilliant Corners," side one) and hand it to the bartender to be put in the queue. I thought that was the coolest thing ever!
http://tokyojazzsite.com/content/kissaten-喫茶店
http://jazzinjapan.com/other-views/368-jazz-coffee-shops.html
Japanese coffee houses, Jazz coffee houses, rock and roll coffee houses, and jazz/rock bars and clubs, most are really high quality, with high standards. Even the regular back street places are so cool and stylish, one way or the other. That style would never fly in USA. The places would get busted up, destroyed, robbed, and it's hopeless.
It's simply AMAZING how many LPs are lining the walls in coffee houses, clubs, and bars in Japan. Many thousands and thousands of LP albums...most old Jazz first press albums too. All the old great jazz albums and music seriously. I know what you mean..the stacked LPs on the shelves is simply AMAZING!!
The Japanese take their Jazz, and music, seriously. At least...the older generation did. The younger generation? Not so much. From what I've experienced. Digital changed the world.
Even many of the younger folks working the music clubs really know anything much about stereo systems anymore. It's like they are just working and earning a living in the cool music whatever. I know they can't talk stereo and music, I've tried. All they know is the current fad. It's a digital world now. Has been for a long time.