Three observations, two recent, one not.

First recent: THE TRAINS! Whatever can one say?
We were just in Italy, and once again, their Fast trains are... fast... and comfortable/smooth.
And 2 years ago, in Japan... we will NEVER forget the first time we were waiting in a station for a train, and fortunately (or we would have missed the full experience) it was a station where most bullet trains did *not* stop. So, there we were, waiting to see one, as we had time to spare for our local train... and then suddenly, on a middle track...
SWOOOOOOOOSH!!! ... And... Poof! it was GONE..!

Yes, Sci Fi category, first time experiencing that

Second recent: Different level of "security" at times.
While we were waiting for the train as described above, two sharply dressed me arrived, and stood right in front of a "gate". (There are barriers so one doesn't walk/fall off the platform, and the doors stop in *very* predictable places so that gates line up with the doors.)
We had someone who had taken us to the station, or we may have missed the entirety this.
When the train stopped, right in front of us at that gate, several other men emerged, looked each way, and then a woman got off, greeted the two men waiting, and they left. It was the First Lady (Prime Minister's wife) of Japan. No huge fuss, but some reasonable precautions.
We would not have recognized her, had we not been told. But no disruption to others, no major pomp, etc.

Long ago: After living in the UK for a year, without returning to the USA during that time (although traveling a bit in France, Spain, and Italy on little vacations), upon returning to the USA, the overwhelming COMMERCIALISM OF EVERYTHING. Bright neon lights advertising any/everything thing. HUGE billboards everywhere... It seemed that one really couldn't quite "see the forest for the signs...!"

GC