In the meantime, let me share her post which I totally agree with. It made me realize, I'm surviving Japan! Read on and see if you have survived Japan, too.
The land of Sailor Moon, Hayao Miyazaki and those deliciously surreal Murakami novels is every bit as fascinating as you can imagine. From the top of Mount Fuji to the waves at Shirahama Beach, it’s not just manga series and sumo wrestling; Japan is a veritable smorgasbord of ancient tradition and modern technology, and it’s definitely worth a trip.
If you’ve been, nothing on this list will shock you in the least, and if you haven’t, this list might just shock you enough into buying a two-way (or even a one-way) ticket to the Land of the Rising Sun because surviving a trip to Japan is really all play and no work.
I’ll get reminiscing and you can get travelling!
1. You love culture shock.
I don’t think it matters where you hail from, be it London or a small town in North Dakota, the first time you experience Tokyo, Hokkaido, or Okinawa, you’re going to be jolted into a sea of incredible food, fashion, architecture, art and customs—it’s just going to happen. From the amazing (and ancient) live auction fish markets at 4:00 am to an evening with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, there’s excitement around every corner by way of neon-lit city streets or snow-topped ski slopes, and it won’t be long before you fall in love with the traditions and diversity of this Pacific nation.
2. You can’t eat sushi anymore.
Amendment: You can’t eat sushi not made in Japan anymore. All of those great eats I used to frequent during college, and then with my friends to reminisce about college...yeah, those days are gone. I’m like a new person, a culinary connoisseur if you will, after tasting the best of the best in Japan. After hitting up Sukiyabashi Jiro (If you haven’t eaten here or seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi you need to get on that, instantly), or even just the street side sushi restaurants in Tokyo with it’s mind-blowingly fresh seafood and perfectly vinegared rice, there’s just no continental comparison. And this will never be clearer until you get home and try to grab nigiri—it’s a very sobering wake-up call.
3. You’re a master at rush hour metro rides.
There was a time when rush hour on the metro were listicles I read on the Internet, and laughed at the absurdity of. But now I know better, because the trains going out of Tokyo don’t mess around and after being jampacked on the lines, I now have a new idea of what personal space means, and also a new found appreciation for my own car. What can I say? Some American habits die hard.
The one thing that saved me was my phone; jam-packed between people like sardines was not the best experience but I got to at least send a Snapchat of my situation. And Instagram? You bet. I just ditched my global roaming plan in favor of a SIM card I picked up at the airport, unlocked my phone, and I was ready to go. It saved me a lot of money and also allowed me to get great service everywhere. If you’re planning on being there for a week or longer, it’s definitely worth it, and it’s really easy. And you’ll never be totally stuck on the metro again!
4. You expect a lot of versatility on your holidays.
Usually I book a themed destination; it’s beach or mountains, city or country, relaxed or active. But the great thing about traveling in Japan is it doesn’t have to be like that. Unlike the U.S. where I’m from, the mountains aren’t a 14-hour car ride away or a cross-continental flight—it’s a short domestic to get from the mainland to Hokkaido or Kyushu, with it’s ancient forests, volcanos and exquisite beaches. And now, I expect all my travel plans to include destinations that cater to all my holiday whims, and I’m finding this to be more impossible than not.
5. Your preferred utensils are a pair of chopsticks.
Have you ever tried to eat mashed potatoes with chopsticks? I have. Once I returned home from Japan, it was a constant struggle to eat my regular diet with them I did. After I learned the proper rules—don’t stir your soup, never stick your chopsticks straight up in your rice and especially don’t treat your chopsticks like a toy—it was smooth sailing.
I’m still careful about using them in other places around Asia, such as China and Korea because the customs are all a little different, but as far as the actual chopsticks go, the only thing I haven’t figured out how to use them with is my Frosted Flakes, but it’s still a work in progress—I refuse to let them beat me!
6. You crave their technological advances.
Say what you want about sidewalk vending machines being the end of human to human communication or the loss of convenient store jobs, but being able to pick up a soda literally anywhere you want is a godsend. Next on my list to introduce to the rest of the world: bullet trains. I can’t say that moving at the speed of light (a slight over exaggeration on my part) is my favorite thing, but condensing 9 hours of travel into 2.5 is definitely right up my alley. And I can’t say that I ever had the urge to install a “super” toilet, but after sitting on one, I’m convinced that high tech toilets are the things of the future; not only are they more hygienic since they can be hand-free, but they can also be eco-friendly and paper-free.
7. You miss their manners.
Whether it’s their ultra-helpfulness to help you find your hotel or a special sake another tourist told you about, or just their general composure and smiles when you leave your hotel for a morning of sightseeing, the Japanese really deserve a gold star in hospitality. Not only are they exceedingly friendly, but they never let you out of a room or a store or a conversation without a bow, or at the very least, a demure nod of the head. Back in my home we consider it good manners just to not ignore someone, and shouting at someone on the street if they cut you off in the crosswalk is normal; but in Japan it would be unheard of, and I like (and miss) that.
Whether I’ve got two weeks to stay or just a few days, I always have a blast in Japan because of their incredibly sophisticated, eccentric, and frankly delicious, culture—and if you’ve traveled there, I can imagine it’s the same for you too.
Have I missed out on one of your favorite things about Japan? Let us know by sharing in the comments.
