When we first started planning our Japan visit, it seemed overwhelming. So many places to see, the crowds, all the names being foreign: how would we manage? As things came along, we found that it all fell into place and Japan was actually very tourist friendly and logically laid out. In retrospect, the few organized tours we took while visiting were a letdown. We spent too much valuable time picking up and dropping off tourists and barely scratched the surface of the sights they claimed we would visit. We definitely did a better job with our self-guided tours, and so can you!
We would very much recommend that you roll up your sleeves and do your own planning to see what you want to see and maximize the time you have.
Japan is a place where both the traditional and the ultramodern seem to blend together in a harmonious fusion. Stumbling upon shrines hidden among clusters of giant glass high-rises. Discovering quaint and perfectly manicured parks next to animated neighborhoods. Seeing kids dressed in traditional garments taking selfies with their cell phones. Those are only a few examples of what to expect when visiting Japan.
Megalopolises like Tokyo and Osaka with their neon lights, lively night scenes, noise, enticing aromas and organized chaos are effervescent and evoke an overload of sensations for the senses. The constant buzz is what makes them so interesting.
In Tokyo there’s always lots of people coming and going at all hours of the day, as if they were coming out of a rock concert or sport event—apparently, they aren’t going anywhere in particular. The rivers of pedestrians all seem to be following the unwritten rules of courteous walking by keeping to the left side of the sidewalk and avoiding bumping into people coming the other way. We didn’t see a lot of jaywalking like we frequently see elsewhere—they wait at the crosswalk for the green light! Organized chaos! Visitors too should comply—it’s a lot easier than going against the current!
Kyoto is more traditional than Tokyo or Osaka and quite frankly a delightful place to visit. It has a slower pace and some areas like Gion seem to have kept much of the authenticity of the Edo period and Geishas can often be seen walking around the neighborhood. Wooden buildings house authentic Japanese restaurants serving traditional fare, often with a history of hundreds of years. We had some of our best meals in Kyoto. Immersing ourselves in the culture, sitting down on tatami mats, we reveled in our experience to partake in a multicourse kaiseki meal. It was a fun new experience and the food was delicious—we highly recommend it!
Kyoto is the place to go if you’re interested in seeing traditional Japanese palaces, pavilions or shrines. Kyoto is home to the most important Inari shrine out of 30,000 in Japan, the Fushimi Inari-taisha. Walking up the mountain through its thousand torii red gates is an experience in itself. A humbling one!
Japan is a diversified place with a wide range of activities: shopping, karaoke or playing video games in arcades. Visiting museums, shrines and palaces. In the springtime cherry blossom viewing celebrations (also called hanami) take place all over Japan. Also, experiencing Japan through its many delicacies should be on every visitors list. The food is delicious and there are a lot of options for eating out: sushi bars, numerous restaurants, street food stalls, cat cafes, maid cafes and even a robot restaurant! There is something for everyone and for every pocketbook.
We noticed that extra care was taken with the presentation and packaging making everything look appealing. We had to restrain ourselves and not buy every mouth-watering treat we saw!
We also found that the Japanese people were very gracious and helpful. On more than one occasion when we looked confused with our tourist map opened someone stopped, pointed out where we were on our map and gave us directions. On one occasion in Kyoto a man stopped and interrupted his day to accompany us to the right bus stop and point out which bus we had to take to get to the Golden Temple. We were looking for a taxi but he said: “No no! Bus go straight, taxi too expensive!”. Thankful we were on our way… The transit system is excellent but can be confusing at times!
We were really impressed with the respect they have for others and their environment. No one talks loudly or on their cell phones while using public transit or in restaurants which is a nice change from what we are used too in America! Also, even though trash cans are hard to come by in many places around Japan, people carry their trash until they can dispose of it properly leaving common areas like parks, train stations and sidewalks free of trash. After a day with huge crowds picnicking under the blooming sakura trees, the parks were left spotless. How refreshing it was to witness this, as this isn’t the case in most places around the world!
Another noteworthy fact is that we felt safe wherever we went in Japan, even at night. This isn’t the case for many other places we’ve been to and even in our hometown of Miami there are some areas that are best avoided at all times! It doesn’t mean that one should not pay attention to one’s surroundings, as some areas can be sketchier, especially at night.
Perhaps one day we will be lucky enough to return to the land of the rising sun and see more of Japan…
Related posts:
- Train Travel in Japan
- Visiting Tokyo at Cherry Blossom Time
- Top Places to See in Kyoto, Japan
- Top Attractions to See in Osaka
- Street Food and Other Traditional Dishes to Eat in Japan