Falling in Love with Japan

I have always been intrigued by Japan. The art, the culture and the people all seemed so different from our own. When a friend of mine declared it was on her bucket list, I decided it should be on mine too – and we booked a trip almost immediately.

We travelled in April. It would have been a bonus to see the cherry blossom, but we were a little too late. To be honest, we really did not mind. There was so much else to fall in love with.

First Impressions: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hakone

We did what many first‑time visitors do and followed a classic route: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hakone. Each place was different and amazing in its own way, but there were some wonderful constants throughout our trip.

1. The People

Without exception, we found the Japanese people delightful: polite, courteous and unfailingly helpful.

We had our cases carried for us up and down stairs in numerous train stations. If we ever stopped and looked around a little bemused, someone would quickly appear and offer to help.

2. The Food

Delicious! We tried whatever was put in front of us. Some dishes were a bit unusual and some we did not like at all, but the way everything was prepared and presented was often a work of art. It was also so inexpensive.

An incredible array of seafood, meats (often cuts I had never experienced before) and vegetables made every meal a culinary journey. The Wagyu beef was out of this world.

I would say to anyone thinking of visiting Japan: keep an open mind and try everything. You might be amazed at what you enjoy. I am even a dab hand with chopsticks now.

3. The Organisation

In a city of around 14 million people like Tokyo, you have to be organised to avoid chaos, and the Japanese have absolutely mastered this.

Everyone uses the trains because they are so reliable. There are profuse apologies if they are even a couple of minutes late, and the conductor bows you on and off. English is included on all the station announcements, which makes it much easier for visitors to get around.

On the pavements there is a clear system, just like the roads: if you are walking in one direction, you keep to the left; for the opposite direction, you walk on the right. It sounds simple, but it means you are not constantly bashing into people.

4. The Politeness

The sense of consideration for others is remarkable. There is no loud talking on trains, no mobiles blasting out music, no eating in public (unless in designated areas) and the same applies to smoking.

There is literally no litter, yet there are very few litter bins. Everyone takes their rubbish home with them.

Children go to kindergarten first to learn good manners and concern for others. Only when they reach about six or seven years of age do they start on academic subjects. The core ethos is to care for others.

The streets felt very safe, even late at night, which is a big plus if you are planning to travel alone.

If you are planning a trip, here are a few things I would highly recommend:

• The bullet train (and in fact, all the trains are an amazing experience)
• An onsen (hot spring bath)
• Tokyo Skytree
• Wagyu beef (apologies to vegetarians!)
• Spotting Mount Fuji
• A traditional tea ceremony

Planning the Next Adventure

We really enjoyed our trip and both fell completely in love with Japan. We only had two weeks and there were still lots of things we wanted to experience, so as soon as we came home we booked another, longer visit.

This time we are heading to the south, which has more of a tropical climate, and we are travelling in late September when we hope to see the maple trees turning their beautiful autumn colours.

Whatever happens, it is a huge comfort to have all the niggly bits taken care of, no need to worry about flights, connections, hotels, excursions or transfers, as everything is arranged in advance. If we have any concerns, it is just a quick call or text  to Karen our Travel Counsellor and we know we have support 24/7.

When you are travelling so far from home, that peace of mind makes all the difference.

Christine

Ready to Plan Your Own Japanese Adventure?

If Christine’s experience has inspired you to start thinking about Japan, I would love to help you create a trip that is just as special and completely tailored to you. From choosing the right time of year and planning your route, to organising rail passes, local experiences and trusted guides, I take care of all the details so you can simply enjoy the journey.

Contact me to start planning your own Japan itinerary and let us bring your Far East adventure to life.