A trip to Japan was one of the most unforgettable travel experiences of our lives. The country inspired, amazed, captivated, and enchanted us all at once. Years later, we still long to return to this incredible land.
Japan has an extremely rich culture, and expressing it through experiences and places is a challenging task. We’ve only chosen a few examples of the experiences and locations that left a significant impact on us.
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Our Travel Experiences
Before setting foot in Japan, everything about the country captivated us: from its aesthetics to its culture, atmosphere, and cuisine. We had nurtured our curiosity through documentaries, novels, and films. The movie Lost in Translation perfectly depicts the dreamy and euphoric feeling we experienced upon arriving in Tokyo. It was the very feeling we had been seeking: that sense of disorientation and bliss, which we completely embraced. Exploring Tokyo without being fully grounded in reality was a sensory shock to both our body and mind. Our senses were immersed in a flood of colors, lights, sounds, and smells. The massive buildings surrounding us, the crowds on the sidewalks, and the tourist attractions mesmerized us to the point where we couldn’t take our eyes off this different world. Tokyo, full of intertwined neighborhoods and cities, made us realize that we needed to join the city's flow and lose ourselves in the whirlpool of this sprawling metropolis.
In both of our trips to Tokyo, our hotel rooms in the Shimbashi area offered a bird’s eye view of the city: watching high-speed trains (Shinkansen), cars, and pedestrians felt like observing a giant beehive or a small city. It only took a few floors down to immerse ourselves in the city's dance.
Despite the city’s constant motion, there was always a temple or shrine nearby where we could retreat to, meditate, and recharge. The opportunity to rejuvenate in a peaceful place was never far, even in the heart of the city.
Despite the language barrier and the Japanese people’s reputation for being shy, we always felt completely safe. The Japanese people we encountered were curious, friendly, and helpful. We never sensed any hostility from them.
Japan: More Than a Country
Japan is more than just a country; it is a civilization, a culture, a philosophy of life, and a unique worldview. Japan draws, surprises, and mesmerizes its visitors. The country never fully lets you understand it.
Hidden Gems and Less-Known Places in Japan
Japan’s discoveries go beyond Tokyo. This island nation is so vast, rich, and diverse that even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to explore all its beauties. On our journeys across the major cities by Shinkansen, we saw beautiful landscapes from the high-speed train windows. Sometimes, afraid of missing something, we didn’t want to blink: the geometric patterns of fluorescent green rice fields mixed with rolling hills, temples and shrines, mountain peaks, charming villages, and sea views.
The Villages of Japan
The Japanese villages were a different experience; fresh air in a peaceful and authentic environment. The locals had a different way of life compared to the bustling cities. We remember the local markets by the river in one of the villages, where we were greeted with smiles. We wanted to speak with them, but how could we overcome the language barriers? Most of the time, a few gestures or a few words in Japanese were enough to understand each other.
Japanese Cuisine: A New World
Another amazing transformation for us was Japanese cuisine. We ate a variety of dishes, including sushi, sashimi, gyoza, ramen, soba noodles, okonomiyaki, onigiri, and yakitori in Japan.
Souvenirs and Returning to New Places
On our first trip to Kyoto, we couldn’t make a real connection with the city, as it seemed too busy and touristy. But on our second visit to Kyoto, the city won our hearts. This time, we tried to avoid the crowded times and focused on the neighborhoods and historical sites that were less known.
Japan always encourages you to see everything with a fresh perspective, and you will never have a negative first impression of it.