This post will be in note form. Disorganized. Stream of consciousness. True at the time of posting and maybe will retract later.
There are a bunch of different Japans. I guess, if you are thinking bout coming here, like any trips, you have to decide what experience you are looking for.
Tokyo is the most truly multi-faceted place I have ever been to. You can spend a zillion dollars EASILY. But you don’t have to. You can do a bit of both! I love going to ritzy parts of Tokyo and just spending $10 and watching all the hipsters and wealthy Japanese folks lounge around Shibuya at Anjin. It’s an experience.
I like smaller cities and towns in Japan, folks are helpful and nice and business are thoughtful and things are not overpriced.
You can get away with a lot of pointing in Japan, but don’t try and have a huge conversation in English with someone at a counter. Mastering key phrases is important. I always wish I had brushed up more. Politeness counts!
I had a little bit of a downer when I realized that the one store that I wanted to go to in Tokyo, Cohana, was closed when we got back to Tokyo. Such a disappointment! But the lesson is that you will always find something else to buy that’s as great!
Don’t bring too many toiletries, if you are staying at a hotel there will be so many at your disposal. A toothbrush in every port!
Did we go too many places? Maybe. Was it still good/ - yes! But please keep in mind you WILL be carting luggage around with you up and down many stairs at train stations - so, and I can’t say this enough, PACK LIGHT.
We are about to go through the time travel portal at Narita airport in an hour so I’ll keep this short: Japan is great but like every travel experience, you make it what it is. I was sick for a chunk of our time so yes, it was a different trip for me - but I still had a really great time with my cute fam.
Here’s a cute pic outside of Osaka station!:
Maybe there will be more musings when I am back but for now:
✌︎︎♡⃛
Just a suggestions, you could create a blog post on tips, tricks and travel hacks when travelling to Japan.