Savoring Japan
Mt Fuji after a storm
No better way to experience Japan than through the food.
Every country has a story to tell. Often you have to dig deep to discover it. Japan is one of those places.
Looking into their past, centuries of deliberate isolation kept its focus towards an inward vision. One that incorporated harmony with nature. Balance. This was their world and they became masters of it.
As they moved into the future, their world opens. Now bullet trains blaze across the countryside. Convenience stores elevate to an art form. Everywhere you look there is a meticulous attention to detail. As one of the most populated islands in the world, we look in awe at what they have accomplished.
This is Japan's magic – the ability to hold these contradictions in perfect harmony. They don't simply preserve the past while building the future – they weave them together into something uniquely themselves.
December 2024
Japan isn’t a country where you arrive without an idea of where you want to go and what you want to do. It takes planning. Face it, Japan is a magnet for people from around the world. You’re competing with thousands of other tourists with the same idea. It can be overwhelming. Hotels book up. Restaurants too. For your best experience, you need to be prepared.
Trust me on this.
But where do you start? Use Google. Talk to friends who’ve been. And now there’s a new kid on the block — AI — this was my first time using it to help in my travel planning. And after diving into it, I’m hooked. I can say it’s changed the way I plan my travels forever.
Even so, it took me days to decide on my itinerary. But it was part of the fun. I lie. It was hair-pulling difficult, yet necessary.
March, 2025
With my plans determined and hotels booked, it was time to go. The Yen was weak, which made it (almost) a bargain. And Springtime is a great time to get out of Thailand as the weather gets HOT! I decided to make it a family affair so I invited my girls, who jumped at the chance.
We would all meet up at the start of Cherry Blossom season — Sakura, as it is known to the Japanese. The girls would stay for two weeks and I would stay for five — leaving before Golden Week which begins at the end of April. (Golden Week is basically when the entire country goes on vacation and floods every nook and cranny with vacationers— adding to the already incessant crowds). That sounded like hell, so I wanted to avoid it at all costs.
As it turned out, coming during Cherry Blossom season was the greatest idea ever. It’s all that its cracked up to be!
The one thing I wished I had checked more closely was the weather. Not sure why, but I assumed spring weather would be lovely. I was thinking differently as I gazed out my window on my first morning in Tokyo as snow fell from the heavens. WTF? In fact, cold weather followed us almost the whole trip. As a thin blooded Thai boy, I had to use every bit of clothing I had to stay warm.
Our plans would start in Tokyo — then onto the nearby Izu Peninsula - Kanazawa - Takayama - Osaka (where the girls would fly home). Then onward by myself through Kyoto - Hiroshima - Beppu, ending in Fukuoka.
A busy schedule for sure. More ambitious than usual for me. But I was motivated. I wanted to get a good taste of this varied country. And the girls agreed.
Tokyo has everything. The Izu Peninsula had nature and a lovely ryokan. Kanazawa turned out to be a surprise — a fun, mid sized city, with a little of everything. Takayama had beef, but not too much more. Osaka was big and fun. Kyoto was magical even with the crowds. Hiroshima was charming and emotional. Beppu, a world of onsens. And Fukuoka, the big city on the south coast famous for its ramen.
On my next trip, I will open it up. So many places to see. Don’t try it all at once.
Japan is a great place to celebrate your birthday.
Within a few days, we got into our rhythm. I let my girls take the lead — what trains to take, what to see and for them, where to shop. Tokyo has it all when it comes to shopping. Unfortunately I tire of it quickly. They, on the other hand, only want more.
But the one thing we always agreed on, was finding something yummy to eat. Without a doubt, the best part of Japan is its food.
Whether eating the best Ramen of our lives, biting into a thick piece of extra fatty tuna, or diving into a dish of cold soba noodles perched next to a mound of hot tempura — we never wanted to stop.
Meals were magic.
A magic I may never forget.
Honestly, Japan is too much for a single blog.
So let me distill it to some of the things that wowed us:
Blessings from the Buddha
Tokyo is the biggest city population-wise on the planet. It just goes on and on.
Japan is not cheap, especially lodging. Restaurants runs the gamut. I had some great meals for $12 and others for hundreds.
Matcha is everywhere. And Japan is where I learned to love it.
Not many locals speak English. You get used to it.
Japanese obey the rules. They wait until the crosswalks say it’s okay to walk, even without traffic.
Individualism is not as important as the collective.
The toilet seats are warm (and they do a lot of the work for you).
You can drink the water.
7-11’s are otherworldly. So many interesting choices. You’ll never go hungry.
Japan is very crowded. With locals and tourists.
In Tokyo, locals rarely look you in the eye.
Hotel rooms are small, but organized.
The showers have great pressure.
Restaurants are also small. You wonder how they stay in business.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself waiting in line.
Even without trash bins, the cities are clean.
All the food, even Western, is elevated.
You have to start your day very early to avoid the crowds.
Food — it’s good, it’s everywhere and the Japanese are obsessed with it.
Portion control is part of the culture. It’s refreshing.
You may be offered strange food.
After eating my way through Japan for five weeks, I lost weight.
Vending machines are everywhere and sell most everything
Walk the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto to calm your mind.
Visit teamLab Borderless in Tokyo to blow your mind.
Forget getting into a popular sushi bar without a reservation.
Though wandering around and finding a good place to eat isn’t that difficult.
The Atomic Park in Hiroshima digs deep.
The trains… they are very nice. And fast. And always on time. Don’t be late!
People can be very creative in their dress.
The streets have raised areas to help blind people find their way
Ramen is always reasonable. And good.
Sake became my favorite drink.
Coffee culture is not advanced. Not easy to find good espresso drinks. Pour-over is more common.
Shopping is amazing, though not always cheap. Though many thrift stores.
Culture and tradition run deep.
Americans are everywhere.
Many people carry large cameras.
There are many gardens to see and explore. Not a plant out of place.
Masks are common.
Local onsens are heaven and a great way to join in the local culture.
Splurging on a ryokan/onsen for a night is totally worth it
So what makes Japan unique?
I’d say that it’s the details — everything you see has been subjected to concentration. To focus. They ask themselves “How can I improve?”
Japan is a place that you must bow your head and come to it. It stubbornly refuses to come to you.
Where so many countries have become westernized, it still maintains its uniqueness.
Japan is a big country. Not in size, but in experience. If you visit, take your time. Savor it.
Plan on coming back.
I am.
As always, thank you for reading.
