Going to Japan was a trip of a lifetime. There are some things I would do different now, like not going in July. Man, was it hot and humid. The big problem with that is you walk a lot in Tokyo and the heat really took it out of you. More than a few minutes in the direct sunlight and it was pretty brutal. We drank a ton of water and were always sweaty. The Japanese don't sweat very much and in fact, you can't even buy deodorant in the country as they don't need it. They complain about smelly foreigners all the time, so it was a battle to not offend anyone, which I know we did. Overall, there is so much to see and do and the country is rich in a long history, that 10 days might not be enough. I had a fear about the language barrier, but with a few small awkward moments, everything went well. You really need to familiarize yourself with the 50 most common phrases and you'll be fine.
Unless you're doing high end shopping indoors and being driven in a car everywhere, you're going to be using public transport, like we did. Japan has perfected the use of trains and subways. The entire country is connected with railways and I highly recommend that you buy a JR Rail Pass. It was an invaluable tool and we got our money out of it. You will also need an IC card, which is used on all other trains and buses not connected with JR Lines, but works on all of them. This is a rechargeable card that you scan as you enter and leave the stations. We rode many trains every day. In a city of 9 million, there is a good chance you won't get a seat and will have to stand, especially during rush hours. The trains can get totally packed. Once you get a hang of the system, it's no harder to figure it out than any subway system anywhere else. The one thing they have that many other places don't, is the Shinkansen. The Shinkansen are bullet trains, which travel 200 mph and are used for longer distance travel. They are awesome, clean and spacious. You would be smart to get an upgrade to a reserved seat. We used it to get to Matsumoto, some 150 miles out of Tokyo and were able to make the trek and back in an afternoon. In America, our subways and public transit systems are dirty, unsafe and unpredictable. In Japan they are very clean, very safe and run on time. It seems impossible that the US would ever consider connecting the country with high speed mag-lev trains. Mostly due to the cost, but by 2027 magnetic levitation trains will be running in Japan. China has them now. For the Japanese, the rail lines are vital and the bigger stations are like cities or at least shopping malls. Tokyo Station has an underground shopping area that you need to see to believe. Full of restaurants and stores, you could get lost down there just browsing.
The Japanese are a very polite and honorable society. There is virtually no crime and there is no litter anywhere. There are very few trash cans anywhere in the country, so be prepared to bring everything home with you. You could leave your personal items outside and no one would touch them. They often leave their umbrellas outside in a rack and you can guarantee it will be there when you come out. This rigid social structure has its advantages and its drawbacks. Now this is my opinion and may not be how they feel, but I got a feeling of drudgery as I watched them everyday. If one of our guides was correct, the average man in Japan makes $36,000 a year. The average woman, $20,000. That isn't very much, especially considering the Japanese economy has been in the tank for 30 years. I saw many exhausted passengers sleeping on the train both to and from work. I believe working long hours is expected. They are in a rat race with no personal space and their hierarchy still has them bowing to their respective bosses. I'm torn between liking this for its respect and appalled by the subservience of it. We could use a more rigid social structure in the US, where there is complete lack of shame for committing crime and other socially unacceptable things. It has made our society dangerous, where I never felt that anywhere in Tokyo. On a train, they will sit next to anyone without thinking about it and keep to their personal space. That would never happen in America. I never saw any homeless people, drunks or addicts and we went all over. They dress immaculately, especially the women.
They are more commercialized than we are, which is hard to believe. They have integrated their television and movies into their culture. Anime and manga are who they are. We went to every Gundam themed thing we could, as my son and I love the Gundam franchise, and it isn't just a thing for children in Japan. I am making a large psychological leap with this comment, but perhaps it is because of their rigid structure that they gravitate towards escapes like the anime world. My co-workers back here in the states mock me for liking Gundam, but my son got lots of positive feedback from the Gundam shirts he was wearing everywhere we went. If you don't know what Gundam is, you'll have to look it up, but I remember watching it in the early 80's and the franchise is alive and well today. There are two full-sized Gundams in Japan. One at the Gundam Base in Tokyo and another, fully animatronic one, in Yokohama. Full-sized means about three stories high and it wasn't just kids hanging out at these places. We went to both and really enjoyed ourselves. Gundam is known nationally by everyone in Japan. There are also several areas in Tokyo where entire blocks and shopping areas where entire 10 story buildings are full of nothing except anime related toys, figures, models and paraphernalia. My son was in sensory-overload and frankly, I was in awe. Akihabara and Nakano Broadway are two of the main areas and I'm not sure I can do it justice in my description. It is bigger than you think and part of the social fabric of the country. When I got my son into Gundam, back in 2009, anime was a very small niche thing in the US. It had its beginnings back in the 70's and 80's when I was first exposed to it. Today it has become mainstream or nearly so, here in America.
Another difference of note is an immense amount of national pride in Japan. They teach it as much as they push advanced learning in school. Great pride is put into getting high scores in school and they are far better educated than we are. They also believe they are the most technologically advanced society on earth. This came up several times during our visit and they take great pride in it. I'm not sure I agree completely, but it is debatable. From their high tech buildings, high speed trains, boring machines that created the tunnels for the trains, to their everyday tech in their lives, it's hard to deny they are moving the needle with technology. You certainly didn't see run down abandoned building like you would in our country. With a lack of space, they would be razed and replaced with high tech buildings. Even their toilets are high tech. They use bidets in the hotels and many private homes, but unlike a normal bidet, the have heated seats and are electronically controlled with noise canceling devices, deodorizers, retractable nozzles, and music. So, you have this juxtaposition where the average person doesn't make much money, but they are moving technology along, which has to cost a lot and therefore cost the citizens a lot. Like you'd expect, housing in Tokyo is expensive, with the average price $1M US, and as you move out further, the prices decrease. With only a small defense force, Japan must spend their money on infrastructure and health care. I could look this up myself, but it's pretty apparent that this is the case. I know they import much of their energy needs, but are a large exporter of cars and machinery. Tokyo has a pretty impressive port. Since they don't have any space, they burn trash and recycle everything that they can.
We had a great time in Japan. The food is fantastic and the people seemed accommodating to us as tourists. You can walk around and not feel unsafe anywhere. Despite their propensity towards technology, it's still a heavy cash society. Outside of Tokyo, you will need some yen in your pocket and they don't accept tipping in Japan, so no need to worry about that. Their many temples and shrines are both beautiful and important. You can feel the deep sense of religion that permeates Japan and how they raise their children and conduct themselves. Honor and family are very important. Mount Fuji is just an hour or so out of the city and it plays an important role in the lives of the Japanese on both a spiritual and national level. Even though I don't think of Japan as a mountainous area, it is and getting out and seeing the country is worth your time. Tokyo is vibrant and a truly international city with a wonderful nightlife and distinct centers of technology, shopping, government and tradition. I highly recommend spending time in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. The center of the city is home to the Imperial Palace and gardens, the seat of power for many generations. The Emperor lives there, but now has just a ceremonial role. It is surrounded by a thriving city of nine million. There are some wonderful green spaces and parks within the city and you will see thousands of runners in the morning and evening trying to keep their health score in line. Very few obese Japanese will be found, other than Sumo wrestlers. I found a burgeoning beer scene there that excited me and tried quite a few of their offerings. I did not have a bad beer the whole time. There is so much to see and do that I am already considering going back. Despite not speaking any Japanese before going, you can pick up what you need to know quickly and I had a son who was constantly correcting me on my incorrect pronunciation of things. Tokyo should be on your list of places to travel.
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