Well, it was a whirlwind of a trip, but a really great one! I have to say, Japan is an amazing country, with so much to see and do, and I have developed a real appreciation for it even in the short amount of time that I had. I’d love to go back someday for longer, but of course, there’s still so much world to see. The age-old traveler’s dilemma.
To summarize the trip, here are some top 5 lists:
Top 5 sights:
1) Mount Fuji on a sunny, clear day, if you get really lucky like me.
2) Peace Park in Hiroshima. A sobering but incredibly powerful experience.
3) Gion in Kyoto to see the geisha, again if you get really lucky like me.
4) The floating Torii gate at Miyajima, and really, the island in general.
5) Shibuya in Tokyo, all lit up at night.
Honourable mentions: Shinshibashi and America-Mura in Osaka at night, Harajuku in Tokyo and Yoyogi Park on a weekend, the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, the Golden Temple in Kyoto, Himeji Castle, the onsen in Hakoke, and too many other places to list.
Top 5 faces of Japan:
1) Natural – mountains, lakes, hot springs, volcanos and stunning scenery.
2) Traditional – temples, shrines, ancient castles, culture and geisha.
3) Ultra-modern – electronics, technology, neon and flashing lights.
4) Gastronomical – food markets, sushi, noodles and culinary delights.
5) Fashionable – from high-end couture to Harajuku hip to business suits to kimono, whatever they wear, the Japanese always look incredibly put together.
Top 5 foods:
1) Noodles, noodles, noodles. A noodle bar is the best way to have a really good meal for cheap.
2) Rotating sushi. Delicious and hypnotizing.
3) Sukiyaki. Meat or vegetables cooked in broth at the table and served with a sweet soy sauce.
4) Okonomiyaki. Especially the Hiroshima style, hot off the grill.
5) Choco-Cro! (Okay, technically not traditional Japanese food, but they have the best chocolate croissants ever!)
Top 5 beverages:
1) Sake
2) Green tea
3) Plum wine
4) Suntory beer
5) Choco-Cro coffee
Top 5 useful Japanese words:
1) Arrigato (thank you)
2) Sumimasen (excuse me / sorry)
3) Konichiwa (good afternoon, but works well as an all-purpose greeting)
4) Hai (yes)
5) Toile (toilet, obviously)
Top 5 Japanese ideas and innovations that we really should implement here:
1) Bullet trains. Comfortable and speedy. Imagine getting from Toronto to Montreal by train in under two hours.
2) Exit numbers at subway and train stations. Avoids so much confusion. The stations are numbered, too.
3) Baby seats in public bathroom stalls. Much appreciated by those with babies, I’m sure.
4) Visual menus at restaurants. Just point to your food to order.
5) Removing shoes indoors, not only at temples and shrines, but at lots of places. It must save so much cleaning.
Top 5 weird things about Japan:
1) Vending machines selling everything from noodles to socks to dirty women’s underwear (don’t ask).
2) Pachinko. Is it anime? Is it gambling? Either way, the whole country seems addicted.
3) Outdoor designated smoking areas. Cough, cough, cough.
4) The serious lack of trash bins. Finding one was like hitting the jackpot. Especially odd considering how they over-wrap everything.
5) Hello Kitty. Yeah, I still don’t get it.
Top 5 reasons to visit Japan:
1) It’s awesome.
2) It’s not too expensive, contrary to popular belief.
3) It’s ridiculously safe.
4) It’s really different from home.
5) Did I mention it’s awesome?
Well, that about sums it up for this blog. I’ve taken tons more photos than what I posted here, and I’ll eventually get them online and post a link for those of who who want to see more.
Thanks to everyone who’s been following along with my travels. I hope you enjoyed reading these entries as much as I’ve enjoyed experiencing them. As a travelaholic, I can safely say “dewa mata” – till next time!