Japan has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember, and this winter, I was able to squeeze it in between my trip to the Philippines. When I arrived, I expected the usual checklist trip; visit tourist attractions, eat lots of food, take pictures that many have posed for before. However, once I stepped off the plane, the differences in culture were clear, and my trip to Japan would not only be a fun ride but also a learning experience of different worlds.
In Japan, there are many social etiquette rules that you’re expected to know and follow, like staying quiet in public and not talking on the phone while on the subway. The thing that got us the most was probably walking on the left side of the street rather than on the right. Additionally, everyone around you has places to be with no time to waste. If you’re not doing at least a light jog, you will be overtaken by someone and possibly even shoulder-bumped. This took some getting used to as our trip went on, especially since we were a huge group of confused tourists that needed to pause to translate everything before moving in a certain direction. Still, the Japanese people are extremely friendly and more than willing to help us get where we need to be.
With the etiquette rules in mind, we explored what Japan had to offer. Right after we got off the plane, we went to our Airbnb to drop off our stuff, then took the train straight to Shibuya Crossing. Once we finally made it there, it was like seeing Times Square for the first time, just clothed in cutesy anime design and decoration. The crosswalk was filled with tourists who stopped in the middle of the street to take pictures, and the billboards promoted Japanese brands and shows. There were stores, restaurants, and boutiques lined up on every corner, and they seemed to reach as far as the eye could see. People filled every free nook and cranny they could find, yet the foot traffic was smooth and held a consistent pace. This scene is a shopaholic’s dream. Stores of every kind were all close together and didn’t require much effort to reach, and when you got hungry, there would be food stalls for a quick bite or sit-down restaurants for bigger meals. Not only that, but the consistent flow of people meant that you’re able to smoothly traverse through the crowd with no trouble. Of course, I used this to my advantage, and my family and I spent the entire day here buying Japanese snacks, clothing, shoes, and whatever else we could find. For the rest of the days we spent in Japan, we would do some light shopping after the activity of the day was finished.
To get away from the busy city, we spent another whole day touring around Fujiyoshida, a city built at the base of Mt. Fuji. We first visited the Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the goddess of Mt. Fuji, where climbing up the four hundred steps provided a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. The scenes were beautiful, and the atmosphere was ceremonial. We took a few pictures, then went down the steps to buy fresh fruits from the villagers. After that, we took a quick stop to take pictures at the Lawson convenience store that sits in front of Mt. Fuji; however, the mountain was unfortunately covered by clouds, so we gave up and then went back in the car to visit Oishi Park, which sits right next to Lake Kawaguchi. By the time we arrived there, the clouds around Mt. Fuji cleared up, revealing the snow-capped peaks, which were beautifully framed by the fields of flowers and water. I stood there longer than I meant to, realizing that every postcard and picture undersold the real thing.
On our last day in Japan, we visited Tokyo DisneySea. Instead of the usual princess vibe, it leaned more towards a certain aesthetic, with misty harbors, old-world ports, and attractions that looked like they came straight from an adventure novel. The childlike aura was still there, just with a more mature feeling, which catered perfectly to my family. The park was divided into sections, but the division wasn’t blunt and instead faded into each theme. One second, you’re in a coral-filled cove themed after The Little Mermaid, the next, you’re visiting a sun-washed Italian city with waterways lining the buildings. By the time night falls, and blue and gold lights illuminate the streets, you’re now put in a whole new world of the park. Needless to say, it was a beautiful sight to see, and a perfect wrap-up to end the long day at the park. Of course, I had to tap into my tourist persona and take lots of pictures, as well as eat lots of different Disney-themed food.
This trip to Japan, though it was very abrupt, exceeded my expectations. It provided the perfect balance of both city and nature, and despite us not being able to thoroughly explore the country, the small bits of it that we got to experience were still extraordinary. The culture shock is definitely real, but plenty easy to get used to. Overall, I found this trip to Japan both admirable and a great opportunity to learn about a new culture.
