My stay in Japan is rapidly coming to an end and in less
than a month I will be back in the UK. I am sad to go as I still feel that
Japan has so much more to offer, but at the same time I am sooooo incredibly
excited to see all my friends and family. However one thing I am a little bit
treading is the moment when I see everybody and they ask: ‘So, how was Japan?’.
How can you resume a whole year of experiences over a drink one evening in the pub? The truth is you can’t and I am little bit afraid of not doing enough justice to all the wonderful (and slightly weird) things I have come across in these past few amazing months. So I have decided to try and put it in writing, while still fresh in my mind, and mention a few of the things (positive and negative) that have definitely made this experience memorable. It would be easy just to say that I love Japanese culture as a whole, but culture is such a general term that incorporates many many aspects, some of which, if I am truthful, I do not like at all.
How can you resume a whole year of experiences over a drink one evening in the pub? The truth is you can’t and I am little bit afraid of not doing enough justice to all the wonderful (and slightly weird) things I have come across in these past few amazing months. So I have decided to try and put it in writing, while still fresh in my mind, and mention a few of the things (positive and negative) that have definitely made this experience memorable. It would be easy just to say that I love Japanese culture as a whole, but culture is such a general term that incorporates many many aspects, some of which, if I am truthful, I do not like at all.
But first, these are some of the things why I ♥ Japan…..
1. 1. Food- it was, is and will be my greatest love. Whether
Japanese or just something I have only come across in Japan so far, I will
definitely miss it immensely. From sushi and sashimi, to ramen, tempura, yakiniku,
takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and many more (still a lot that I haven’t tried yet!) it’s
been delicious and such an enjoyment in sampling it all.
1. 2. Tall buildings- some people find them overwhelming, I
think they are fascinating. So glamorous and strong and I also like them for
giving me the opportunity to face my fear of heights. Great way of doing so
when you are on the 52nd floor and look straight down at the people on the
street. It makes you feel like you can do anything from there. And being lucky
enough to live in central Tokyo it has surely given me plenty of opportunities to
do so.
1. 3. Small temples - on the side streets. Just love how
Tokyo appears to be such a modern and futuristic city, yet you only need to
have a look on side streets to find some lovely little treasures in the form of small wooden temples. Of course there are the main temples like Meiji and
Sensoji which in theory still show a connection between old and traditional
Japan to the new and modern word. But they can be incredibly crowded and in my opinion
lack in a suitable ambiance. I much prefer the little wooden buildings, which
are often empty, but which offer a small oasis in a hectic world.
1. 4. Neon lights – although I just talked about loving the
peacefulness of small temples, I cannot help but loving the bright neon lights
at the same time. They give the city a great vibrancy, and trust me, even with
the country being on a ‘Save the Electricity’ campaign, they still live up to
their expectations.
1. 5. People’s love for big brands- and I have yet to meet
another nation who share such a love for labels. French preferably, but any
other well known, expensive brands will do just as well. I will not go too much
into this subject as I am so fascinated by it that I will actually dedicate a
whole entry to it. But I had to share this picture of bottled water I found in
a shop (discount shop for that matter!!!!) which had Swarovski crystals
attached to it!!!!! I bet even the water tastes better coming from that bottle.
1. 6. Instructions- Japanese may not always have good road
signs or ones easy to follow if you do not speak Japanese, but they sure like
to give instruction. Take this one I found in a public loo which only had old
style Japanese toilets available. But do not worry if such things happen as
they will explain how it is to be used and which direction you need to ‘aim for’
in an appropriate manner, as if it wouldn’t all go down the same place. And
fear not, they will fully support you in your attempt and even wish you Good
Luck for the ‘journey’.
1. 7. Nomihodai- In a country where, when I arrived I found
everything to be extremely expensive, I was incredibly happy to discover the
concept of Nomihodai. This refers to restaurants, bars, but mostly Izakayas
(Japanese pubs) offering the opportunity to drink as much as you can from a set
menu, for a set price and for a set amount of time. Great! It definitely seems
to be extremely popular with Gaijin students in particular who are slightly
feared by the establishment owners though, for their ability to consume large quantities
in a very short amount of time. I don’t think this concept would catch up in
the UK though as pubs would be drunk dry in less than a week.
1. 8. China Town in Yokohama- considered the large China
Town outside China in the world, when you go there you feel like you are
stepping in a completely different world. People say that Japan, apart from its
location, has nothing to do with Asia at all, but when you’re here you sure
feel that you are in Asia.
1. 9. Harajuku- It used to be THE place to go to if you
wanted to see the ‘crazily’ dressed girls, but not so much anymore. I simply
love it for the shoooopppppiiing!!!! Great discount shops with lots of cool
stuff. And that’s even without mentioning all the amazing vintage shops doted on
the streets around it.
1. 10.The Shinkansen – Whether its reputation precedes its
name or its name precedes its reputation, it is exactly as you would expect it
to be: fast, reliable, sleek and comfortable. There’s no other way I wish I
could travel, if it was available everywhere in the world.
1. 11. Japanese Language- yes, Kanji included. It is complex,
incredibly difficult to learn and comprehend, does not make sense most of the
time and it has a whooping 8000 word basic vocab list (WTF!!!!!!). It mostly gives me
the impression that I am completely useless when trying to communicate my
feelings but now and again it appears like a veil lifts and it all makes sense.
Studying it is an immense challenge but one that I am still so happy to take
on.
1. 12. Kimonos- no further explanation required J but how wonderful that some women still wear them on a daily basis.
And last but not least I ♥ Tokyo for the fact that it gives you fantastic
opportunities to experience not only the Japanese culture (or a big part of it
anyway), but also how the Japanese people perceive other cultures. You pretty
much have everything on your doorstep and whether you want to see a play, a
concert, spend hours shopping in a mall or in little boutiques on back streets,
pray in a temple, visit a museum or go out with your friends for Nomikai
(drinking get together- it mostly involves Nomihodai, but not always),
everything is extremely easily accessible and at reach.
Until next time x
#Japan #shinkansen #nomikai #harajuku
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