Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Japan
Japan is the most amazing country but it can be a cultural shock for westerners as it is a wholly different way of life.
Obviously the language and writing is incomprehensible to the average tourist but, thankfully, most major sites have signs with a Latin script and, as an added advantage, the Latin script is generally phonetic, so if you pronounce something as it looks you won't go far wrong.
The further away you go from the large cities the less likely you are to find English speakers, Google Translate can be a lifesaver at times.
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One striking thing you notice about Japan is how clean it is, dropping litter is a great no no and you will see very little litter lying around.
Japan is a relatively formal society, most people are unfailingly polite, expect to be bowed at a great deal ...... in truth it's a little disconcerting at first but you soon get used to it.
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Although relatively formal the Japanese are incredibly friendly people, if you're looking lost it will not be long before someone offers assistance and although friendly the Japanese can also be reserved, so don't expect to see public displays of affection for example.
Etiquette is very important and, at times strange for westerners. Floors are considered dirty so Japanese will not put bags on the floor. Go to a restaurant and there will be a container by the table into which you place your bag.
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If invited into a Japanese home your shoes are left at the door, indeed some formal restaurants will expect you to leave your shoes at the door and will provide slippers for inside the restaurant. If you need to visit a lavatory whilst in one of these restaurants you'll be expected to change into bathroom slippers before entering the restroom.
Almost every hotel room will have slippers for you to change into so you don't wear outdoor shoes in the room.
Almost every hotel room will have slippers for you to change into so you don't wear outdoor shoes in the room. Also I think the Japanese seem to be averse to naked sleeping as all but the cheapest hotels provide pyjamas for their guests.
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One etiquette trap to watch out for, and one I struggled with, is blowing your nose in public is really frowned upon. A couple of times in a restaurant I had to disappear to the bathroom just to blow my nose. On the subject of etiquette, tipping is a no no, it's considered insulting.
Speaking of restrooms there are many public toilets in Japan and they are invariably spotlessly clean.
Also on the subject of toilets, they Japanese love the all singing, all dancing toilets which will give you a wash, and sometimes, blow dry after use and if that's too much for you then just appreciate the heated toilet seat, another common feature.
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Japan has a superb, fully integrated, transport system, with the icing on the cake being the Shinkansen trains, better know as bullet trains. They aren't cheap but overseas visitors can purchase a Japan Rail pass, which includes some Shinkansen trains and alleviates the cost .... a return journey to Kyoto from Tokyo on a Shinkansen will effectively cover the cost of a one week rail pass.
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Japan is a great year round destination, although summer can be very hot and humid.
The busiest, and obviously more expensive, times to visit are spring time for the cherry blossom and late autumn for the fall leaves.
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In the summer of 2020 Tokyo will be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic games, so expect a price hike then.
Japan is not a cheap country to visit, hotel rooms are relatively expensive, plus hotel rooms are very small by western standards - if you bring a cat with you don't expect to be able to swing it in your hotel room.
The Japanese diet is not the same as the western diet but that's no bad thing, obesity is rare and life expectancy is higher. Some of the food may seem strange to visitors, all I can say is give it a go, you may be pleasantly surprised. Like most Asian countries street food is very popular - don't be put off that its been cooked in the street, it's lovely and it's healthy. If you really cannot stomach the Japanese food then all the major western food chains have outlets in Japan.
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However, don't let any of this put you off, Japan is an amazing country and you won't regret visiting.
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Below there are links to more detailed reviews of two capitals. Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan and, Tokyo, the current capital and largest metropolis in the world.
