38 reasons WHY I AM excited TO visit JAPAN

4/16/12 | April 16th, 2012
Last Updated: 3/17/22 | March 17th, 2022 (New resources added)

Next week, I’m going to Japan. I couldn’t be more excited. (Note: now that I’ve been, you can read about my experience here, here, here, here, and here.)

It’s my first real visit there. I say “real visit” because back in 2004, on my way home from Thailand, my friend and I stopped in Tokyo for a long layover.

After arriving at 6am, we left the airport, saw the imperial palace, realized Tokyo in January is a lot colder than Thailand in January, and camped out in a Starbucks until the sushi restaurants opened for lunch.

After eating a luxurious sushi meal, we went back to the airport.

I’ve always wanted to go back, and luckily, now I am. next week, I’ll be heading on a two-week tour around Japan, and then I’ll be spending some extra time in the country to visit all the places not included in the tour.

I’m a huge Japanophile. despite never really having been there, I’m obsessed with Japan — the food, culture, temples, technology, architecture. Lo amo tutto.

Whenever I get a house, Japanese art will play a predominant role in it. Out of all the trips I’ve taken in the last few years, I’m most excited about this one.

I’m giddy with excitement.

Come mai?

Lasciatemi contare i modi:

1. Sushi – I love sushi so much, I would eat it for breakfast. anyone who knows me knows about my sushi addiction. I suspect breakfast sushi will happen a few times. To go to the place that invented my favorite food is just so exciting!

2. Tokyo’s Ginza district – This is one of the city’s most upscale areas, and in fact is considered one of the most expensive city districts in the world. Ginza district dates to the late 19th century, when the area was rebuilt after a fire razed the entire area.

Today, the elegant streets are lined with designer shops, coffeehouses, boutiques, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, and nightclubs. On the weekends between 12pm-5pm, Chuo Dori (the main street) becomes a pedestrian-only zone.

I’m looking forward to this famous shopping/nightlife area and the maddening crowds that go with it.

3. Mt. Fuji – This 3776m (12,389 ft) tall, active volcano near Tokyo is the tallest mountain in Japan, as well as one of Japan’s three holy Mountains (along with mount Tate and mount Haku). It is one of Japan’s most recognizable symbols, and the hike is fairly accessible, making it a popular activity for tourists and Japanese citizens alike.

I’ve always wanted to climb this mountain and see the sunrise (traditionally, climbers stay in a mountain hut overnight so that they can arrive at the summit at dawn). The mountain is covered in snow for about 5 months of the year, meaning that the climbing season is short, from early in July to mid-September. While I won’t get to the climb the mountain this time, I’ll at least get to see it!

4. Bullet trains – As a lover of train travel (they’re much more eco-friendly than flying), I can’t wait to experience one of the most high-tech rides out there. The Shinkansen high-speed trains can reach speeds of 320 kilometers (200 miles) per hour, earning these trains the nickname “bullet trains.” The network has been growing since the first line opened in 1964, when it was the first passenger high-speed rail system. Now, the network has expanded to connect nearly the entire country from top to bottom.

The Japan Rail Pass is kind of pricey at about 32,000 JPY for a 7-day pass, but there are lots of cheaper ways to get around the country too.

5. Kyoto – Kyoto is full of Zen gardens and temples and looks to be one of the most picturesque places in all of Japan.

Kyoto was Japan’s capital from 794 until 1868, and today is considered Japan’s cultural capital. The city was spared bombing during world war II, meaning that Kyoto is one of the best preserved cities in the country, with 17 monuments designated as part of a collective UNESCO world Heritage Site. some of the most famous sights include Fushimi Inari shrine, Nijo Castle, and Sento Palace.

While I won’t get to see all 2,000 temples and shrines on this visit, I’m going to try my hardest.

6. Hiroshima – In August 1945, us forces dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. around 80,000 people (30% of the city’s population) were killed by the blast, another 70,000 were injured, and the entire city was more or less flattened. Understandably, this tragic event looms large here, and the Hiroshima peace Park includes a museum, the Children’s peace Monument dedicated to children who lost their lives in the bombing, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a ruined building preserved in its post-bombed state.

As a history buff, how could I not see this city and pay my respects? I also want to see how different their perspective is on what happened. Every country teaches history from its own perspective. I’m sure we in the united states teach the event much different than they do. I really want to know what they think so I can expand my understanding of what happened.

7. Toyosu Market – This Tokyo fish market is the largest wholesale fish market in the world, and one of the largest global wholesale food markets in general. open since 1932, Tsukiji Market was the original inner fish market. In 2018, this location closed and moved to a larger location in Toyosu, though the original outer market (where you can find food and shops) is still in place.

At the newer Toyosu Fish Market, visitors can watch the auction market from an upstairs viewing deck. As a sushi lover, I can’t wait to see one of the world’s busiest and largest fish markets, even if it means waking up at 4am (the famous tuna auctions take place between 5:30am-6:30am).

8. Tokyo subway – People always talk about surviving the Tube in London, but the subway in Tokyo is the real labyrinth.

This is the third-busiest subway system in the world (after Seoul and Shanghai), with an almost 9 million daily ridership. It gets so busy on certain lines that there are even people whose job it is to safely pack passengers into trains (these white-gloved, uniformed employees are known as oshiya, or passenger pushers).

Prendilo!

9. Osaka – Travelers mention this city a lot, and I want to find out why! The third-largest city in Japan and the country’s long-time financial center, Osaka has a cool 16th-century castle, fun nightlife, and a world-class food scene.

A mix of old and new, Osaka is home to national landmarks like Shitenno-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan (dating to the 6th century), as well as Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in the country (at 300 meters/984 feet tall). The Nishinomaru gardens at Osaka Castle are also a popular place for viewing the stunning cherry blossoms in the spring.

10. Sushi – Did I mention I like sushi?

11. Zen Buddhism – When I was in college, I got into Buddhism. I studied Tibetan Buddhism, but I’m looking forward to learning more about the Zen tradition. This sect of Buddhism was introduced into Japan in the 11th century and appealed immediately to the Japanese samurai class. Zen Buddhism emphasizes a strong meditation practice, mindfulness, self-restraint, and reflecting on the nature of emptiness, attachment, and the interconnectedness of the world.

Today, around 67% of the Japanese population consider themselves Buddhists (though primarily practicing the Mahayana tradition, if practicing formally at all). The 13th-century Engaku-ji temple in Kamakura is one of the oldest and most important Zen Buddhist temple complexes in the country.

12. Tokyo Imperial palace – This is the official residence of the Emperor of Japan. When the Emperor moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869, he took the 15th-century Edo Castle for his new palace and built the Imperial palace on the castle grounds. much of the castle and palace have been destroyed over the years, though the palace itself has been rebuilt in the same original style.

The public can only visit the inner palace grounds on a few days each year (on new Year’s and the Emperor’s Birthday), but I’m excited to wander the beautiful outer palace grounds and walk in the footsteps of Japanese royalty.

13. Hokkaido – Hokkaido is another name I keep hearing. It’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful (and least busy) regions in Japan, with large swaths of untouched wilderness full of mountains, natural hot springs, and volcanic lakes. Although its the second-largest Japanese island, Hokkaido is home to 6 national parks, including Daisetsuzan, which covers 568,000 acres, making it the largest national park in Japan.

Hokkaido’s largest city, Sapporo, is famous for its beer of the same name and the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, which attracts millions of visitors each year to see its hundreds of impressively carved snow and ice sculptures. Plus, the region is world-famous for its fresh seafood, including uni (sea urchin) so I have to eat it all!

14. sake – sake is Japan’s traditional alcohol, made from fermenting rice. Technically, the word “sake” in Japanese refers to all alcoholic beverages, while nihonshu is the Japanese word for what most Westerners call sake. There are many different varieties of sake, varying based on how much the rice is milled to remove its outer layers, if more alcohol is added, and if the sake is pasteurized or not. depending on the type of sake, its served chilled, at room temperature, or heated.

I absolutely love sake and really want to learn about the different varieties and purities. I plan on taking a class. Is a sake class similar to a wine class here in the States?

15. Samurai – The samurai were the hereditary military/nobility caste of medieval and early-modern Japan. They rose to prominence in the 12th century (though their origins date to the 8th century) and essentially ruled the country until their abolition in the 1870s. The samurai lived their lives by bushido code, or the “way of the warrior,” wHich ha sottolineato la lealtà, l’integrità, l’autodisciplina e l’onore. Non erano solo guerrieri molto abili ma altamente istruiti e colti, con alti tassi di alfabetizzazione.

Samurai potrebbe non essere più in giro, ma i giapponesi sono molto orgogliosi del loro patrimonio guerriero e ci sono molte opportunità di conoscere questo aspetto unico della loro cultura in tutto il paese. C’è anche un festival nella città di Kofu in cui oltre 1.500 persone si vestono in abito tradizionale samurai per avere una sfilata e rievoca una delle più grandi battaglie della storia giapponese. C’è anche un museo Samurai a Tokyo che sarò sicuro di dare un’occhiata!

16. Karaoke – Perché nulla dice che sto trasformando il giapponese più che allacciando una signora Gaga con uomini d’affari giapponesi ubriachi! Il karaoke (una parola che significa “Orchestra vuota” in giapponese) è nato in Giappone negli anni ’70 con lo sviluppo della macchina del karaoke. Mentre è diventato incredibilmente popolare in tutto il mondo, non c’è posto come il Giappone per sperimentare la piena estensione del fenomeno del karaoke.

A differenza degli Stati Uniti in cui il karaoke è in genere cantato di fronte all’intero bar o ristorante, gli stabilimenti di karaoke in Giappone sono costituiti da stanze private che si affittano con un gruppo di amici. L’ex tipo esiste ancora in Giappone, e spero che il nostro tour finisca in molti bar di karaoke. In caso contrario, andrò a trovarmi un po ‘da solo.

17. Pod Hotels – originaria per la prima volta nel 1979 come risposta alla mancanza di spazio in dense città giapponesi, hotel a baccello (o capsula) offrono agli ospiti un piccolo baccello addormentato invece di una stanza piena. Hai solo abbastanza spazio per sdraiarti e questo è tutto (immagina di dormire in un tubo accogliente). Lussuoso? Difficilmente! Ma sono economici e molto giapponesi. contami!

18. Whisky giapponese – Il Giappone ha alcuni dei migliori whisky del mondo e i marchi giapponesi hanno guadagnato il titolo “Best Whisky nel mondo” numerose volte. La produzione di whisky giapponese iniziò nel 1870, con la prima distilleria del paese nel 1924. Il paese è il terzo produttore di whisky più grande al mondo (dopo la Scozia e gli Stati Uniti), e lo stile è molto simile al whisky scozzese rispetto ad altre varietà.

Come qualcuno che ama quella roba, sono entusiasta di poter bere il meglio del paese. Tutto in nome della ricerca, ovviamente!

19. SUMO Wrestling – Sumo ha origini fino al 3 ° secolo ed è lo sport nazionale del Giappone. È un passatempo incredibilmente popolare – voglio dire, cosa potrebbe essere più divertente che guardare due enormi ragazzi in perizoma provare a spingersi a vicenda da un cerchio?

Si ritiene che Sumo abbia le sue origini come una danza rituale shintoista, ringraziando gli dei per un fruttuoso raccolto. Tra il XVI-XII secolo, i lottatori di sumo iniziarono a esibirsi per l’imperatore, sebbene lo sport non prese la sua forma moderna fino al XVII-XIX secolo. Lo sport è ancora profondamente radicato nella tradizione, con rituali elaborati che portano alla partita effettiva che sembra affascinante.

Una delle aree più famose del Giappone quando si tratta di Sumo è il distretto di Ryogoku a Tokyo. Questa zona è stata il centro del mondo di sumo per secoli ed è la patria del Kokugikan National SUMO Stadium (che può contenere oltre 11.000 persone) e il suo museo di sumo.

Non sono sicuro che sto visitando al momento giusto (i tornei nazionali si svolgono in un orario specifico dell’anno), ma spero di vedere uno spettacolo o almeno visitare una stalla di allenamento (dove i lottatori vivono e si allenano) per saperne di più !

20. Castelli – Ci sono oltre 100 castelli in Giappone e dopo aver visto così tanti castelli in Europa, mi piacerebbe vedere come fa un’altra parte del mondo.

La maggior parte dei castelli giapponesi sono realizzati in legno e in pietra e la maggior parte degli esempi sopravvissuti furono costruiti per la prima volta nel XV-XVII secolo. Oggi, il castello di Himeji del XIV secolo è il castello più visitato in Giappone. È anche il più grande, con oltre 83 diversi edifici nel complesso del castello.

Mentre uomo