This trip has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, and after months of planning and anticipation, I finally made the journey.
Was it everything I had hoped for? 100 percent.
Are there things I would do differently? Absolutely.
So here is what I have to say about all that:
Let’s start with my favorite parts of the trip:
A walking tour of street food in Osaka
So much fun, and so surprising! You get to enjoy not only unexpected food like savory pancakes and octopus balls (for real), but also the local Osaka sights where all the restaurants have massive carved displays of the types of food they serve.
Orinasu-Kan Weaving Museum in Kyoto
The museum features kimonos made for the theater with the oldest weaving machine in Japan. The best part was weaving a textile of our own to take home!
Omiya Bonsai Museum in Saitama (near Tokyo)
I thought Bonsai was a bore until this. Some of these trees are over 800 years old! This is truly a form of art and obsession, and hugely interesting.
Naoshima
Perhaps it is just because I was utterly templed out by the time we arrived on this tiny little island, but this was a major highlight of the trip for me.
Okochi Sanso Garden
Located just outside the Arashiyama Forest, this beautiful spot was developed by silent film star Okochi Denjiro (1898-1962) and it is well worth a visit. This is just beyond the forest and a small extra charge, but it is a quiet and beautiful place to stroll through.
These are the things that I’m going to do next time I go to Japan:
Take a Kintsugi class at POJ Studio in Kyoto – You can bring your own broken pottery and they will teach you how to turn it into treasure.
Visit Hiroshima – I feel like any trip to Japan should include Hiroshima for greater understanding of the culture and the impact of war and peace on the people.
See Hokkaido – This is the northernmost island and too far for us to go on this trip, but its beauty is legendary. Apparently the chocolate is as well, since this is an agricultural country.
Learn how to create Shibori at the Kyoto Shibori Museum – It is basically tie-dye after all, and I love tie-dye.
Buy more knives from the amazing Tower Knives in Osaka – I’ve never had a better kitchen knife!
Spend more time enjoying onsens, the hot springs you find in most Japanese towns.
There are a few things that did not make my recommended list:
The ryokan experience – Don’t hate me because I’m saying this, but I didn’t love it. A ryokan is a “country” inn usually paired with hot springs. It is intended to be relaxing and private, but I found them to be isolating and uncomfortable. It is a classic Japanese experience that lots of people adore. Go for a night or two if you must.
Seeing every temple and shrine – Pretty much any itinerary will have you touring every major site, and it can be exhausting. Sometimes what I really craved was to sit in a tea shop and watch the world go by.
TIP: Do NOT overschedule yourself.
Matcha tea – Okay, have you had it? Did you like it? Because the way we make it in the states is simply not the real deal. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony pairs matcha tea with some kind of sweet treat, because matcha is bitter and unpleasant on its own. I’m sorry, but that’s the (bitter) truth.
Here are the tips that you absolutely need to know:
You will remove your shoes many times throughout your journey through Japan, and you might think that wearing sandals would make that act easier. Nope, you need slip on shoes that you can wear with socks. Trust me on this. You will be surprised at how often you are walking around in those socks, so make sure they are decent!
There are loads of Circle K stores in the big cities. Seems odd, but you will find them very handy for cash machines. You use a lot of cash (a lot of taxis don’t accept credit) in this country, and now you know where to get it from.
And speaking of vehicles, many Japanese cars cannot handle American size luggage. No kidding. Don’t overpack. I wore two pairs of shoes for an entire two week trip.
Japan is a very clean country, and the people are a little freaked out about trash. Bring a little plastic bag with you so that you can carry yours back to your hotel.
Not many locals speak English, and most signs are in Japanese, so be prepared. Ask your hotel to write down the name of your restaurant (and also the name of your hotel) so that you can show it to your taxi driver.
Restaurants in Tokyo are not on street level, so you will still have to search when you exit the cab, but rest easy…the locals are more than willing to help, even if you can’t understand each other!
It seems like everyone I know is going to Japan right now, and it felt like it when I was there. I had hoped to go during cherry blossom season, but ultimately I am glad that didn’t work out. Even during a less busy time, most sights were very crowded. My suggestion is that you consider shoulder or off season – it’s going to be wonderful no matter when you go.
And I haven’t even talked about the food!! Well, you know where to find me if you have any questions…Arigato!
