As I'm sitting in our hotel room passing time before heading out to the airport, I started thinking, what's my takeway from this trip? How do I feel? Do I recommend Japan as a place to visit?
Well, I feel rested, energized and ready to get back to the daily grind of work and daily home life. Not that I am complaining but it's nice to have a break.
If I were to sum up the last 2 weeks in one word I would say: Impressed.
I was delighted to experience this place, for real it was amazing. These are the 3 categories
Things I learned
Japanese Culture and History
The first thing I noticed about Japan is how clean, and orderly everything is. Their Airport, Train Stations, and Public Spaces are thought out and organized. The train station and subway stations are clearly marked so that you know where to stand when boarding and onboarding the train. People here follow the rules and it's the opposite of chaos. People are totally silent in the train, the only people making noise are the foreigners (mostly Americans) who apparently don't have the ability to read the room and be quiet. There are tons of customs and social protocols, which I got a pass for most of them since I am also a clueless American. I did make the effort to learn and respect their rules, I am a visitor after all. Whether I want to or not, I represent America to the people who see me. I was a bit peeved when I learned that tattoos are a big no-no for public pools and baths, thankfully you're fine if you are able to cover up. I had to hide my ooorah marine corp tat.
The Japanese have an refined taste for beauty. This was the thing I enjoyed the most about this trip. The architecture, food, visual art, music they all show a deep appreciation about things beautiful. It's freaking amazing.
World War II is somewhat taboo to bring up. The museums do mention it and their stance is to learn from the past and not deny it or hide it.
The people here are mostly isolated, most people in Japan have never left the country, and if they did, they travel in big groups, as a result, most people (outside of Tokyo and Kyoto) have never seen foreigners. This is a double edge sword, the people here love their country and do not want outsiders to come "ruin it" for them. At the same time, declining birth rates creates a labor vacuum that gets filled with laborers from outside Japan. This is a dilemma for the country.
Overall, I am impressed with the way things are done here, great results but the group thinking ('We' comes before 'me') has a price. Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
The biggest take away from me is a deeper appreciation of the Japanese Art and their way of life.
Food, Food, Food
Sushi, good fancy sushi, and cheap ordinary sushi from chain restaurants, all really good. Rice, all kinds of rice, with vinegar, spicy, aromatic, sticky.
I did not have a bad meal here. lol
Shopping: Things I am bringing back
Snacks. So. Many. Snacks. Kit Kats all flavors, gummies, weird flavored chips, and other snacks that I don't even know what they are.
Thanks to the USD being strong against the JP Yen, electronics are so much cheaper here. This reason alone makes the trip worth it.
Memories to Cherish
This trip was supposed to be about our oldest daughter, she had a senior trip here a week before we arrived and this is the last time we hang out before she heads out to college. I was glad to see her go ga-ga at the Nintendo Super Mario World at Universal Studios Osaka. I will remember walking with my wife, holding hands in Tokyo Disneyland. I will remember all the dinners and tasty snacks we enjoyed. All the majestic architecture and the subtle beauty of the forest around Mt. Fuji. The cherry blossoms, the clear streams burbling on the smooth rocks. The old shrines, the quiet walks up the mountains. The busy Tsukiji Market with their fresh fish, meat and fruit smells. The shiny, loud and bustling shopping district in Shibuya. I'm taking all those memories with me.
What would I do differently
Our youngest daughter had to stay because she didn't want to miss important school activities. Next time she is coming, We really missed her. Learn how things work ahead of time. We didn't know how the Disney passes work. Other than that it was pretty painless.
Conclusion
This was an amazing trip, I have to thank my wife M for putting it together. I promise I'll be more helpful next time, but she did an awesome job coming up with ideas for things that everyone will love. Japan was a lovely trip.
