2024 Japan Trip
Last year marked my first trip to Japan, something I’d wanted to do for a very long time. I’ve been studying Japanese for two years and grew up playing Japanese games, so the visit was long overdue. I’d held off mainly because this would be my first trip overseas. Lots of unknowns.
Then the perfect chance landed in my lap - two globe-trotting friends asked me to tag along. They’d visited before and already had everything planned out. I could just relax and go with the flow, not having to make any blind decisions. I eventually learned that Japanese cities are tourist-friendly and easy to navigate, but I still needed that extra push to get going. I appreciate my buddies for that.
The trip lasted two weeks. We spent the first half in Tokyo and the second in Osaka, a large city further inland. We visited Shinto and Buddhist shrines along the way, collecting stamps in a small book. Each shrine has a special stamp to commemorate your trip, encouraging people to travel far and wide. We collected about 10 stamps and came home with an awesome souvenir.
The food was a major highlight for me. We went to great restaurants every day and rarely spent more than $10 thanks to the exchange rate. Sushi was especially cheap since it’s priced like a common dish and not an “exotic delicacy” (something I definitely miss now that I’m back home). We became regulars at a sushi bar where you stand at the counter and order directly from the chef. Getting recognized by the staff after a few visits was a cool experience.
My favorite food in Japan wasn’t the fish, surprisingly. It was another meal called “teishoku” (定食) where they serve small dishes à la carte. You choose a set of options like miso soup, edamame, and tempura, served together on a big platter. It’s a great way to try new dishes, even the intimidating delicacies like nattō (sticky, fermented soybeans). You learn which flavors go well together and start subconsciously combining them. Our favorite restaurant was tiny hole-in-the-wall run by a passionate crew. Wandering down a random alley can reward you with some killer food sometimes.
Other fun moments are posted below. I recommend Japan to anyone who can stomach the plane ride - it’s an awesome time!
