Japan is like another planet: they think differently, dress differently, and their food tastes different.
Here are some extraordinary experiences worth seeing when visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan excites you? It is not surprising.
Whether you are fascinated by street fashion producing young people with pink hair and dazzling graphic t-shirts, or sushi, sashimi, small nigiri, and tea (which has a full and conservative ceremony lasting four hours) captured you.
Whether the strange language, which always sounds as if someone is angry at you, shakes your nerves, or the beautiful cherry blossom landscapes are what impress you, you are lucky.
Japan has a lot of everything and many things you cannot imagine.
Since the Japanese simply think differently than us (has anyone seen the last bra they designed?) they tend to be super interesting and quite diverse. Japan is like another planet, a planet perfect to draw inspiration from and experience, even if you have only a few days, especially if you spend them in Tokyo and Kyoto. Here are some ideas:
Ryokan Japanese Inn
If you are in Kyoto, do not miss a night in a Japanese inn.
Everything you saw in movies and read in books is accurate: here you sleep on a futon (not the one you had in eighth grade) on tatami mats, bathe in an onsen, a hot bath usually fed by spring water, and in your room you will mainly find a small table where you are supposed to prepare tea or eat breakfast and dinner in the Japanese version, kaiseki.
Do not be surprised if you are required to be precise in meal timing the food temperatures must be exact according to Japanese ceremony.
And do not be surprised if you do not understand it; in most places, English is not excellent.
Kaiseki and other delicacies
Kaiseki is the traditional Japanese meal, and as such, it is full of ceremonies and attention to detail.
Serving utensils and ingredients are carefully chosen according to the seasons, as are textures and temperatures.
In Tokyo, you can find a wide selection of Japanese cooking courses that teach all the rules of the ceremony, and of course, the special city is full of high-quality and reputable restaurants, many of which even received Michelin stars.
Eating on the street
Ramen, chicken skewers, and sake these form the basis of Japan’s street food.
Street stalls in every Japanese city are an experience not to be missed: they are cheap, tasty, colorful, and authentic.
It is essential to try yakitori (chicken skewers), izakaya (local pubs), and of course the ramen stalls scattered on the streets.
Ikebana and Calligraphy
True, food is a central topic in Japan, but they also specialize in many other areas, especially those that help develop Zen arts like ikebana, flower arranging, and calligraphy, the art of decorative writing.
During your stay in Japan, you can try these refined arts even if you are not particularly refined.
You can take a learning class in one of the two or simply start writing the characters yourself all you need is to imagine what you are trying to write and let it flow.
The Tale of Genji
This year, Kyoto celebrates 1000 years of The Tale of Genji, considered the first novel ever written.
The noble author worked in the service of the empress while writing about the flirtatious prince, detailing Japanese ceremonies in full.
It presents Japanese essence and uniqueness and gives an updated picture of what was true 1000 years ago and sometimes still today.
Japanese shopping
In addition to being colorful and authentic, do not forget the Japanese are fanatics of toys, technology, and gadgets.
In Tokyo, do not miss Akihabara, a district specializing in all kinds of gadgets and technological innovations.
It is a huge shopping area providing electronics, computers, anime, and other Japanese toys.
You can find everything on the main street of the district, and even if you do not buy anything, you can admire the variety and the culture.
Harajuku girls
Japanese fashion is very diverse: traveling through different neighborhoods in Tokyo, you may encounter Japanese people dressed in designed suits, young people with pink and purple hair, skirts socks, buns, and even completely costumed people appearing straight from a theater performance.
However, the area around Harajuku station seems to have influenced many fashion styles of the local residents.
You can see girls dressed in Lolita style (Victorian meets Gothic), young people in cosplay (dressed as manga characters or favorite bands), or kawaii fans (cuteness, in Japanese anything cute and sweet like Hello Kitty or Pokémon). In any case, there is no doubt you will not be bored for a moment.
Sumo is here
And how can you experience Japanese culture without visiting their sporting events? Try impressive sumo culture or baseball to get a glimpse of Japanese crowds and cheering culture.
You can cheer for your favorite sumo wrestler for a short time and then snack on dried squid and katsu, fried chicken strips.
And remember, it does not end until the fat man falls.
