10 Must Do's for any trip to Japan.
Hello again from Japan! Recently, I finally had a nice day on my day off after a few rainy days in a row, and decided it was time to go to Kawaguchiko, one of the top places to see Mt Fuji, and it was amazing! It's so much bigger in real life, and photos can't really do it justice. You really do have to pick the right day though, because it's an elusive mountain! Even throughout the course of the day, your view of it can go from crystal clear to obstructed by clouds. I think it's best to see it in the morning if possible, as that's when skies tend to be the clearest.
The sakura cherry blossoms are also out in bloom now, and the weather has definitely warmed up, which is so nice! Over the next couple of weeks, I have a few hanami (cherry blossom party/picnics) to attend, so I'm looking forward to getting out and about and seeing the beautiful sakura. I really do love spring in Japan, it's pretty hard to beat.
Today I thought I'd make a must-do list of things to do when you visit Japan. These are things that can be done anywhere in Japan, so no matter where in Japan you choose to visit, you can experience these things. Let's get started!
1) Try SUSHI! This one is probably the most obvious, but it's a pretty iconic staple of the Japanese diet. You can't not try it, especially when Japan is surrounded by water which means access to delicious fresh seafood! There are so many ways to have sushi too, from the cheap conveyor belt style (which is still pretty delicious) to the expensive Michelin star sushi restaurants which use only top quality fish, you really can't go wrong.
2) Try ramen. Another staple of the Japanese diet, particularly as a late night feed after work (or drinking...). The Japanese eat their ramen in the same way we eat McDonalds basically, and they're probably about as unhealthy as each other, due to ramen's high salt content. But I think a bowl of ramen is far more satisfying than McDonalds. :P
3) Visit an onsen! This is definitely one that is not for the body conscious because, as I've mentioned before, you go naked! Once you get over the initial awkwardness though, onsens are an extremely relaxing and refreshing experience, and I'd highly recommend it.
4) Visit a shrine or a temple. This one gives an insight into the culture and religion of Japan, and they are so beautifully crafted too. You can buy omekugi, which is like your fortune, and hope for some good luck, or you can make your own prayers and toss a coin into the box. It's up to you! Shrines and temples are also really peaceful places.
5) Visit a themed cafe! There are so many of these to choose from, it's kind of mind-boggling. You have the maid cafes, predominantly located in Akihabara, Tokyo, where the waitresses are dressed as maids, you have animal cafes, you have the Robot Restaurant, the list goes on! Trying out one of these is a must if you see one that catches your eye.
6) Visit an izakaya! An izakaya is a Japanese style bar with a fun and intimate atmosphere. These are scattered everywhere, and you have different types, from chain izakayas like Torikizoku (which are foreigner friendly) to hole in the wall stores that feel more local and intimate, there's something for everyone. You can also try the Japanese specialty, sake!
7) Try shabu shabu! This is a Japanese hotpot dish, and most shabu shabu restaurants are all you can eat! You choose what flavour of soup you'd like and then go nuts with meat, vegeatables, noodles, tofu and add a side of rice. A delicious way to get some vegetables in amongst all the ramen. ;) It's also a lot of fun to cook it yourself.
8) See some beautiful nature! There are so many beautiful natural places in Japan, from the river and bamboo forest in Kyoto to the lake in Nikko, to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, it'd be a shame if you didn't see at least some of the natural beauty Japan has to offer. Some places are harder to get to than others, but it'll be well worth your while, I guarantee. From mountains to lakes and rivers, you can find it all in Japan.
9) Go to Don Quihote. Don Quihote is your one stop shop for any souvenirs, costumes, snacks and more. This store has everything, and it's all super cheap too! Even if you don't buy anything, walking into a Don Quihote is quite the shopping experience, especially if it's a Mega Don Qui, which can have up to 6 floors! Just browsing the aisles and seeing what weird and wonderful things they have is a form of entertainment in itself. You could spend hours in here!
10) Go to a convenience store and try some random snacks, drinks or a whole meal, and experience the magic that is a Japanese conbini. There is also a wide variety of drinks available, and in winter you can find hot drinks to warm up your hands! The humble conbini are full of delicious foods that you wouldn't see at a Western convenience store, so definitely check it out.
There it is, a list of 10 things to do on a trip to Japan, no matter where in Japan you decide to go. I hope this has inspired anyone thinking about coming to Japan. There are so many unique cultural experiences to be had here that you can't really do anywhere else, and that's all part of the fun!
Hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll be back again soon with another life in Japan update.
Hannah. xx
The sakura cherry blossoms are also out in bloom now, and the weather has definitely warmed up, which is so nice! Over the next couple of weeks, I have a few hanami (cherry blossom party/picnics) to attend, so I'm looking forward to getting out and about and seeing the beautiful sakura. I really do love spring in Japan, it's pretty hard to beat.
Today I thought I'd make a must-do list of things to do when you visit Japan. These are things that can be done anywhere in Japan, so no matter where in Japan you choose to visit, you can experience these things. Let's get started!
1) Try SUSHI! This one is probably the most obvious, but it's a pretty iconic staple of the Japanese diet. You can't not try it, especially when Japan is surrounded by water which means access to delicious fresh seafood! There are so many ways to have sushi too, from the cheap conveyor belt style (which is still pretty delicious) to the expensive Michelin star sushi restaurants which use only top quality fish, you really can't go wrong.
2) Try ramen. Another staple of the Japanese diet, particularly as a late night feed after work (or drinking...). The Japanese eat their ramen in the same way we eat McDonalds basically, and they're probably about as unhealthy as each other, due to ramen's high salt content. But I think a bowl of ramen is far more satisfying than McDonalds. :P
3) Visit an onsen! This is definitely one that is not for the body conscious because, as I've mentioned before, you go naked! Once you get over the initial awkwardness though, onsens are an extremely relaxing and refreshing experience, and I'd highly recommend it.
4) Visit a shrine or a temple. This one gives an insight into the culture and religion of Japan, and they are so beautifully crafted too. You can buy omekugi, which is like your fortune, and hope for some good luck, or you can make your own prayers and toss a coin into the box. It's up to you! Shrines and temples are also really peaceful places.
5) Visit a themed cafe! There are so many of these to choose from, it's kind of mind-boggling. You have the maid cafes, predominantly located in Akihabara, Tokyo, where the waitresses are dressed as maids, you have animal cafes, you have the Robot Restaurant, the list goes on! Trying out one of these is a must if you see one that catches your eye.
6) Visit an izakaya! An izakaya is a Japanese style bar with a fun and intimate atmosphere. These are scattered everywhere, and you have different types, from chain izakayas like Torikizoku (which are foreigner friendly) to hole in the wall stores that feel more local and intimate, there's something for everyone. You can also try the Japanese specialty, sake!
7) Try shabu shabu! This is a Japanese hotpot dish, and most shabu shabu restaurants are all you can eat! You choose what flavour of soup you'd like and then go nuts with meat, vegeatables, noodles, tofu and add a side of rice. A delicious way to get some vegetables in amongst all the ramen. ;) It's also a lot of fun to cook it yourself.
8) See some beautiful nature! There are so many beautiful natural places in Japan, from the river and bamboo forest in Kyoto to the lake in Nikko, to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, it'd be a shame if you didn't see at least some of the natural beauty Japan has to offer. Some places are harder to get to than others, but it'll be well worth your while, I guarantee. From mountains to lakes and rivers, you can find it all in Japan.
9) Go to Don Quihote. Don Quihote is your one stop shop for any souvenirs, costumes, snacks and more. This store has everything, and it's all super cheap too! Even if you don't buy anything, walking into a Don Quihote is quite the shopping experience, especially if it's a Mega Don Qui, which can have up to 6 floors! Just browsing the aisles and seeing what weird and wonderful things they have is a form of entertainment in itself. You could spend hours in here!
10) Go to a convenience store and try some random snacks, drinks or a whole meal, and experience the magic that is a Japanese conbini. There is also a wide variety of drinks available, and in winter you can find hot drinks to warm up your hands! The humble conbini are full of delicious foods that you wouldn't see at a Western convenience store, so definitely check it out.
There it is, a list of 10 things to do on a trip to Japan, no matter where in Japan you decide to go. I hope this has inspired anyone thinking about coming to Japan. There are so many unique cultural experiences to be had here that you can't really do anywhere else, and that's all part of the fun!
Hope you enjoyed this post, and I'll be back again soon with another life in Japan update.
Hannah. xx
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