Are you currently planning a holiday and wondering why travel to Japan? As you sift through various cities and countries worldwide, trying to find the perfect spot for your long-overdue getaway, allow us to present our case for Japan as your ultimate destination!
With its rich history spanning thousands of years, a captivating culture, delicious food, cutting-edge fashion, exciting nightlife, unmatched hospitality, and impeccable cleanliness, Japan stands out as a destination like no other. In this post, we’ll delve into all the reasons why Japan should be at the top of your travel list. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be itching to book your flight!
One of the best ways to explore Tokyo is to visit the local areas and immerse yourself in the local culture. If you want to explore local areas, we have created scavenger hunt adventures personalised to your interests, filled with fun facts, clues and puzzles. If you’re curious, you can check out the games here! Check out the Flip Japan Games here! |
Why Travel to Japan: Ultimate List of Reasons to Venture to the Land of the Rising Sun
Food
Let’s kick things off with food – one of the main reasons why you should travel to Japan, isn’t it? Who doesn’t love a mouth-watering, orgasmic food-porn style meal? Everyone knows about the classic sushi and ramen of Japan, but let’s delve beyond the obvious. A meal isn’t just a meal here; it’s an experience.
There’s an endless array of Japanese food to explore. From sweet to savoury, from noodles to rice, from traditional to fusion, Japanese cuisine can surprise you at every turn. Each region in Japan boasts its own signature dish, along with unique fruits and vegetables. Moreover, each region puts its own spin on these dishes, making it nearly impossible to try everything.
From the moment you step into a restaurant, the staff and establishments are dedicated to providing you with the most comfortable and enjoyable experience possible. You won’t find many restaurants offering takeaways, nor will you see many people eating while walking in the streets or riding on public transportation. That’s because when you have a meal in Japan, you want to sit down and savour it to the fullest.
It’s a challenge to find a bad restaurant in Japan – we dare you to try. Even the least impressive restaurants in Japan serve food that is passable and tasty. Most establishments, regardless of size or price, serve delicious food. You might even find yourself wondering how some places manage to stay in business with their affordably priced top-quality dishes – I certainly have.
Another highlight of food during your travels in Japan is the traditional bento box – a lunch box designed to be well-rounded, healthy, and visually appealing. You’ll find simple bento boxes for work or school in all convenience stores, ones meant for train passengers during long commutes, and special bento boxes for special occasions.
Additionally, there are character-themed bento boxes featuring fan-favourite characters such as Hello Kitty or Mickey Mouse. Why not try out a bento box, or even make one of your own? There are plenty of recipes and YouTube videos that can guide you through the process.
Drinks
You may be familiar with the term ‘sake’, often used to refer to the Japanese alcohol nihonshu overseas, but Japanese beverages offer much more than that. From shochu to umeshu and beyond, there’s a diverse array to explore. Moreover, breweries and distilleries dot the country, with the same alcohol often tasting different from region to region. Some areas even produce their own unique libations not commonly found elsewhere. Take, for instance, Okinawa, an island south of Japan, famed for its hard-to-find awamori liquor.
In recent years, Japanese craft beers and wines have surged in popularity, despite lacking the extensive history of traditional Japanese drinks. Nevertheless, these modern beverages, crafted by innovative breweries and distilleries, boast unique and intriguing flavours.
If you enjoy a good tipple, Japan offers an abundance of choices, and you’re sure to have a blast exploring the incredible beverage options during your travels in Japan.
Nightlife
Unlike in other countries where bars may close at 1 or 2 am, many bars in Tokyo stay open until 4 or 5 am. This means you can literally drink the night away. The nightlife in Tokyo is often spontaneous and exciting; one moment you could be enjoying a drink in a bar, and the next, you could find yourself bowling or singing karaoke with new friends. And who knows, you might end up drinking in Yoyogi Park (open at all hours) as the sun rises.
Tokyo, being a popular holiday destination, welcomes many foreigners. While getting to know the locals and sharing a drink with them should be an experience you aim for, it’s more common to quickly make friends with other tourists exploring the same city as you. Nightlife is undoubtedly one of the reasons why you should travel to Japan!
If you prefer a relaxed night of drinks, Tokyo caters to that as well. There are many lesser-known neighbourhoods with bars that are overshadowed by the more famous party districts of Shibuya and Shinjuku. Places like Koenji and Nakano are small neighbourhoods with local bars where you’ll find mostly residents enjoying a laid-back atmosphere. These bars are perfect for slowly soaking in the vibe while sipping on a well-crafted cocktail.
Omotenashi
In Japan, every restaurant, hotel, and establishment takes pride in the way they prepare their products and how they treat each customer, and rightfully so. Japan is renowned for its hospitality and efficiency, all thanks to the philosophy of omotenashi.
There’s no direct English translation for omotenashi. It embodies the ethos of providing services to the best of your ability, surpassing basic standards and perhaps even anticipating needs before they’re voiced. Step into a store or restaurant, and the staff will go above and beyond to ensure you have a splendid time.
Omotenashi isn’t confined to businesses; it permeates Japanese society as well. The stereotype of Japanese people being polite and helpful isn’t just a stereotype; it’s a well-established fact. Paired with the gentle Japanese language, omotenashi creates a culture of courtesy and respect.
It’s a society where the unspoken agreement is to walk on the left side of the street and stand on the left on escalators, allowing space for those in a hurry; to wait until every last person has alighted from the train carriage before boarding; to refrain from talking loudly on public transport, or sometimes not to talk at all. Japanese people are considerate of those around them, subscribing to the philosophy of maintaining societal peace.
Omotenashi is perhaps one of the many charms that enamour people with Japan, one of the reasons why you should travel to Japan. If approached, Japanese people will attempt to converse with you even in the face of a language barrier, and they’re almost always willing to offer help and assistance. They may even express gratitude for visiting their country.
Safety
Japan is a very safe country. People can generally walk around at all hours of the day, in small streets or random parts of town, without having to fear for their safety. According to the Safe Cities Index 2019, created by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Tokyo has the highest overall safety score in the world; Osaka, another major city, isn’t far behind in 3rd place.
If you lose your phone, wallet, or bag somewhere in Japan, there is a very high chance that you will get it back. Japanese people are likely to turn in lost items rather than keep or ignore them. Even during the March 11th, 2011 disaster, Japanese citizens refused to loot convenience stores or supermarkets to help themselves. This is a society that takes pride in their honesty and integrity, so much so that you could pass out on the streets and wake up with your phone and wallet still in your pockets.
People sleep on public transportation, in restaurants, cafes, and all kinds of places both during the day and night. You will often see people with their bags lying around, phones and wallets hanging out of their pockets. Their carefreeness is a testament to how much they trust their society.
Obviously, you shouldn’t leave your belongings hanging around or sleep just anywhere if you can help it, but if you had to, Japan is the safest place to do it. There are some areas that are more dangerous, so if you’re worried, feel free to ask us via our Facebook or Instagram. We are more than happy to answer any questions you have!
Japanese Culture
Japan blends the new with the old seamlessly. You could stroll down a bustling city street and suddenly come across an ancient, tranquil shrine. Conversely, you might visit an age-old temple only to find skyscrapers towering behind it. This unique juxtaposition is a result of Japan’s commitment to preserving its heritage sites. Despite experiencing various economic and industrial booms, Japan has managed to retain much of its traditional culture and customs, which you can easily immerse yourself in right in the heart of its metropolitan cities.
Traditional customs are still very much alive today. Matsuri – traditional Japanese festivals – are held daily in various neighbourhoods, especially during the summer months. At these festivals, you’ll witness both young and elderly Japanese people donning traditional attire, performing traditional dances, and participating in age-old rituals.
In modern-day Tokyo, traditional Japanese arts such as music, dance, theatre, tea ceremonies, kimono-crafting, pottery, and the iconic geisha culture are still thriving for everyone to enjoy and experience.
Pop Culture
You can’t discuss Japanese culture without mentioning Japanese animation and comic books, known as “anime” and “manga” respectively. Anime and manga have made their way overseas, and you may even be familiar with some of the famous titles like One Piece, Naruto, Death Note, Attack on Titan, and more.
If you’re a fan of Japanese pop culture, anime, and manga, or if you’re eager to experience this vibrant culture firsthand, Japan – specifically Tokyo – is one of the top reasons why you should travel to Japan.
During your holiday in Japan, it’s impossible to go a day without encountering anime and manga in some form or another. You’ll find advertisements for upcoming anime on public transportation, arcade walls adorned with colourful characters, and even trucks adorned with anime cruising around town to promote them. For fans, there are plenty of shops selling anime figurines, with most of them located in Akihabara and Nakano.
Another significant aspect of Japanese pop culture is the phenomenon of idols. Idols, who are primarily singers (although some also dabble in acting), are best known for their cute, kawaii appearances and personalities. They cultivate close connections with their fans, often hosting meet-and-greets and engaging with their followers on social media, fostering a sense of intimacy.
To maintain this illusion of intimacy, idols typically have clauses in their contracts prohibiting them from having romantic relationships in their personal lives. While you might stumble upon idol groups performing in public, you’re more likely to encounter them on billboards or advertisement trucks.
Similar to idols are the maids in maid cafes. The entire concept of maid cafes revolves around waitresses dressed as maids, treating customers as if they were their masters. Just like idols, these maids are known for their allure and bubbly personalities.
Like waitresses in other establishments, they’ll escort you to your table and serve you food and drinks. However, maid cafes take it a step further; the maids will entertain you with songs and dances during your visit. If you’re fortunate, they might even put on a performance. Maid cafes usually charge by the half-hour or hour, so make sure not to lose track of time when you visit during your holiday in Japan!
Fashion
Another hallmark of Japan, specifically Tokyo, is its diverse array of styles and fashion trends. Harajuku fashion, in particular, is exceptionally unique. It features vibrant colours, lace, frills, and jewellery, all centred around the concept of freely expressing oneself.
Harajuku fashion isn’t just a passing trend; it’s ingrained in Tokyo’s subculture. Regardless of changing fads, Harajuku fashion remains immensely popular, making it a must-visit during your holiday in Japan and a compelling reason why you should travel to Japan!
In addition to the adorable kawaii fashion prevalent in Harajuku, gothic and lolita styles also thrive in Japan. One of the most wonderful aspects of Japan is its acceptance of diverse fashion trends. You can strut around in the boldest outfits without fear of judgment from passers-by. In fact, people may even approach you to snap photos if they admire your style.
The prime spot to immerse yourself in this fashion scene during your holiday in Japan is undoubtedly Harajuku. Takeshita Street, the main thoroughfare in Harajuku, is lined with shops selling clothing and shoes tailored to Harajuku fashion. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, be sure to set aside some time to explore Harajuku and discover its unique fashion culture for yourself!
Transportation
While being punctual holds universal importance, it takes on a whole new level of significance in Japan, where even arriving on time can be considered unacceptable in work situations. If a meeting is scheduled for 9 am, every Japanese businessman knows to be there by 8:45 am. To accommodate such a culture, Japan’s transportation system is designed to be punctual and efficient. If a train is set to depart at 12:52, it will leave precisely at 12:52, neither a minute earlier nor later. You’ll get to experience this during your holiday in Japan.
What’s more, the extensive train network spans across the city, making your holiday in Japan much more manageable compared to other countries. Whether you’re planning to explore multiple regions of Japan in a short time using the shinkansen – the “bullet train” – or covering all the major attractions within a city with the swift and punctual subways, we can assure you of a seamless experience.
Discover the Allure of Japan: A Destination Like No Other!
Japan is a safe, efficient, and fun destination for your holiday. Here, you’ll experience thousand-year-old traditions and culture, as well as observe or engage in modern-day pop culture, nightlife activities, and a society that has often been described as upside-down to the rest of the world.
We hope this guide has given you enough reasons to visit Japan and helped you seal the deal and book that flight! Whether you’re a food connoisseur, history lover, partier, or just someone who wants to be in a completely different society, Japan has something for you. If you need any help for your holiday in Japan, recommendations or advice, feel free to message us; we are more than happy to help ensure your trip to Japan is an unforgettable one. See you all soon!
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