Did you know that Japan is known for this?
As a globally-minded person, you probably already know a bit about Japan. You’ve eaten sushi, have a favorite anime, and know a few Japanese words. Yet, there are many things you realize you don’t know about Japan and wish you knew more. If you only had a broad overview, you could investigate more into the areas you are curious about. This blog post is focused on just that . . . providing you a broad overview that will give you a chance to go deeper. Let’s dig in!
Japan locations
When people think of Japan, they usually think of four main islands. Honshu is the largest main island and includes Tokyo and Osaka. Hokkaido is the northernmost main island. Shikoku and Kyushu are the other two smaller main islands and are located in the southwest. Okinawa is another region that is popular for tourists and is a much smaller set of islands further away to the southwest from the main islands.
You may know that Mount Fuji is on the border of Shizuoka, but did you also know that Shizuoka is known for green tea?
If you want to meet a geisha (for a photo shoot, of course!), you can find them walking around Kyoto, but if you are interested in manga and anime, Akihabara, in Tokyo, is the place to go.
While there are many places that serve delicious raw fish, the place to go for raw horse meat is Kushimoto, way south in Kyushu. I’ve tried it and I recommend it!
Contrasts
Tokyo or Kyoto
Tokyo is the most populated city in the world, known for its modern motif as the capital of Japan. 
It boasts world-class shopping malls, the Imperial Palace, and numerous sightseeing opportunities. If you are a Disney fan, you can join thousands of visitors from inside and outside of Japan at Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea.
In contrast, you’ll find more of the traditional soul of Japan in Kyoto and the surrounding areas. 
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years before Tokyo became the capital in 1869. Because of the long cultural history, there are many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines to visit, especially if you love the traditional architecture. The bamboo forest and traditional Japanese theater (Kabuki) are must-see attractions.
Despite the contrasts of Tokyo and Kyoto, both places are extremely popular and you will find yourself among crowds in both cities.
Eating in Japan
My mom still doesn’t believe me, but it really is okay to slurp your noodles in Japan. She still won’t forgive that in her house, though.
Different areas of Japan compete for the best ramen. The “secret sauce” is more like the “secret broth” and there are 4 main broth types. Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), Miso (miso paste), and Tonkotsu (pork bone) are the 4 broths to choose from. Each region in Japan often has its specialty, so consider what kind of broth you’re in the mood for. For example, Hokkaido is known for its miso ramen, while Hakata, in Kyushu, boasts a richer pork bone broth. It’s probably not a surprise, but the most popular ramen shops are often small and have long lines out the door. Slurping is expected!
Other popular noodle dishes include udon (flour noodles served in broth), soba (buckwheat noodles served hot), yakisoba (fried noodles), and soumen (cold thin noodles served with cucumbers and egg). 
Udon and soba can also be eaten cold and are called zaruudon and zarusoba. Zarusoba is one of my favs when covered with a slimey potato sauce.
Other meals served around rice (the main staple) often include fish, vegetables, and soup. When served as a set meal, they are called teishoku in restaurants and when served by small shops or convenient stores, they are often called bento.
Of course, you can’t pass up the opportunity to eat sushi. There are cheap sushi restaurants with sushi costing less than a dollar a plate going by on a conveyer belt by your table. There are also more expensive sushi bars with made-to-order sushi. 
Where ever you find your sushi, it will be fresh. More mouth-watering details to come in future blogs.
Oh, and don’t worry about being able to read the menu. Most restaurants have sample displays in the window.
Transportation Options
Whether you take the bullet train, a subway, a bus, a ferry, or a taxi, you can count on it being on time. Many visitors to Japan purchase a Japan Rail Pass before entering Japan. It’s a cheaper option than paying for individual train fare and is not available to those already living in Japan. The JR Pass allows you to ride any speed of train in the JR system during the dates you choose. In the fall of 2023, however, there was a price increase that some travelers have complained about.
Taxis are dependable and not terribly overpriced, but I’ve never met a taxi driver who speaks English well, or at all, yet. No tipping is required or expected either. The taxi system has authority, though, which means that ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft were not allowed in Japan until just recently in April, 2024.
Trains and buses are convenient and generally have announcements in English after the Japanese announcements. This is also true for domestic flights.
If you feel comfortable driving a rental car, be sure to get an international driver’s license before you go. They are valid for up to a year. I got mine from the AAA office for $20 ($35 if I didn’t bring my own photos).
Shopping and Services
Although traditionally and primarily a cash society, Japan has become much more accepting of credit cards. However, if you need cash, you can often get the best exchange rates by withdrawing cash from an ATM if your debit card is in the network (look for signs for Visa, Mastercard, and JCB). Banks, Post Offices, and many convenient stores have ATMs that can show screens in English.
Generally, everyone pays a 10% sales tax on purchases in Japan. However, as a tourist, you have the option to shop tax-free if the following conditions are met:
- you are staying in Japan for less than 6 months,
- you are not employed in Japan,
- you have the entry date to Japan stamped in your passport (this means you didn’t use the automated gate at the airport),
- the shop displays a sign that says, “Tax-free Shop,”
- and the amount of your purchase is at least 5000 yen.
Recreation and Relaxation
If you are a sports fan, sumo wrestling and baseball are extremely popular. It can be a really fun experience to watch. Equally as noisy and exciting are the karaoke rooms where you can sing to your heart’s content for a set number of hours with friends. For the gambler, there are Pachinko Parlors everywhere, and if you don’t mind the smoke, you can play the machines in hopes of a cashout.
If you like nature and being outside, picnics in parks, especially when cherry trees are blossoming, are a wonderful experience that costs very little. Camping, particularly RV camping, has gained popularity since the pandemic. I hope to share some scenes with you from upcoming camping trips. Hiking mountain trails is also serene and energizing. Hiking Mt. Fuji is challenging, however, and most people only do the summit hike in August when the weather permits. They hike through the night and arrive in time for the sunrise. Definitely a bucket list item!
The ultimate for experiencing relaxation in Japan, though, is the natural hot springs. Hotter than you might expect, Japan prides itself in the healing qualities of the mineral water. So, get naked and enjoy the soak with the others there (men and women on separate sides). Always be sure to wash your body before getting in the soaking tubs.
Accommodations
If you can avoid the 3 main travel times (New Year’s, Golden Week at the beginning of May, and Obon in mid-August, options for accommodations are usually cheaper and more available. Big cities like Tokyo have western style hotels, but the best traditional Japanese experiences are found at the Ryokan (Japanese Inn). These Ryokan are often built on a hot spring and come with excellent meal service included in the stay.
For cheaper stays, capsule hotels are a lot nicer than they sound and I’ve had good experiences staying at them. Recently, AirB&B is growing in popularity and may be the cheapest option if you research them.
Various other "good-to-know" stuff
Since this post is an introductory overview, future posts will focus on more specific topics. But worth mentioning are:
- Hiroshima and Nagasaki (atomic bomb sites memorialized) – be prepared to be made more aware of your bias and the Japanese bias about the tragedy.
- Manga and Anime – This is an entire subculture. You could spend an entire vacation doing nothing other than enjoying what Japan has to offer with Manga (graphic novels) and Anime.
- Pokemon – another rabbit hole many people are really passionate about.
- Gift giving – The older I get, the more and more I want to carry suitcases that are not packed to the weight limit. It just isn’t happening, though, because giving and receiving gifts is embedded deeply in culture and relationships. I look forward to showing you more about this.
- Language and communication – Nuances abound. You’ll inevitably hear stories about my mistakes and misunderstandings. Try not to laugh!
With such a varied overview, you likely have some things you are more interested in than others. As I prepare more specific takes on what you can see and experience in Japan, let me know what stands out and what you want to know more about. 
Hi Jerry!
I love all of the things you intend to show us. The one thing I’m always fascinated by is the deeper cultural stuff. Like, what are the ways of life and what are the cultural beliefs and how they have influenced you and your travels and life.
Hi Anne, great question and rather deep, if I must say. I’ll integrate some ideas this summer in my sharing about this. Have a great week!
Hi, Jerry! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I spent a couple of years in Japan a while ago, and there was so much I didn’t know before I got there. I’m looking forward to following your adventures! (My mom was also surprised about slurping noodles, and I never really felt comfortable doing it.)
That’s awesome, Denise! Where were you in Japan? Were you here for an English teaching job? Looking forward to sharing more!