Arigato Japan! 5 tips (from a non-expert) for your first time there

In the last post, I jotted down 5 observations on the fly between Tokyo and Kyoto; now, as I have just returned to Italy, here are 5 tips for those who want to go there and that I will keep as a reminder for myself as well for when I have to go back.

1 be well informed: did you know that Japan has 130 million inhabitants? That immigration is at 1%? That they are the most longevous people in the world? I believe that before going to the Land of the Rising Sun one must necessarily make an effort to do some research on it first, because understanding this sort of “parallel world” will not be easy.

2 behaviour: you don’t shake hands, you say thank-you many times over, you place bills and credit cards on a little plate, you line up single file at any place at any time, from the subway to the cash registers, you don’t raise your voice, in houses and traditional restaurants you take off your shoes. These are just a few of the indications that you can read about more in depth on other blogs dedicated to this subject, although, research notwithstanding, you will notice that it takes a few days before you feel perfectly “well-mannered” Japanese style.

3 choosing the itinerary and moving around: even in this case don’t think you can improvise, unless you decide to spend just a few days in Tokyo, but Japan is vast and the flight is very long, so it’s obviously worth the effort to organize your visit properly. Our 11 day-trip of Tokyo and surroundings, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima in the end was a really good compromise, but the actual programming of the trip started way before. I would like to suggest the following guide to you, we modified it somewhat, but it was excellent to start of with https://www.viaggiautori.it/prodotto/guida-g percentage

4 eating and choosing a restaurant: my partner and I love Japanese cuisine, but keep in mind that “Tokyo isn’t Japan” and it’s easy to get lost in the capital, also remember that the language doesn’t help … let me sum it up this way: you want to spend little but find good quality food? Choose ramen bars, and remember, the places where they make it really well sell only that; sushi? Ask a Japanese person, there are unexpected places of great tradition, but they are costly and not easy to come by; How about Kyoto and other cities outside the capital? Opt for tradition, they have excellent meats and refined preparations, and be open to their suggestions, because a real Japanese will not rip you off, ever.

5 past, future and music: some conclusive feelings, also linked to inspiration and to what this trip left me with personally. I found so much history, a sort of parallel world that has developed as much as the western world with very different paths, but that was able to reach exceptional civilization and progress points that visitors can see clearly. I expected perhaps a more evident vocation towards the future, I speak of architecture, technology, mobility; it’s there, but it’s not as drastic as I thought it would be, and the best part is that the actual results are at the service of everyone (see trains, transport, etc.).

Visiting Hiroshima opens your mind and soul. What I’m left with is a great desire for dialogue with this civilization, precisely because the contaminations appear complex, from the people all the way to art and to my field, music.

The Space Violin Project re-elaborates some of what is the manga and anime culture so, starting from this, I hope this “bye bye for now” to Japan will be a very brief one.