Stoic Japan
Traveling in Japan was fun, but far different from “third world” Asia in so many ways.
Tokyo was cool, but I didn’t love the place, and it was super expensive. The countryside near Sendai, where Matt lives, was cool but I really only spent like 36 hours there so it was a very surface experience.
We hung out with some of his coworkers the night I got there, though, and that was best interaction I had with any Japanese people the whole time I Was in the country.
The best part of the trip, by far, was the Kansai region in the South. Kobe and Osaka were lively, and Kyoto was (and I don’t use this lightly) hella cool.
We didn’t quite get but around to doing everything we had planned in the region, but perhaps had a better trip because of that.
Highlights of the trip to Japan:
(In no particular order)
- Kobe beef (Best. Ever. No lie.)
- Sushi at the Tokyo fish market. If Kobe beef was 10 times better than any steak I’ve ever eaten, than Tsukiji Sushi was 50 times better than any other I’ve tried.
- Spotting (Hunting?) Geisha in Kyoto. I’ve been told since, though, they may have been fakes!
- Whale sharks in the aquarium in Osaka, especially because I hope to be snorkeling with the same in the immediate future.
- Getting lost on a hike around the Fushimi Inari temple (Shinto) in Kyoto, and stumbling upon a hill with an amazing view of the city.
- Spending our first full day in Osaka at a real, live, sumo tournament.
- Beer Museum!
Worst part, by far: Being unsuccessful at convincing Matt to quit his job and travel with me.
More photos here.
