Moment of honesty? I have never been oversees before and much less on such an adventurous and wonderful destination like Japan. European trips feel almost common at this point, so for me Japan was like a break from the known and a dive into the unknown. What you are about to read bellow is my two-week-adventure in Japan and more particularly, in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Osaka.

Are you ready? Let’s travel back to Japan, together…

It all started with an idea, a random comment, a dream (and a bucket list naturally) and the support of my partner – now fiance- to travel every inch of this world while we can. We visited Japan in May. To be specific, on May 1st to May 16th and it was everything you can imagine. There were four of us, eager to see everything, taste everything and emerge ourselves into their culture and habits. We wanted to live it like locals, to see the city through their eyes, but also don’t miss all the touristy attractions and of course, find a way to avoid the tourist traps. Social media platforms helped us a lot to plan and navigate through the days, so we got to see plenty of things and thanks to people’s feedback we got to skip the spots that were just not worth it.

We landed in Narita Airport on May 2nd to be exact, after a four and a half hour journey to Doha and a corresponding flight from Doha to Narita in Tokyo. Duration? A total of twenty four hours. I am not a total newbie when it comes to traveling, but I have never been on such a long trip and such a distant destination, so I had to do my research when it comes to what to pack for the trip and what to pack for the plane.

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Here’s a list for both!

I had one large luggage and a small one to take with me on board of the plane, but in general I didn’t want to pack too many clothes, since I know myself and I did buy a few clothes there as well.

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📍 Tokyo Highlights

⛰️ Hakone Day Trip

• Our Hakone visit was a scheduled day trip from Klook, which we used quite a lot. We booked the one with a meal included, though the meal was not as great or traditional as we expected, money not well spent on that part. I can’t really say I enjoyed our Hakone day trip since the day was pretty bad weather-wise. It poured for the majority of the day, the clouds hid Mount Fuji from view, but we still were able to enjoy our time in nature. It just wasn’t ideal when it case down to feeling cold and comfortable. It’s funny how every other day was pretty sunny and the one day we had to see the mountain, the weather did not help us. Sad, but we got to see Mount Fuju from the Shinkansen, when going to Osaka. It was glorious.
  Hakone is a small place, does not include many thing to see or do, but you can actually fill a bottle with mountain water that is said to expand your life expectancy. I am not sure if I believe it, but my fiance and I did fill a bottle to give it a taste. We were thirsty, after all!

🍵 Kyoto Highlights

• Kyoto has a different side of beauty to it. The place is more attached to its traditional side, less inclined in digital advancement, though it’s not far from the whole japan and technology vibe. I liked the way everything run smoothly, though I hated how far everything was from each other. Much like Tokyo we had to use public transport and most specifically busses. Busses and luggage are tricky, since the busses are rather small, but we managed. Suica works everywhere just fyi.
• In Kyoto the golden palace, Kinkaku-ji, is the attraction you must not miss. Although rather crowded, I would suggest walking around it and catching more pics of it rather than staying rooted to the spot where it’s viewed from afar from the lake. Kyoto is not very big and most things to see can easily be toured into two days, but still, its aesthetic is worth staying there for more than two or three days. Kyoto will always have a special place in my heart.
• However, when it comes to food and shopping, I would say Nishiki Market and the area around it is a must visit. Very lively, filled with people, yes, but it’s astonishing how many thing you can find and how much food you can taste. From fish, to steak to fruits and sweets – it’s like Nishiki Market has everything for everyone. It’s really a one of a kind experience.

☮️ Hiroshima & Miyajima

• Surely we all know by now the significant importance of Hiroshima and the must visit Museum, where Japanese people have really invested in the town’s history and every little aspect concerning the bombing. Who? When? How? And after? Every little question can be answered in a tour of the museum. It’s a nice activity of great importance and an opportunity for younger generations to learn more about the impact of the bombing.
• Ferry ride to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine. Miyajima stole my heart and kept it with it. The beauty, the beach, the people, the scenery. A small island filled with deer with maybe not much to do, but enjoy the beach town, the food and of course the sea. If I could go back, I would explore the other part of Miyajima too, the wilderness and the nature that surrounds it seems adventurous enough.

🎉 Osaka & Nara Fun

• Osaka reminded me of Tokyo. Tall skyscrapers, a prominent urban vibe and aesthetic, but also good food at every corner and a full metro line to navigate everywhere. However, Osaka is the capital city for all anime lovers, so my fiance and friends had a blast at discovering all the hidden gems and the areas filled with characters from their favorite anime. It was also very interesting for me as an non anime lover and only a subtle viewer of the Moving Castle, how the anime development works and how far it’s come. Truly interesting and inspiring.
• Nara is an area as I came to find out and not just the park with all the people friendly deer around. It’s rather lovely, also an area I would like to re-visit one day, mostly because I feel like I didn’t truly appreciate it while I was there. The deer activity was fun, the animals seemed very used to the tourists coming to feed them and follow them around. They are exceptional animals and the Japanese respect their home. Multiple signs as to how to act around them are placed everywhere, to remind the tourists to be kind and considerate of the animals.
• Highlight of the entire trip? I would have to say the Universal Studios, in which we spent almost a day at. Great rides, though I rode three of them because I am a huge sucker and I am terrified of thriller rides, but the Harry Potter one made me loose my mind. So realistic, so well maintained, also terrifying with the Dementors coming at you, but so worth the scare. Unfortunately for the rest of the adrenaline junkies of the group, the Jurassic park one where they literally hung you upside down was closed. Maybe that was the one thing I actually was thankful for, because I would have fainted, that’s for sure.

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What I Learned

• If someone asked me, and yes they did, what I took with me from Japan besides all the materialistic stuff, I would have to say that I was astonished with the level of kindness they have. They are so eager to help you in every store, bow to you respectfully, because they have all that shown social respect thing down to the letter, no matter how some times people tell you they do every naughty thing behind closed door. I just appreciated the way the salespeople seemed content with helping me find what I need, while people in my country are not all that eager. Not that I blame them with the salary they give them, but still, the difference remains.
  Also, everything was so clean and well thought of. Like, every single button at every facility was created to make a person’s life a lot easier. Their goal is not to struggle with muggle things and they have achieved them.
  I am not even going to talk about the toilet, because yes the experience is as exciting and one of a kind as people say. We should all invest in a smart toilet, just saying.
• The language barrier is there, evident at times, but the body language is also strong. Some words in english seem to be understandable and people seem to also know the basics, but surely you can’t expect everything to be in english. Nor you can expect from yourself to learn japanese fast paced. Use a google translator and you will be fine.

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Budget & Travel Tips

• Our total expenses outside the plane tickets came around the three thousand euros, which is a relatively good amount for a two week trip to the other side of the world. Add in all the silly little gadgets and gifts we got for our family and friends, three thousand is nothing compared to a week in a Greek island. Trust me, I’d know, I am Greek.
• One thing I feel like I should say is about the Shinkansen trains; plan your trips in between cities in advance and make sure to pre-book your tickets – they sell out fast and it’s not always convenient to find a seat at the very last minute. Plus, the line at the ticket office is crazy long most of the time . One more thing, if you have multiple bags & luggage choose a space with extra area just to be safe. There is room for you to put your bag in front of your legs, but it’s not always as comfortable. The trains are spacious and you can bring food in, just make sure to be there in time because they are rarely delayed.

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