View from an onsen hotel, Hakone. Copyright ganbatte. 2011

So you want to go to Japan, but can’t go because of various reasons excuses. Fear not! Here are a couple of reasons (in no particular order) of why you should invest your hard earned cash and take the time to make your next vacation trip to Japan, and maybe even go this summer to support Japan through spending more money to help them recover from the earthquake (which you should do regardless, even though I do hear Japan has all the money they need). But if you really can’t go due to reasons unknown, read on after the jump and enjoy the eye food. And learn some Japanese, while you’re at it!

Kirei na Keshiki (The beautiful view)

There's also this neat statue/monument in the garden area. Can't tell what it is, though!Copyright ganbatte. 2011

One of the things Japan has is a really beautiful view. There’s quite a lot of green in Japan as well. Sure, I live in Canada and they have some really good views of the mountains and such, as well as other countries having similarly good views as well, but Japan has its own beautiful view of the oceans and mountains. And since I’m drawn to the ocean, I found the views spectacular. Japan keeps things clean and organized, so it’s not polluted at all. I couldn’t tell the different between the air I breathed in Vancouver and the air in Japan. The air quality in certain places in China though, are a completely different story (not that I don’t like China as well, mind you!).

Although I couldn’t go to some really neat places such as Hokkaido or Okinawa (some of the most beautiful places in Japan), there were some unique places that one can find even in Tokyo. One example is the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line, which is a highway that connects into a bridge-tunnel combination. In the middle point, there’s an artificial island we stopped by called Umihotaru, “sea firefly”, which had some wonderful views that I couldn’t resist taking photos of. Those of you who aren’t fond of all view and no action, there’s also some shops and restaurants up there, not to mention some game shops and such. The next time I visit, I’m definitely going to hit up Hokkaido, Okinawa, or at least see Mount Fuji up in cable car, which I couldn’t see due to extreme fog at the time. Drats!

Bikkuri suru Bunka (The surprising culture)

An example of a lovely temple in Tokyo. Copyright ganbatte. 2011

Of course, you want to see Japan to see the difference in culture. Sure, you read up on all the crazy stuff happening in Japan, but there’s nothing like “seeing is believing”. Once you set foot in Japan, they already have vending machines of all sorts in the airport, as well as those special toilets you always think of when you think about Japan. But wait, you didn’t come all the way to Japan just to see toilets. Or did you?

Right off the bat, Japan has a lot of temples and shrines that many other cities in the world don’t have. Even Tokyo has quite a few, I’m not going to even mention how Kyoto might have. And no, stop yawning, because Japanese temples aren’t quite boring as you might think. But Seinime, you don’t have any photos to prove how awesome they are! Well, I do admit that I am lacking in photos due to many places enforcing a no photography rule once you set foot in them, but that makes it all the more reason you should come and see for yourself. The structure, the interesting museums (besides artifacts and such, you can see really neat swords/armor/paintings sometimes), and even million dollar ceremonial weddings (in U.S. dollars) between rich families, Japan has it all.

Example of a washitsu (traditional Japanee-style room). Copyright ganbatte. 2011

The hotels. I’m glad I had the chance to stay in a traditional Japanese hotel instead of the regular ones, those were boring. You know, the ones with futons, kotatsus and such. I went to an onsen hotel on one of our hotel stays, and I fully recommend the experience. You can get such a nice view, as well as the chance to sleep in futons on tatami mats, and bath in an onsen-like room. It’s really quite comfortable. Also, nice girls playing harps.

Oishii Ryouri (The delicious food)

Unique stuff, and yet still so good! Copyright ganbatte. 2011

Do I even have to mention this? Japanese has some amazing, special food to satisfy your palates. Alright, it is a bit on the expensive side, but you will get your money’s worth, I promise. You will get full and stay full for a bit, unlike those 10$ meals where the servings are so small you just grab more to eat after an hour or so. Heck, even the McDonalds is clean, not as greasy as the other McDonalds I’ve seen out there, and have unique choices. Salt and Lemon, anyone? Finally, you can eat all the Japanese food you ever wanted in Japan. Oh, and I’m not forgetting you, the delicious meat buns (nikuman) in Nakano.

Tayou-sei (Diversity)

The Yamanote Line. I love you. You brought me to 80% of the places I wanted to go.

Man, I scrambled everywhere in Tokyo just to see the sights, and each city was full of new eye candy for me to see. Each day, two places. I’d hop on the JR Rail, which is seriously efficient. You can basically get anywhere with many of the JR Rail’s commuter rail loop lines alone. The jingles/appearance of each station almost warranted a section of its one.

Interesting places to note:

• “The new city”, Shinjuku

  Lots of department stores, restaurants/shops, hotels, and the such. The hip and happening, an active place in Tokyo. Even until 2 am in the morning.

• Nakano City

  Only went to Nakano Broadway, but also has a lot of shops, arcades, and specialty shops. Home of one of the biggest group of anime shops in town, Mandarake. Also, the crane games here you can actually win at. Almost…won…it! One more try with a quarter and it would have tipped, darn it. I got a Little Busters fan, oh well.
  

• Hachiko no Uchi (Hachiko’s home), Shibuya

  Shibuya, the trending place of Japan. Filled with trendy clothing alike, you can visit here if you want to shop around in fashion in 109 (ichi-maru-kyu), or see Hachiko’s statue at Shibuya station, or walk around in the Shibuya Crosswalk.

• The colorless… well not really, Ikebukuro

  Durarararararara people, this is where it took place in. Famous places like Sunshine City (which was shown in Mawaru Penguindrum! The aquarium…), and also an anime central place. Got huge stores like Animate, Toranoana, and lots of others. If you thought your anime store was big, think again.

• Denki Gai (Electronics street), Akihabara

  Thought I forgot about this place, didn’t you, anime fans? The heart and soul of anime. If you thought your anime area was huge, think again. So much stuff. So much stuff. So much stuff! Alright, I’m exaggerating. But still, a whole street of anime/manga goods and collectibles (Touhou fans can rejoice at the IOSYS shop) is pretty darn good. Couldn’t take much due to no photography here and there, but still sneaked some shots in at certain allowed areas. And a Gundam Cafe with a long lineup awaits you.
  

So what are you waiting for? Save some money, sleep in a capsule hotel/traditional hotel, learn some Japanese and take a visit when you can! Or visit the full album of the pictures I took in Tokyo here.

This blog entry is a submission to the Japan Blog Matsuri. Details here, if you want to participate!

All photos were shot with a Panasonic DMC-FX55 camera and my poor photography skills.

If you appear and any of these photos and want them removed due to privacy/other valid issues, please drop me a comment here or email me at fighto.dayo@gmail.com. No harm intended. Thanks for reading!