Japan is a land on the edge of the planet, completely different, exotic, complex, mysterious and beautiful. It’s difficult to describe all the feelings you get by visiting the country. I’ve gotten to know a part of Japan in two weeks.
I’ve decided to travel to Japan by chance, because I’ve enver been considering this country. But since I’ve been planning my second year’s journey alone, I’ve decided for a safe country and Japan was it. I also had luck by getting return plane tickets for 800€ and I’ve already been with my thought in the country of the rising sun. I’ve decided to go for two weeks in August and I’ve travelled really quickly from place to place, for I wanted to see as much the country as possible.
Japan, the country of the rising sun, in off the eastern coast of Asia. It consists from four islands and has 127,5 million people. It’s among the most developed countries in the world. The four main islands are: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.
Despite Japan’s geographical isolation, which really seems to cut it off from the rest of the world, the country reached the status of the second largest economy in the world, due to the high technology and high GDP. The most important part of this is Japanese tradition of working hard. In Japan each year twice as many engineers graduate than in the US and this contributes to the development of the robotics, which is further supported by half the world’s robots being produced in Japan.
Japan is located on the contact of tectonic plates and thus has many volcanoes, a lot of them still active, and many thermal springs. It’s earthquake prone. The thermal springs have been used since ancient times are now part of the traditional rituals to soak in warm water that comes from cracks in the volcanic rocks.
And I must say that Japan is known as a country that when you ask „Do you speak English?“ the answer will be „yes, yes“, even though you'll get a feeling the other person doesn't even know which language you speak. Despite not knowing foreign language the people are really friendly and want to help you, even if they have to draw or as an elderly gentleman helped me, by showing me which lines I can take on the subway to get to my destination. Also, at the first station I started looking at my ticket with some Japanese signs and numbers and when somebody realized my confused look on the face, he came to explain what the ticket says: the number of the train, time of departure, time of arrival, number of coach and number of the seat. So I had a crash course on how to read their tickets.
JAPAN RAIL PASS – the best way to travel
After a short flight from Venice to Rome and then 11 hours to Tokyo I landed at the Narita airport and realized my luggage was lost. Nobody knew where it was or could be, or when it will arrive. It didn’t bother me though, because my journey on quiet Japanese rails has started. And my luggage reached me one day latter.
I reached the rail station and got my first shock, when the fast train shinkansen arrived and about 500 passengers went on and off within 5 minutes and the train rushed on with incredible speed. I chose the best option –
Japan Rail Pass (worth 45.100 YEN = 335 €) (
www.japanrailpass.net).
As a priority I’ve set the visit to the highest mountain of the land of the rising sun, the famous Mount Fuji (3776m), where I went to the second day. I took the train to the foot of the mountain and then a bus to the point where my climb to the top begun.
Sapporo, Osaka, Nagoya…
Next day I called the airport and learned my luggage has arrived with the next flight (so it stayed behind in Italy). Getting it back I continued my way to the north of island Honshu all the way to island Hokkaido, where I saw the biggest city of Sapporo, with a tall view tower in the centre, like most larger Japanese cities. You can go to the top with an elevator, which is not free though. Apart from this metropolis I also visited Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo and so on. All the cities made me feel like I’ve been in an ant colony, because there were so many people everywhere. Off course I didn’t visit only cities, I’ve also went to nature and saw national parks and saw that Japan also features beautiful nature.
Sleeping in chambers and plastic food
I’ve spent nights in
hostels where you can spend a night for 20€ (the cheapest) and on. One night I’ve spent in a typical option for the lower class – there’s a hostel that also offers this as a feature to the guests. I’ve spent a night in a chamber which was a 2m long hole in the wall with a mattress, TV and a light. I got a key for a luggage locker in the hall. In most other hostels I’ve slept according to Japanese tradition – on the floor.
Japanese tradition is also influenced by foreign food, although it does not dominate. The majority are still traditional restaurants. On every corner you can find fast food stands, which are usually quick sushi or sashimi restaurants, where you can get cheap food. For tourists it’s best to order by pictures, because most restaurants have menus that feature the description of food and its photo. Some restaurants even feature real or plastic food exhibited at the entrance, so guests can see what they can order. Still, this doesn’t guarantee you’ll know what you’re eating. The menus usually consist of tofu, rice, seaweed and sushi, which is the most popular dish on Japan.
School system
In conclusion, let me just say something about schools in Japan. They have private and public schools. Private schools are funded by private industrials or companies – but not for profit. There are several reasons, why somebody opens up a university. Mostly they want to educate their future workers, while others open them as a way to ensure themselves respect and glory. Private schools are a way to invest money, not make it. All students must wear uniforms. The old system of 6-5-3-3 is replaced with 6-3-3-4, which means 6 years of elementary education, 3 years at junior high, 3 years of high school and 4 years at the university.
