Scanning through my Picasa collection of the last three weeks, I’m reminiscing on what a trip it’s been; from the Temples and Shrines, to the lacklustre portion sizes; from respectful and law-abiding citizens to women that cause spontaneous drooling; from ludicrously expensive food and drinks to making friends so easily that I never felt like a solo traveller; from crazy youth culture to sex-crazed middle-aged men – Japan is an extraordinary place and I miss it profoundly.
A brief three day stint to Sendai before returning for my flight and a day trip to the coastal town of Matsushima was a relaxing way to wrap up my tour. A short train ride away and there are sights aplenty; the islands dotted around (some connected by bridge), and Mausoleums constructed to standards so high it would take inspection with magnifying glass to pick out the detail are interesting enough, though my pick was the only Onsen in the area. Following a hike trail to the top of a nearby mountain and taking a right, there’s a small hotel where separate gender baths await brave souls. I say as much because the water is positively scolding hot, enough to not only kill, but utterly annihilate any bacteria unlucky enough to be lingering on your skin. Better still was the affable and generous locals, who were kind enough to pass a towel and share their cleaning products.
It’s not really the sights and attractions that you’ll remember when travelling, which have all been shot from just about every conceivable angle, lighting, D.O.F. and bokeh you can imagine; more the people you meet. Regardless of anyone stating “you must try the {insert food}”, or “you have to visit the {sight of many tourists}”; it’s firmly in your own hands to decide for yourself. Care not what other people recommend and stay the course; resolve to go somewhere and are told it’s not worth your while – ignore and head anyway. Have one bad experience with a pushy salesman, rude local or otherwise and suddenly the entire attraction, city or worse still – country – becomes tainted singularly. In Japan, however, I firmly challenge anyone to have a bad trip.
There’s little to dislike and everything to enjoy. It’s the safest place on Earth I’m sure of it, and with friendly people teeming everywhere, beautiful women (Oh My God, the women), what’s not to like? Well for one; the manners, which can seem a little theatrical if I’m brutally honest (one cleaning lady refusing to stop bowing and talking to me the second she noticed me exiting my room), with most shop assistants screaming “Welcome!” in your face until you acknowledge them. And for two; their approach to sport. In to Baseball (that’s Rounders for overweight adults to us Brits – and most definitely a game, not a sport), then ensure you purchase every conceivable accessory going and then adorn it all in order to play; perhaps once or twice a month. When the Japanese are in to something, boy they really get in to it.
One word of advice should you decide to head off around the world for an extended period of time – get fit. If you want to see everything on offer, expect to walk at least 5k a day, my average over the last three weeks in Japan being 9.2. You’ll need plenty more funds to facilitate the same distances covered if you even slightly resemble a Sumo; taxis and buses all cost after all.
And so it is that I’m leaving this beautiful country, though funds permitting I’d purchase another 3 week railpass and head straight back. There’s a thought; hello overdraft. The flight to Seoul is only a few hours away and already in the Airport I’m being accosted by groups of school girls, who noticed me as I entered the viewing area. It’s no wonder men fantasise over school uniforms, with these pleated skirts so short as to easily facilitate plenty of pictures heading to the nearest “up-skirt” website in your bookmarks. Perhaps my ego has been stroked somewhat and my expectations for what tourism should be set so high, that nowhere else will be able to compete. Either way I should prefer not to board my ‘plane and say さようなら (Sayōnara), and stay a little while longer. Or perhaps learn Japanese and see what opportunities there are here – The Vapors said it best; I think I’m turning Japanese.
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