The Jubilation of Going Back to Japan

When Japan announced it was going to re-open it’s borders on the 11th of October 2022, there was loud cheering here at Cruise Traveller. Several of our team are considered Nipponophiles (one who loves Japan and Japanese culture) and return to the islands time and time again.

So why do we get so excited? One blog just isn’t enough space for all the reasons to love Japan, so we thought we’d take our top 5 here and maybe a few of you might become Nipponophiles like us too!

Number 5 reason to love Japan:

FOOD

From the humble raman to Michelin star restaurants, Japan is so much more than sushi. Having said that, fresh sushi in Japan is a different experience to most in Australia and will have you coming back for more. For true foodies, this is a chance to try Kaiseki food, a traditional cuisine, usually served on special occasions. What could be more special than a trip to Japan?

Remember to use your manners at a Kaiseki Restaurant! Wear formal clothes (traditional if you can get your hands on them), wash your hands with a special Oshibori towel (and only your hands, not your face or the table). Take time to appreciate the dish – how it smells, how it is presented etc – before you tuck in. Remember that if you have a soup served, it is polite to hold the bowl in your hand while tasting it with your spoon in the other.

Number 4 reason to love Japan:

ZEN

With about 80,000 temples and shrines in Japan, there’s nowhere you can’t go to find some serenity in this incredible country. One of the most famous is in Kyoto where thousands of vermilion Torii gates provide a pathway to a magical place. These Torii gates can be found across the whole country. Gardening is an art form in Japan with every consideration going into the planning and maintenance of these green spaces. If you’re in Kanazawa you must visit Kenrokuen, once the grounds of a Japanese feudal lord and a public garden since the late 19th Century.

Number 3 reason to love Japan:

SAFETY

Where else in the world can you leave your bicycle unchained and hope to have it there tomorrow but Japan? Japan’s low crime rate is due to a cultural belief in the common good as a priority over personal gain or needs. Children travel the subways in huge Tokyo unaccompanied and walking around at night isn’t usually a problem. Understandably, Japanese people are proud of this, and we could all learn a thing or two about it from them.

Number 2 reason to love Japan:

NATURE

Yes, there’s neon lights, thriving metropolises and all the modern conveniences, but Japan also considers it’s rugged mountains, white beaches and bamboo forests worth preserving, and we’re all very grateful for that. There’s volcanoes active and benign, lakes so blue it hurts your eyes, and waterfalls aplenty. Don’t forget the incredible changing colours of the seasons with autumn reds to rival the eastern Americas, and spring cherry shows that are famous the world over. Wildlife thrives in natural reserves like Yoshino Kumano National Park, Ogasawara National Park and Fuji Hakone Izu National Park just to name a few. Animals like macaques, cranes and red foxes call this country home.

And our Number 1 reason to love Japan:

DISCOVERY

From the neon lit stage of the Robot Restaurant to the strange cuteness of a Maid Cafe, there is a surprise around every corner in Japan. Square watermelons, vending machines for edible insects, sleeping pods at rail stations, gigantic shops dedicated to trading cards, and so much more. The vibrant cultures of tradition and modern merge seamlessly in this country and every trip to Japan is a chance to discover more.