Japan was the perfect last stop on our journey. At first it was a struggle to understand all the customs and traditions, we made some mistakes which we learned from and became much more conscious of our behavior. The people have been so nice. While they are shy, it comes off as endearing and adorable. They are also incredibly polite, which coming from Canada we really appreciated. Even though there was a huge language barrier and not many spoke english when we did manage to have a conversation with someone they turned out to be the sweetest people we have met on our travels. The country was just as fascinating. The mix of the old with the new kept it exciting, both sides of Japan were equally interesting. The temples and gardens in Kyoto to the skyscrapers and neon lights of Tokyo. There was so much to see it would take years to try and see everything. While Tokyo was probably one of the coolest cities in the world and has everything you could possibly want, our favorite moments in Japan were the times spent away from the masses. Quiet moments where you could appreciate the beauty in peace. Walking in the snow covered forest in Mt.Koya, relaxing in the Onsen in Takayama, and sipping tea at a Japanese garden will be the moments we take with us.
Types of things you can do at shrines to receive good luck: Rub Buddha then yourself, pour water on shrine, throw coin, buy trinket to place on bag, hit the giant gong, walk between two stones with eyes closed, dissolve worry paper in sacred water
Kit Kat flavors: green tea, citrus, strawberry, wasabi, apple, sweet potato, pear, edamame, hot chiliÂ
Things we will miss: onsens, heated toilet seats, toilet flushing sound, politeness, trains, amazing gardens, delicious food, cleanliness, ramen, sushi, tatami mats, vending machines with hot drinks, nice people, pajamas at each accommodation, Shinto shrines, Yakatori, Izakaya, no tipping policy, safety, soft spoken culture, 'kawaii' everything (meaning cute), amazing service
Toilet buttons: Flush sounds (so no one can hear you do your business), two different sprays, seat temperature adjustment (nothing better than a warmed toilet seat)
Types of "animal cafĂŠs": Cat, Rabbit, Dog, Goat, Lizard
Items in vending machines: hot drinks, cigarettes, beer, used panties (thankfully we only heard of this vending machine), socks, electronics, ice cream but surprisingly you can't get food in them
Things we won't miss: rules...so many rules, worrying about offending someone by not knowing a certain custom, nakedness in onsens, weather, small rooms, uncomfortable beds, Â walking on yellow sidewalk divider bumps, navigating the Tokyo subway system, shinjuku station, lack of wifi spots
Best temple: Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kyoto
Best scenery: Mt.Koya graveyard
Best garden:Â Tenryu-ji gardens, near Kyoto
Best tea ceremony: Shorenin temple - tea overlooking the Japanese garden was unforgettable
Weirdest moment: When the cleaner at our Tokyo hotel had a smoke in our room and we busted her
# of crossing guards at one intersection in Osaka: 19 (just a little bit unnecessary)
Foreigner moments: not taking shoes off when entering a changing room in a store, Closing taxi door (they leave the door open for customers to signal that they are free - Danny helped the guy out and closed it for him so he wouldn't get cold in there, everyone was confused), wearing 'toilet' slippers in the hallway, wearing entryway slippers on the tatami mat floor, stealing pajama kimonos that were for sale accidentally
Best meal: Miyajima restaurant - Sake fried oysters
Best sake: All of them on the wall of sake in Takayama - $1 for 'All you can taste sake'....yes please!
Best day: Takayama sake tasting, Onsen dipping, and Shabu Shabu dinner
Longest transit: 9 hours - Mt.Koya to Miyajama - 1 cable car, 7 trains, 1 bullet train, Ferry and a bus
Best moment: Meditating with monks in Mt.Koya
Best Sign: Please use toilet, finely
# of members in the AKB48 Japanese spice girl group: 50
# of people crossing Shibuyu each hour: 100,000
# of people traveling through Shinjuku station a day: 3,750,000 (We arrived here on our first day in Tokyo, with all our luggage. That was fun.)
Craziest deer in Nara: He knocked over a bunch of bikes then stole someone's lunch and ate it. Hooligan.Â
Observations: Many pigeon toed girls, staff bow when they leave a room regardless of it anyone is looking, they sell a contraption to enhance your smile, everyone has a uniform most come with fancy white gloves, staff always welcome you whenever you enter the store, we only experienced yelling/louder voices twice (once at the flea market as the guy sold fish and once when we entered and left a sushi place - they yell to greet you), people look tired from working so hard and they are always sleeping any chance they can get (it's typical to put in 12 hour days in Japan)
The bow- The duration and inclination of the bow is proportionate to the elevation of the person youâre addressing. For example, a friend might get a lightning-fast 30-degree bow; an office superior might get a slow, extended, 70-degree bow. Itâs all about position and circumstance.
Drawing attention to yourself as an individual is a huge no-no: donât blow your nose in public, try to avoid eating while on the go, and donât speak on your cell phone in crowded public areas like trains or buses
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world
It had the second lowest homicide rate in the world
1 in 5 Japanese are over the age of 65. It is estimated that in another twenty years, one in three Japanese will be senior citizens
The Japanese business culture values an employee who naps on the job. âInemuri,â a cat nap is seen as a sign of hard work and dedication.
