KONNICHIWA! (Hello)
A three-week dive into the wonders of the Land of the Rising Sun–– Japan––introduced me to a society steeped in rich tradition, yet at the forefront in twenty-first century modernity. Japan’s bounteous treasures saturated our senses as soon after we deplaned following the fourteen-hour ride over the top of the planet from New York’s JFK International Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport.
Walking more than we ever have on any travel adventure, we marveled at its modern cities; magnificent, ancient temples and shrines; stunning artfully designed gardens; efficiently run systems for daily living; and its welcoming people.
We timed our visit to catch fall’s renowned tapestry of brilliant colors, but global warming has pushed back that peak period to the third week in November. We caught the early days of leaf-peeping season, as some Japanese maples blushed with their reds and bronzes, and gingko trees hinted at their eye-popping yellow autumn glow.
I was impressed with Japan’s culture. Although a three-week immersion barely scratches the surface of this richly layered society, several impressive cultural aspects come to mind when my friends and colleagues ask me, “So how did you like Japan?” Here are six impressions that pop into my head.
1. Japanese people exhibit a reverent and respectful disposition centered on a strong sense of community and the spirits of the natural world.
Japan’s two major religions foster this life approach. The country’s ancient indigenous religion, Shintoism, is a polytheistic belief system that reveres the natural world where sacred spirits reside. Shingon Buddhism, the country’s other major religion, stresses enlightenment for oneself and all of society through personal ritualized meditative practice. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples inspire awe, as the 50-foot-tall bronze Buddha does at the UNESCO World Heritage Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara.
The culture’s strong sense of community developed during a period of self-imposed isolation called the Edo Period––1600 to 1868––from the outside world during the last period of shogun control. Rulers kept foreigners out, and travel by Japanese outside the country was practically forbidden. During this relatively peaceful period, the economy, the arts, and education flourished.
2. The Japanese welcome visitors.
It may be one of the reasons the country is the world’s most popular travel destination right now. Locals extended themselves many times to help us along our journey, like this woman did.
Standing with our confused expressions, not sure if we were on the right train platform, a young woman approached us and asked if she could help. We showed her our tickets, and she took them away to find the stationmaster. Did we make a foolish mistake giving her our tickets? A few minutes later, she returned and gave us specific instructions on where to stand, what trains to catch and when to get off and transfer to another train. And she stood near us to make sure we took the first train correctly!
3. Japan has enviable organized and efficient systems for daily living.
The chief way of getting around Japan, besides by foot, is riding trains, buses, and subways. Travelers hail Japan’s extensive transportation system for a very good reason––it’s incredibly efficient. You can set your iWatch to arrivals and departures. And what about those sleek shinkansen trains, topping out at 199 miles per hour?!
4. Japan really is clean and tidy! No trash, graffiti, or abandoned orange traffic cones in the streets.
Japanese frown on eating while walking. No “to-go” food consumed when moving around, no big soda cups thrown down, no candy wrappers slipping out of one’s hand––Japanese customs expect this behavior. Trash cans are scarce, except near transportation depots.
5. The culture’s creative sensibilities and appreciation of nature permeate all aspects of life.
Many of the more sophisticated aspects of the country’s culture were further developed during the Edo period of isolation, with its inward focus on society. During those years, people directed their artistic senses on the aesthetic qualities of objects and actions in everyday life, developing the geisha tradition, kabuki and puppet theaters, the art of creating decorative kimonos, crafting Japanese porcelain, and perfecting a prized tradition, wood block printing.
6. Despite the Japanese’s regimented sensibilities, their playful nature explodes through pop art culture.
Manga (comics and graphic novels) and anime (animated cartoon stories and characters), video games, costume play, and J-Pop music, especially among the under-40 crowd (but not always!) belie the seriousness of Japan’s culture. Visits to Tokyo’s Akihabara section, known as “Electronic City,” as well as Osaka’s Dotombori entertainment district, exposed us to the culture’s fantasy world.
Japan is a relatively easy place to visit. Despite the intimidating language barrier, it appeared that many people working in with the tourist industry know a little English. I suggest learning a few very basic Japanese phrases, like sumimasen (“excuse me “or “I’m sorry”); they’re helpful, and locals appreciated my awkward attempts, even if they smiled at my pronunciation. In transportation hubs, the names of Japanese places and basic signage appear in Roman script, so we could figure out train and subway lines we needed to take.
Our tech-savvy traveling companions taught us the camera function on Google Translate, so we never accidentally ordered sea urchin from a non-English menu. And occasionally, eateries had English menus. Street food is plentiful and safe to eat. Try yakitori pork skewers, fried chicken (the best!), vegetarian and tofu dishes, and of course, the national favorite, fish and shellfish. Sushi and sashimi fans will find a cornucopia of seafood delights. For meat eaters, you’ll find heaven at wagyu beef restaurants, a melt-in-your-mouth delectable treat that we cooked ourselves over a small personal grill, Korean-style, right at our table.
With all these fascinating aspects of the culture, Japan is a perfect place for western travelers to visit. For the full story, more photos, and travel hints, go to my website listed below and click on the home page story on Japan.
Blaine Bonham is a seasoned 30+-year travel photographer with worldwide experience from Cuba to Myanmar to Morocco to Romania, with a particular focus on India and Southeast Asia. His work features fascinating, culturally atypical points of view and photos. Earlier in life, Blaine enjoyed national standing as a non-profit leader and environmental activist with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. His approach and character allow him to see countries and people with special empathy and a critical architectural eye. Archives of travel and street photography with stories of journeys and blog posts are available to view on his easy-to-navigate website: https://blainebonham.com. You can also access his occasional newsletter at culturaleyewitness@blainebonham.com.
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