7 Reasons Why You Must Visit Japan

Japan simply is one of a kind. It is one of those special places that will most likely find a spot in every traveler’s heart. The country has many beautiful cities to choose from, each of which offers a unique charm. Tokyo is busy and full of life and lights; Kyoto is tranquil and perfect for laid-back tourists, and Osaka, equally wonderful, is somewhat in between the two. Of course, there are many other must-see places, but if you’re not yet convinced, here are seven reasons why Japan should be on your travel bucket list.

7. Japan’s public transport system is one of the world’s most efficient.

Gustavo Petro said that “a developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”

Japan’s transport system is probably one of the most complex and the hardest to adapt to, but as long as you follow and read the signs carefully and bold enough to ask strangers, you should be alright.

Trains in Japan work like clockwork, and delays don’t seem like such because they only go on for about a few minutes. Delay announcements are shown in the small screens inside the cars but rarely cause significant trouble. Japan’s public transport system is, without a doubt, one of the world’s best.

Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass is the best option for travelers who decide to travel to different faraway cities. Osaka is only a little over three hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. The ride is smooth, the seats are comfortable, and the window seats provide good views of Japan’s landscapes.

6. It is home to some of the best theme parks.

Japan also has a couple of theme parks to offer – Universal Studios Osaka, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneysea, and Fuji Q Highland, to name a few.

What makes Universal Studios Japan special is that it is home to Asia’s first Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The castle, the village, and everything in it are straight out of the movies.

Tokyo Disneysea is indeed one of the happiest places in the world. The rides are fun, and many cater to adult theme park goers – the Tower of Terror and Journey to the Center of the Earth, to name some. The Disneysea shows and evening fireworks are magical, which, probably, is the only suitable word. There is so much more to Tokyo Disneysea than just being the only one in the world – you’d have to actually be there to know, and see for yourself.

5. Japanese food is to die for.

You wouldn’t have to Google “best eats in Japan” because the truth is, they’re everywhere. Sure, there are a few well-known restaurants you shouldn’t miss, but other small, local restaurants also offer high-quality Japanese meals. A quaint stand-while-you-eat udon shop in Kyoto offers a plain udon soup with egg that is unassumingly tasty.

Unagi, or freshwater eel, is another must-try Japanese dish. Grilled unagi isn’t exactly cheap – some stalls in Nishiki Market, Kyoto sell skewered small cuts of eel meat for 500 yen, but there is a popular Tokyo-based restaurant offering various sizes of servings of unagi and rice. The regular bowl costs 500 yen and is already enough a meal for lunch or dinner.

Japanese people take food very seriously. Throughout the country, the amount of dishes to try is overwhelming. Every meal is a cultural experience deserving of a 5-star rating on any review forum.

4. Japan has a lot of cheap and free attractions to visit.

Although notorious for being an expensive travel destination, there are also a number of cheap and free things to do in Japan. Entrance to temple grounds and castle parks, as well as some really popular tourist spots, are mostly free of charge, and even the bright shopping streets are sights for sore eyes.

The world’s most famous dog, Hachiko, whose memorial statue is located near Shibuya Station, has got to be in every traveler’s bucket list. It’s a hard spot to take a perfect snap primarily because of the crowd, but locals and tourists alike are respectful and take turns getting that treasured photo with the loyal dog.

Southwest of Tokyo is Odaiba, home to Tokyo’s replica of the Statue of Liberty as well as DiverCity’s Gundam Front, which is popular among anime geeks. There are also many popular side trips outside Tokyo – Yokohama being a perfect day trip with a lot of fun things to do and sights to see. One particular place any traveler shouldn’t miss is the Cup Noodle Museum, which exhibits the life story, successes, and achievements of Momofoku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen. The museum visit will set you back 500 yen or 800 yen if you also choose to make your very own cup noodles, but that’s relatively cheap, especially because you will surely enjoy the experience.

3. This country will amaze you in more ways than you can imagine.

Many travelers who have been to Japan experience extraordinary moments that make their trip exceedingly memorable. Whether it is to see the popular abandoned theme park called “Nara Dreamland” like a real urban explorer, or seeing Sakura or cherry blossoms bloom during autumn, as what happened in October 2018, Japan indeed has more than a few surprises up its sleeves. Whether it is a once in a lifetime moment or a simple day to marvel at the country’s landscapes, you can be anywhere in Japan and be absolutely in love with how unparalleled the beauty of this Asian country is.

2. The Japanese are some of the kindest and most polite people you will ever meet.

For one, they’re very helpful towards strangers. The Japanese are almost always willing to give a hand. Some would even be kind enough to go out of their way and walk lost tourists to where they were headed because they had a difficult time communicating in English.

They also value their customer service a lot, always ready to help or assist, and always very cheerful and approachable. No wonder the Japanese children grow up to be very polite and mindful of their manners.

1. Beautiful is an understatement.

There is simply no adjective suitable enough to describe Japan. One visit and you will want to go back for sure.

Japan is one of a kind. Despite the busy streets, it’s clean, peaceful, and it’s definitely a place many people would consider living in someday. You could stay for two weeks, but it would still be too short a time to explore Japan’s culture. There’s just so much to see, so much to eat, so much to discover, and once you’ve visited, you’ll know you’ll come back for more.

Japan Travel and Tour Packages

To help you plan out your travels to Japan, we have here a list of the best Busan travel and tour packages, as well as good travel deals and accommodation options.

Tripadvisor has a list of the best Japan vacation packages. You may check out Airbnb listings for cheap but high-quality accommodation.

Searching for the best Japan hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of Japan affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.

Want more updates about new tourist attractions in Japan? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, and Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.

Also read:

• Fact check: Japan will not subsidize your travel expenses if you visit
• How To Plan Your Future Trips After The Covid-19 Pandemic Ends