Destination #2: Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan
After spending 7 days here, I finally understand why people are so intrigued about Japan. There are so many subcultures within the country which no way someone could claim they completely understand Japanese culture. If they say they do, I think they're full of shit. Haha. There's so many layers to this culture that people keep coming back for more. In the past week I've made my own careful observations and attempted to sum up my experience here.
10 things I learned about Japan:
- People here are so polite it makes me feel like an ogre. We see reminders to not talk on your phone on every public transportation we took. There are smoking zones on the streets. Everyone lines up (except for the infamous Chinese tourists of course). I guess it’s the only way to keep everyone sane when they live in one of the most populated city in the world.
- People of Japan are perfectionists. Every detail matters. From the preparation of food to the public walkways, there’s a system for everything! It is the most efficient city that I’ve been to.
- We've learned that Tokyo has persevered through many disasters. From the great fire of Meireki where 70% of the city was burnt down, to the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, and then the bombing by the Allies where literally everything was destroyed (except for the imperial palace) yet it's still one of the greatest cities in the world! Probably because of their culture's emphasis on perfection.
- Sushi is a luxury. People here don’t eat sushi daily. Ramen and rice bowls are more common company-man meals. The cost of living here is no joke. It is higher than SF and NYC.
- The tuna auction at Tsukiji fish market which is the largest seafood market in the world was not worth the wait. We woke up at 2:30am to get there at 3am (almost missed the visitors quota for the day) and waited in a dingy cramped room filled with loud American and Australian tourists until 5:45am. When were finally led to the tuna auction we saw a men politely bidding on tuna fishes for all of 10 minutes...then quickly shooed away by the security guards.. zZzzZZz..
- Cash is king. Many food places still do not accept credit cards which is strange being such a modern city and all..
- Sorry, but Japanese girls are not that kawaii. Growing up in KL everyone thinks that Japanese girls are the ultimate in cuteness and Asian beauty but everyone is just normal looking.
- Andaz Tokyo is uber zen. Everything from the decor to the layout of the room was built to maximize customers experience. Even the toilet seat automatically lifts up when you walk into the bathroom.
- Kobe beef cost a dollar per gram and every gram is worth it (8oz = 227g). There is a quality grade for fish, pork, and beef. Each prefecture grades their produce and A5 is the highest grade for beef. The Hyogo prefecture (their capital city is Kobe) is most stringent about giving out the A5 so if you're getting an A5 Kobe beef, it means you’re getting the best of the best. Since 2010, the prefecture has stopped all exports of Kobe beef so the only way you indulge in this buttery meat is to go to Kobe or eat in a Kobe teppanyaki franchise joint in Japan. Sorry, if you had Kobe beef anywhere else, it is a faux deux.
- The Tokyo subway system puts NYC to shame. The subway network is more extensive and way cleaner. There are underground malls for every big city stop such as Shibuya or Shinjuku which is the size of an outlet mall back home. In Atlanta, when we have an underground mall, we make it a tourist attraction! lol
Here are some picturas!
