The last word
I have now reached the end of my journey. Tomorrow, I fly back home — home to (hopefully) warmer weather, to restaurants where I can understand the menu, and to footpaths where I don’t run the risk of being bowled over by cyclists. Of course, it’s also a return to pushy beggars, to a dysfunctional train network, and to a more mundane selection of sushi.
When I was planning to take a brief holiday as work quietened down, I wasn’t particularly sure about where I would go. I prevaricated when people asked, because I was tossing around so many different options. A common suggestion, as people offered their ideas, was Japan. So, I listened, I packed my bags, and I came here. And I’m so glad I did. Japan is — and I say this with full regard for what the term means — an awesome country.
Despite having very little idea of what I would do once I arrived, I have managed a packed agenda for my 10 days over here.
In terms of places in the world to travel solo, Japan must surely rank as one of the best. It is a remarkably safe place, with little crime to worry about. I have had few qualms about leaving my hotel room knowing that everything will be just as I left it. Moreover, the Japanese people are exceptionally friendly. Speaking as little Japanese as I do (ie. virtually none), I have been impressed by how everyone I have dealt with here has been so willing to help.
It is true that there are probably great experiences that I have missed here travelling on my own. I’ve been reluctant to wander into high-end restaurants to dine on my own — good food can only truly be enjoyed with good company. My cultural exposure to this country has largely been contained to museums, rather than visiting theatres to experience traditional-style performances first hand. And of course, my journey has been contained essentially to Tokyo and Hiroshima — and there is so much more to Japan.
Still, I leave here content with what I have seen and done. This was the right holiday for me, in the right place, and at the right time. I have enjoyed this country immensely. And for all that I have missed, I also leave here satisfied that one day I will return. I look forward in the future to exploring the metropolises of Kyoto and Osaka. I want to venture to Nagasaki — its museum is reportedly even better than Hiroshima’s. I am curious to see what rural parts of Japan are like — comparing the lifestyle of those in the country to the hustle and bustle that those in the city face.
Importantly, through my blogging here, my tweets, and my video diary, I hope I’ve been able to convey to you how remarkable Japan is. If you’ve been here before, I hope you feel I’ve done it justice. If you haven’t, I hope it inspires you to contemplate coming here. It is absolutely worth your time.
Sayonara is the wrong word to use here. My phrase book tells me ja nata is more apt — see you later. Thanks for everything, Japan.
