Life in Japan
Oh, Japan one of the most beautiful countries in the world! Every time I recall my experience in Japan, I’m left with cherished memories.
I didn’t get to stay in Japan for long because I was only there for a few months, but in such a limited time, I was able to learn a lot. Even today, Japan’s mesmerizing culture and immense beauty amazes me, and I only find it fair to share this experience with everyone else.
Yokohama
My wonderful experience goes back to 2017, when I had the incredible opportunity of working as an IT contractor for the Navy and spent four months living in Yokosuka, Japan.
Since I was to stay close to the army base, I had the luxury of living off base in a local hotel. The best part about living in an off-base local hotel is that you get to experience the culture of Japan while simultaneously enjoying living on the military base surrounded by American culture, closer to home.
Before I set out to Japan, I didn’t know what to expect; I had only seen Japan through fixed perceptions in the media, so I was fairly out of my element. But imagine my surprise when I landed in Japan, and it wasn’t them I found curious, but the Japanese who found me amusing.
It was like a cultural shock for them and me, as they weren’t used to black Americans since 98% of the population is Japanese, and I wasn’t used to living in a place that was so comfortable yet specific.
One of the first things I learned about Japan was that the Japanese aren’t really used to living spaces that can easily accommodate an extremely tall person; as a 6-footer myself, I found the ceilings lower than our average American households and the bathroom cubicles tiny.
But where Japan seems like it doesn’t have much, it truly brings the best to the table. I might not have fit easily in their cubicles and living space, but Japanese restrooms are much cozier and even more advanced than what we’re used to. I, for one, was impressed with how much thought goes into everything that Japan designs. For example, the toilets have seat warmers, a facility that we all know the U.S. needs desperately, and they even have self-cleaning smart systems.
Of course, like anywhere else in the world, adapting as a foreigner was a little challenging, especially since I barely spoke Japanese. Although the Japanese do, in fact, know English, very few speak it openly, for they hold much respect and integrity for their own language. It got me in a few tricky spots for the first few days, but I gradually learned to navigate a few terms here and there to make do.
For any tourist heading to Japan, I definitely have to give a heads-up about the language; learning Japanese can be challenging but advantageous. And since most of Japan speaks Japanese, you’ll rarely find places encouraging English. In fact, I learned (very surprisingly) that a few nightclubs and bars only allow Japanese speakers because their employees can only communicate in Japanese.
Make it stand out
Another challenge was driving; in America, I was used to driving on the left side of the road, and adapting to a steering wheel on the right side was very difficult. But I couldn’t give up driving even with all the amazing transport that Japan has, and I quickly learned how to maneuver my way through the busiest streets of Japan.
The traffic in Japan shocked me a bit, too; as a first-timer, I had expected that Japan’s roads would be as smooth as its technological advancements, but imagine my surprise when the traffic I met was as horrible as D.C.’s
I know a lot of foreigners will be confused why I didn’t rely on public transport; after all, Japan has some of the world’s best public transport services. Why wouldn’t I
enjoy it?
During the first few weeks in Japan, when I was still exploring, touring, and trying my best to memorize the ways, I used public transit a lot. The subway was my dearest friend, and it took me to several of Japan’s gorgeous places. But I soon learned that despite Japan’s progress, its subways carry the same vibe as New York’s; the stations get incredibly crowded, and rush hour is chaotic. But I didn’t let the rush bother me since I’m so used to public transport. Plus, Japanese subways are quite the opposite of what Americans are used to; everyone on the subway is calm and polite, so there’s nothing to weird you out.
And obviously, the Japanese bullet trains are a feat of their own. I found the bullet trains the best transit for long-distance travel; with extremely cozy interiors, impressive speed, and astonishingly perfect service, they’re truly something else.
As I had seen on the internet, Japan truly is advanced; Tokyo was my favorite since it’s one of the most progressive cities in the world.
Tokyo is not only beautiful but also immaculate; during my time, I didn’t spot a single chewing gum wrapper on the road. Traveling and touring in Tokyo is like walking into the future. Spacious bike lanes allow bikers to gleefully zoom past you, and if you hate waiting for the traffic to stop, you can always use the pedestrian bridges that let you cross the road without any issue. And Tokyo is so advanced it even has elevators leading up to bridges; a truly accessible feature!
Make it stand out
During my time in Japan, one of my favorite cultural experiences was food. Japanese cuisine is simply divine; just like it is shown in anime and manga, the food is mouth-watering and has immensely flavorful combinations.
Make it stand out
One of the highlights of Japanese cuisine is ramen, an inexpensive comfort food you’ll find on every street in Japan. Steaming hot bowl of noodle soup garnished with naruto and delicious edibles…it’s undeniably the best thing you’ll ever eat. And, of course, at every street vendor and high-fi restaurant, you’ll find the most delicious and the freshest seafood straight from the ocean. But Japan has a lot to offer when it comes to food; from its own take on curry to local ice cream shops, there’s truly a lot. I even loved their vending machines too, which serve sodas, colas, ramen, coffee, and traditional snacks. Now that’s an experience I’ll happily welcome in the U.S.
Tokyo Tower
The weather in Japan is quite pleasant, too, though it quickly gets toasty during the day. The nights are nice and often cool, but it can rain a lot, which I think some might not find pleasing. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters are chillingly cold like an average northeastern U.S. city. Still, nothing beats the experience of running to a stall and eating hot ramen while it’s raining cats and dogs outside.
Japan is exceptionally gorgeous, but it can shock some who aren’t used to such an open-minded culture. People like me who traveled from afar barely recognize the place because it’s so out worldly, but that’s Japan for you.
