Day 12-14 : Nothing much
At this point nothing happend in the trip worth noting. We mainly wandered shops for two days. JJ bough souvenirs for friends back home, I bought some manga and that was that.
Final Thoughts:
Looking back on this trip, I realize it wasn’t really about the places I went.
Sure, I saw incredible things: snowy mountains, massive cities, hidden bars, and huge temples. I got lost on ski mountains, ordered from menus I could barely read, took trains across the country, and somehow kept figuring things out along the way.
But the real memories aren’t the landmarks.
They’re the random moments.
The honey lemon teas from vending machines when I was sick.
The overpriced yakiniku that gave us two bites of beef for $70.
JJ eating chips that had just been scooped off the street.
Arm wrestling strangers in a Tokyo bar at midnight.
Meeting people who helped me when I had no idea what I was doing.
Travel has a funny way of humbling you. You realize very quickly that the world is a lot bigger than your routines back home. Different languages, different customs, different ways of living, and a new perspective.
Japan taught me something important: I’m not really a routine person. I’m a wanderer, and I thrive when I’m just going along with it.
Missed buses lead to new towns.
Getting lost leads to meeting new people.
Bad plans turn into the best stories.
If I ever go back to Japan, I’d want to slow it down. Stay longer. Wander more. See places that are closer to everyday life and push myself even further out of my comfort zone.
Who knows… maybe I’ll walk the country someday. ( hint hint)
Thank you for making it to the end of my 1st real post!