🛫 The Great Escape – Japan 2025 Edition 🇯🇵
Where the trains are faster than your thoughts, toilets are smarter than you, and pigs cuddle better than your ex.
🗾 A Semi-Sensible Travel Log by a Professional Escapist and Lifelong Over-Packer
I travel a lot—partly because I love it, partly because life is just one long escape room if you really think about it. This blog exists to lock in the memories, share tips, overshare vibes, and maybe help you plan your own Great Escape.
I went with a childhood friend. We came back with stronger calves, 9000 cherry blossom photos, and a suspicious addiction to plastic food displays and beautifully packaged snacks we didn’t need but definitely bought.(Side note: Everything in this blog is based on personal experience and sweeping generalisations. If you want citations, go to Wikipedia.)
🔍 The "Format" (term used loosely)
Still figuring this out, but here’s what you’re in for:
- Culture Shock Moments
- Language Basics
- Must-Try Foods (Yes, I ate that)
- City-by-City Rundown
- Top Tips & “Maybe Don’t Do This” Warnings
🇯🇵 Cultural Quirks & Stuff That Felt Uniquely Japan
Japan is a paradox. Everything is hyper-efficient, but crossing the road takes years off your life. Here's what stood out:
- Toilets with a PhD – Heated seats. Privacy music. Lids that open like a polite ghost. I half expected a TED Talk.
- Politeness Level: Expert – Even if they secretly loathe you, they’ll bow and thank you. Graceful pettiness? Iconic.
- No bins, no problem – You'll carry your rubbish like a guilt-ridden squirrel. How is it so clean???
- Crosswalks are a ritual – Long waits, but charming jingles and chirps. Kind of therapeutic.
- Dress code: Personal runway – Business suits at Disney. Anime cosplay on the subway. Everyone commits.
- Face bags in fitting rooms – To keep makeup off clothes. Feels slightly dystopian. Also genius.
- Etiquette is everything – No eating, drinking, smoking, or loud phone calls in the streets or on trains. Basically, be quiet and graceful like a cat on a tightrope.
- Social loneliness – Real talks with locals: tiny flats, long work hours, and a cultural lean toward privacy. Friendly, but personal space is sacred.
- Karaoke, dacha games, arcades – There’s a whole subculture of escapism. And yes, we leaned in.
🗣️ Language: Learn the Basics
You’ll survive with English in cities, but rural areas? Not so much. A few Japanese phrases go a long way (and save you from ordering mystery eel).
- Hello: こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
- Thank you: ありがとう (Arigatou)
- Yes: はい (Hai)
- Excuse me: すみません (Sumimasen)
- One beer, please: ビールひとつください (Biiru hitotsu, kudasai) ← non-negotiable
- “Where’s the nearest bin?”: Just give up.
🍣 Food in Japan: A National Pastime & Full-On Personality
Eating in Japan is an experience, a performance, and sometimes a challenge. Here are some things to eat (or pretend to understand when people talk about them):
- Gyozas – Crispy pillows of joy.
- Kobe/Wagyu Beef – Costly. Worth it. Melted in the mouth like it had emotions.
- Nigiri & Sashimi – Fresh. Elegant. Peak sushi.
- Teppanyaki – Food and a show. Flames. Literally.
- Yakitori – Chicken skewers you’ll think about on the flight home
- Bento Boxes – The Marie Kondo of meal prep.
- Tempura – Usually lightly battered veg or prawns. Light, crispy, addictive
- Ramen – Miso. Soy. Spicy. Do not leave without slurping.
- Mochi – Textural chaos, that confused and delighted me.
- Rainbow Candy Floss – For your inner child.
- Matcha – Slightly grassy tea, very aesthetic.
- Sake – Japanese rice wine. Strong. Sip and smile. Or accidentally do karaoke.
- Vending Machines – Selling ice cream, soup, and probably hopes and dreams
🍟 Western Options (No Judgement):
- McDonald's late-night “double-up” menu - Yes, I tried it. No, I won’t apologise.
- Starbucks (of course)
- Indian, Italian, Thai - Japan is nothing if not accommodating.
💧 Other
- Water is drinkable, but in rural Japan it sometimes looked like it had feelings. Be cautious.
- Snack stops: Local supermarkets: Family Mart, Lawson, 7/11 – perfect for snacks, mini meals, or just getting lost for fun - all elite.
City-by-City Breakdown
🗼 Tokyo – Neon Jungle Meets Organized Chaos
Flashy, fast, and somehow still calm. Tokyo feels like the inside of a pinball machine... run by monks.
🛌 Where We Stayed:
- Millennium pods near Shibuya Crossing – Space-age nap cocoon turned sofa. Light alarm clock. Free happy hour. Great to socialise. Would pod again.
- Top tip: if you arrive/depart super early, Narita Airport hotels are a smarter choice than paying £150 for a taxi, as the trains don’t run at that time. Many have shuttle services or are in walking distance. Also check out airport pods – minimal but clean.
🗺️ What We Did:
- Shibuya Crossing – It’s chaos, but poetic chaos. Watch it from Starbucks like the tourist you are.
- Skytree – Tallest tower in Japan, brag-worthy views
- TeamLab Planets – Digital art that plays with your brain (and balance).
- Animal Cafés – Controversial. Cute. Slightly chaotic. We did Mipig (tiny pigs, massive hearts). There are cafes for hedgehogs, owls, even capybaras. Book ahead.
- Mario Kart IRL – Onesie, go-kart, actual traffic. Chaos. Bliss.Hilarious. Make sure you book the one that goes across the crossing!
- Golden Gai (Shinjuku) – here there’s countless teeny tiny bars, big vibes. Karaoke, balloons, themes. We bar-hopped like champions. Night life opens until 5am ish if you’re up for a big one!
- Open Landmark Rooftop Garden Building (above Dior - Tokyo. Plaza Harajuku building) – Level 4 ramen and gyoza. Life-changing. Plus, 75 stores to explore.
- Sushi and Mochi class – Surprisingly calming. Both booked on Klook.
- 3D Cat Billboard (Shinjuku) – Big digital feline energy.
- Godzilla – Roars hourly from Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku.
- Sakura Gardens – Ueno Park during March/April. Cherry blossom perfection.
- Zauo Restaurant – You catch your own fish from a fake boat. Utter madness.
- Shopping – Don Quijote, Loft, and any shop with a cartoon mascot. Harajuku Takeshita Street is one to check out too!
🗻 Mt. Fuji – Bikes, Lakes & Bear Warnings
🏨 Where We Stayed:
- A ryokan-style hotel by the lake.
- 💡 What’s a Ryokan?
Think tatami mat floors, futons on the ground, low tables, sliding doors and Onsen. - 🧼 What’s an Onsen?
A communal hot bath fed by natural springs. Rules: wash before getting in, no clothes (unless it’s a modern tourist-friendly one), tattoos might be an issue depending where you go.
🚴 What We Did:
- Hired bikes and cycled around one of the Five Lakes near Mt. Fuji
- Stopped at scenic points, waterfalls, quirky cafes, tiny art galleries and gift shops * Had coffee overlooking the mountain (and a bear warning sign that made us… finish the coffee quickly)
- Top tip: Book your bus travel in advance. They fill up faster than a TikTok ramen shop or Taylor Swift tickets for that matter.
🛕 Kyoto – Where Culture, Temples & Cherry Blossoms Collide
Felt like stepping into a historical anime.
🛌 Where We Stayed:
-
Somewhere central-ish. Walkable. Lovely. The key point: you’ll want comfy shoes and camera storage.
🎎 What We Did:
- Fushimi Inari Shrine – Go early (like 7:30/8am to avoid crowds). Bring water. Orange gate heaven.
- Canal Walk – Cherry blossoms, swans, dreamy.
- Gion & Old Town – Traditional tea houses + maybe a real-life geisha.
- Ramen Cooking Class – Ramen, gyozas, pork fried rice. 10/10. The instructor deserved his own Netflix show. Booked via Klook.
- Night Market – Dinner under the stars in open seating area, only accepts cash, near Gion Corner and the temple area. (Skip the central Nishiki if crowds aren’t your thing…the night one was far better!)
- Bamboo Forest (Arashiyama) – There’s the main (tourist-packed if arrive “late”) one, and a quieter alternative. Choose peace, it’s only a few minutes away.
- Gacha Stores – You’ll become emotionally attached to a keyring you didn’t know existed.
- Gion Corner Show – Skip unless you love school assembly energy.
🕹️ Osaka – Neon, Nara Deer, and Nintendo Dreams
If Kyoto is a scroll painting, Osaka is a flashing GIF.
🎡 What We Did:
- Umeda Sky Building – Book sunset tickets. Trust. Then you see the city in day and night.
- Tea Ceremony – Ours was quite literally in a shed, as popular ones had sold out. Worse experience of the trip. Probably book in advance.
- Nara Day Trip – The deer will bow. Then headbutt you for snacks.
- Dotonbori – Neon riverside chaos. Get the fried crab. Plenty of good places to eat and drink. Think Tokyo’s younger, louder cousin.
- Round1 Stadium – 5 floors of arcade, bowling, karaoke, and absurdity.
- Universal Studios Japan – 13 hours, sore feet, zero regrets.
- Nintendo World – Worth the hype. Everyone waves at you. Felt famous (but not emotional, relax). Do get advance fast passes for Nintendo world, or you won’t get in. Across the whole park the longest wait was around 20 mins, which was a pleasant surprise!
🐒 Nagano – Snow Monkeys & Slight Regrets
🧊 Jigokudani Monkey Park:
- Snow monkeys bathing. Cute.
- The setup? A little zoo-like. Kind of sad. Not quite the monkey forest we imagined.
- Tip: Nagano’s a trek. Check travel times. Might not be worth the effort unless you’re a snow monkey superfan.
🌄 Kamikochi – National Park With Main Character Energy
Was it worth it? Yes. Life-changing? No. But very pretty.
🏞️ What We Did:
- Stayed at a ryokan with mountain views and an onsen. Classic forest-core.
- Walked river trails and suspension bridges.
- Tip: It’s seasonal and remote. Plan ahead or risk becoming part of the scenery.
🧳 Final Thoughts
Japan is calm chaos. You’ll walk 20,000 steps a day, bow 87 times, and eat like you’ve never seen noodles before. The people are kind, the food is elite, and the toilets are smarter than all of us.
Would I go back?
1000%. Next time, I’ll climb Fuji instead of just waving at it from a bike.
Also: book early. The best countryside walks were already full.
Now go book your escape. Just maybe pack deodorant, stretchy trousers, and a translator app.
