I felt a deep sense of relief and peace as I gazed upon the backdrop of the mountains of Matsumoto. This peace and the soft wind carried me away, providing a break as though protecting me from the hardships of life. Back then, the locals weren’t really used to foreigners and so, the locals greeted us warmly, (not saying they don’t right now) which is a sharp contrast to modern times when so many foreigners crowd in one country that the locals feel they are guests themselves. Maybe it's precisely this warmth that Tokyo seems to be lacking these days. I often think of returning to that calm place. Perhaps for retirement, Matsumoto may not be an unwise decision? Who knows.
The idea of Tokyo and the physical city of Tokyo has completely consumed me, to the point where I would rather stay in the still void of my basement apartment then out on the busy streets of Shibuya with my friends. It’s this idea of Tokyo being the world’s most exciting part of the world where fashion meets infrastructure. However, seeing the same areas over and over again depresses me. Though every excursion is flavoured with the expectation of something new, the pattern remains unchanged. Tokyo is considered by many international visitors to be the ultimate Japanese experience and a must-see location on every itinerary. I beg to differ.
Tokyo surely provides both locals and visitors with unparalleled conveniences. However, this idea itself feeds the myth that certain areas lack conveniences. I strongly advise visitors to venture outside of Tokyo to destinations like Niigata, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nagoya, and Hokkaido. These locations, which are frequently overlooked, require attention. These destinations are often overshadowed by mighty Tokyo.
Allow me to share my experiences. I was allured by Osaka's beauty when I visited it when I was eleven years old. Imagine a vivid blue sea cast against a majestic mountain range. It's an impressive spectacle. It wasn't just Osaka, though, that made an effect. In Niigata, camping gave me a strong sense of earthly affiliation. The Earth felt like recently woven sumptuous silk gowns. I could sense the human to Earth connection that our ancestors so flourished in. The crisp air and the recently harvested rice crops gave me a sense of clarity.
Hokkaido was like a desired diamond. As the clouds cleared up to display a dazzling night sky, I could feel the moon looking down upon us as a guardian. I would even argue it felt better than the famous Northern Lights. The mountains, the terrain, the people, the food, the hospitality, everything was just perfect. A day spent in Hokkaido wouldn’t be enough. It is just the most serene place you could ever imagine. Hokkaido’s Ainu descendants are one of a kind. Like anywhere in Japan, they were extremely welcoming and treated us with utmost respect. As I hiked the mountains of Hokkaido, I felt like I was floating above the clouds. The air was purer than gold.
Don’t even get me started with Nagoya. The beaches were serene. They had palm trees on each side of the road, coupled with the bright blue sky which gave the eye a beautiful contrast. The smell, the view, the sounds, everything just amazed me. Nagoya in the summer was like paradise described in the gospel. I am not kidding you! It was the paradise of my dreams! Their water parks are top-notch. Nagoya is one of the best examples of the subtle parts of Japan. I’m not entirely sure how many tourists really place Nagoya on their bucket list, let alone eventually tick it off as a finished destination. This truly surprises me as Nagoya is where you get to experience every type of season at its best. Though Nagoya may not be a popular destination in the winter, it is a must, and I mean a must-see attraction in the summer.
As I mentioned before, my sole purpose is to share my boundless experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun and I am not trying to dissuade you from visiting Tokyo. However, Japan offers much more than just the stereotypical Tokyo experience. Though I am criticising the Tokyo experience, I too am a part of it and will be until I leave the country. The Tokyo experience is a worthwhile one but, alas, it is only best if it is for a period of days, not months or years. Tokyo can be toured in a span of a week. This is all thanks to the well constructed Tokyo railway and metro system. With the help of such train systems, one can travel from one end of Tokyo to the other in a span of an hour. I am extremely grateful to my parents for shifting to Tokyo.
My experiences in Japan have been nothing but excellent. The vibe, the sense of style, as well as the quality of service have been top-notch. What I and my fellow history lovers admire, however, is that Japan has preserved all of its history. Though Japan does have history museums and history exhibitions, it is the raw beauty and the infrastructure from the past that would fascinate most certainly anyone. Japan has an overarching range of castles- up to a 100-for a tourist to visit, and all of them are worthwhile. They are placed at such locations that from far away, you’d think it was one of Raphael’s famous paintings! In some castles, you’re allowed to actually touch ancient artifacts. It is a marvel to even witness such objects, which usually range from katanas to arquebuses. Although most of these destinations are outside Tokyo, however, Tokyo does provide a tourist hot spot where you can experience Japan’s culture and modernism. This place is called Asakusa. It has the perfect mix of modernism and historic Japanese cultural identity.
As I look back on my experiences in Japan, it doesn’t seem too shabby. My criticism of Tokyo’s overhyped culture might not be entirely true to most of you reading but it is these little things in life that just make one happy. This subtleness rather than glamour is the true key to eternal life and I believe that through my experiences in Japan, Japan is the best place to be to enjoy these subtle things in life. For example, in Japan, you can smell the damp grass whilst also feel the moist air. Who knows, you guys may end up falling in love with the countryside rather than the bustling city. Japan is the embodiment of beauty and modernity and is a must-visit destination on your bucket list.
Arush is a 14 year old boy who goes to The British School in Tokyo. He is of Indian nationality and has been brought up in Japan since the age of 2. He is interested in expressing his thoughts through his writing pieces and feels immense joy when he has the opportunity to share his writing and ideas with others, preferring to express himself through essay writing as well as creative writing. Arush speaks 5 languages fluently: Marathi, Hindi, French, Japanese and English.
"Tokyo city view" by Bermi Ferrer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
