The Case for Slowing Down in Japan

Japan is a destination on many people’s bucket lists. For many of us, the desire to go there started when we were young, and by the time the opportunity finally arrives, there’s an enormous pressure to make the most of it. Japan is far away, flights are expensive, and we can feel that this is our one shot, so we’d better see everything we can.

I sympathize with this mentality completely. The very first trip I ever took to Japan was exactly this kind of trip. A different city every couple of days, a packed schedule from morning to night, trying to cover as much ground as humanly possible. On my list were everything from small izakayas in the back streets of Osaka to major tourist destinations in Tokyo, to the far-reaching coasts of western Japan, and how they differed from those in the east. I wanted to see it all, and I tried.

It was a phenomenal and life-changing trip, and I’m grateful for every moment of it. I would never tell someone not to take that kind of trip, especially if it’s their first time.

The reality, though, is that my most memorable moments from Japan have never been the major tourist spots. They were the moments that no one could have packed into a schedule.

Going to karaoke with strangers. Walking through the woods by myself in a city I’d never planned on visiting. Sitting under the awning of a Kyoto temple during the rainy season, waiting for a storm to pass long enough to run to the station to buy an umbrella. These are the moments that defined my trips, and they’re the ones that keep me coming back.

It’s Not Just Me

When friends of mine go to Japan, they come home glad to have seen Mount Fuji and TeamLab. Those things are absolutely worth doing, and I wouldn’t suggest otherwise.

What’s interesting is that the moments they talk most about are rarely the ones that show up on Instagram or in travel guides. Instead, they talk about the strangers they met on a night out, everyone trying to communicate across a language barrier, or getting lost on an impromptu hike, racing to the bottom before sunset. Accidentally getting off at the wrong train station and discovering an incredible neighborhood they’d never heard of, or missing the last train home and having to crash in a karaoke box until the morning.

The scheduled highlights become the background, while the unscripted moments become the story.

Japan Is Different

These experiences aren’t uniquely Japanese. You can stumble into something memorable in any country. What makes Japan different is how the country enables them.

The safety and infrastructure let you stay out late, wander unfamiliar streets, and take detours without worrying about feeling abandoned or unsafe. The high level of trust means you can meet strangers and accept invitations without the constant anxiety of being scammed. The connected rail network means an impromptu day trip isn’t just possible, it’s practically encouraged. One train can take you somewhere completely unexpected, and another one will always bring you back.

Mistakes here aren’t as punishing as they might be somewhere else. It’s still important to stay aware (crime does happen in Japan, and relying entirely on the kindness of others can leave you vulnerable, even here). Still, you can afford to step outside your comfort zone without the constant fear that one wrong move will ruin your trip.

That freedom to say “yes” to the unexpected is what makes Japan so special.

Leave a Few Days Open

When you’re planning your next trip to Japan, my honest recommendation is this: leave a few days with absolutely nothing scheduled. Not “flexible” days where you’ll figure it out in the morning. Truly open days where you can follow whatever catches your attention.

The famous sites are absolutely worth seeing. If it’s your first time, go to Fushimi Inari. See Sensoji. Take the Shinkansen. Those are one-in-a-lifetime opportunities are as amazing as you’ve heard.

Just make sure to leave room for the rest.

The best memories I have from Japan were made in places whose names I can barely remember, with people I had only just met, on days where the only plan was to walk out the door and see what happened. That’s the version of Japan that doesn’t make it into the guidebooks. It’s also the reason I keep coming back.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, be sure to check out the Culture Shock Japan app, available on iOS. It covers travel tips & tricks, with an interactive phrasebook for offline use.