A Symphony of Tradition and Modernity: My Memoirs of Japan

With my bags packed, passport ready and a racing heart, I set off for a 15-day solo travel through Japan. While at the airport, my mind did a few somersaults at the thought of my long-awaited dream to explore Japan finally coming true. During my travel, I covered 5 cities: Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Takayama and finally Tokyo. Each one was equally stunning with its own charm and attractions.

I started my trip in Osaka, the second-largest city in Japan. Known for its food culture, especially its street food, sampling local delicacies like the Takoyaki and Kushikatsu was a must. Apart from the famous Dōtonbori Street, Shinsaibashi Shopping Street and the Shinsekai, the retro area of Osaka, I also visited the Katsuō-ji temple, a Buddhist temple 40 minutes north of Osaka.

Next stop was Kyoto, where I spent 4 days exploring and admiring the old charm of the city, reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film. I had a picnic by the river Kamo on Children's Day in Japan, where I observed families spending a sunny afternoon with their children. My time in Kyoto included a leisurely walk along the Philosopher's path, stumbling upon hidden shrines, visiting a secret bamboo forest, and admiring the enchanting statues at the Nenbutsu-ji temple. I took a day trip to the small, historic merchant town of Omihachiman and another day trip to the matcha capital, Uji along with Nara which is home to the world's largest bronze Buddha statue and over 1000 deer.

I took a shinkansen, the famous bullet train, to explore Kanazawa next. Kanazawa is famous for its preserved samurai and geisha districts, as well as the landscaped gardens. It is also known as the gold capital of Japan, producing 99% of the nation's gold leaf. So, it was only fair that I indulged myself in a soft serve covered in gold. I was mesmerized by the Kenroku-en garden, considered one of the three 'great gardens' in Japan, combining the essential elements of rocks, water and plants.

Next on my itinerary was the quaint mountain town of Takayama, known for its Hida beef, sake and the well preserved traditional wooden houses. I took a day trip to Shirakawa-go, a traditional village known for its gasshō-zukuri (praying hands) style houses.

My final stop was Tokyo, the capital and the largest city of Japan, where I spent 5 days admiring the beautiful fusion of modernity and tradition. I explored popular attractions like the Meiji Shrine, the Shibuya Crossing, Sensō-ji shrine and the electric town of Akihabara. I also visited some lesser-known places, such as the Jindai-ji temple, the Imperial Palace and the Yanaka Cemetery, which is a perfect testament to the coexistence of life and death.

I also took a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko to view the spectacular Mt. Fuji, but the weather gods had a cloudy, rainy day in mind. Nonetheless, I made the most of it by visiting charming local cafes.

If I were to describe Japan in a single word, it would be 'magical'. However, be sure to bring your most comfortable shoes as you would be walking a minimum of 15K steps daily. Learn a few Japanese phrases, this would be very helpful and might earn you some freebies! Bring a hearty appetite because you would want to eat everything, especially the desserts! And lastly, carry an empty bag because you will end up shopping a LOT!

Japan was everything I had dreamt of and so much more, and I cannot wait to be back.