My fascination with Japan began in the third grade, when an exchange teacher from Japan spent a few months teaching us various aspects of Japanese culture. Along with reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, she taught us how to count, write our names in Japanese, and fold origami cranes. For at least two years after her return to Japan, I exchanged letters with her (during this time she got a desk job in Japan and ended up getting married.) In the fifth grade, my love for all things Japanese culminated with my (formal) introduction to (subtitled) anime: the Sailor Moon R Movie. Yes, feel free to laugh: it is perhaps one of the most corny Sailormoon installations that exists – but nonetheless it was the singlemost piece of media that influenced the latter half of my life.
Since completing my Japanese minor last spring, I’ve dreamt of nothing more than visiting Japan. Flickr in some ways both satiated and exacerbated this wanderlust, with its hundreds of thousands of breathtaking photos. Below are some of my favorites (click image for source).
My friend Lindsey of Blood Like Milk recently visited Japan, and has a wonderful series of posts with her own photographs!
If you’ve ever been to Japan, where did you go, and how long did you stay? Whenever I’m able to make my trip out there, what are the attractions I must see?
December 29, 2010 at 11:38 am
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Aww, thanks for the shout out! It’s crazy, I had a similar introduction with Japan as well (in 2nd grade a girl’s Japanese grandmother came and gave a talk about Japanese culture) and then later on in junior high I started watching Sailor Moon too lol! Isn’t it funny how Sailor Moon has introduced so many people to Japan?
These photos are so amazing, I just favorited every one of them! That third one is just stunning.
December 29, 2010 at 11:57 am
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I’ve always been fascinated by Japan to my next door neighbours when I was little were Japanese and introduced me to their delicous food and origami and I pretty much grew up watching Sailor Moon. My grandmother (in thailand) used to send me Sailor Moon sweets which came with free magnets which I still to this day have on my fridge!
I would love to visit Japan one day, it’s such a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing these photos they are stunning xoxo
December 29, 2010 at 2:59 pm
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it would be mine too, i’ve been obsessed with japan for a long time too
December 30, 2010 at 11:31 am
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Actually, I had a similar introduction to Japan as well! I remember there was a Japanese student in my 3rd grade class. One day his mom came in and did a show and tell about Japan. She chose me to demonstrate the kimono and how to use chopsticks. I got it right the first time; and it was for picking up M&M’s! I’ll never forget how nice she was, and how proud that made me feel. Definitely a favorite memory. I also remember making a paper mache Mt. Fuji for a 3rd grade project, and someone trying to steal it! XD Japan is wonderful…
I hope you get to have the best trip ever someday!
Btw, I love how your website design is coming along. :)
December 30, 2010 at 12:57 pm
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Beautiful photography.
I very much wish I could go to Japan, but honestly, I don’t know much about what I would see…I guess I would be more interested in the culture and the day to day aspect of it, than any particular single item I’ve heard of. Still, a geek girl should make sure to check out Akihabara of course, if half of what I’ve heard is true.
My love for Japan and all things Japanese also came from anime…a guy was having a showing for “Ranma”. I came to it on a lark. It was in a small apartment, and everyone gathered around his small TV. This was a while ago, so there were no copies, subtitled or otherwise, naturally available in the US…he’d had a friend tape onto VHS off of a Japanese broadcast, and send them to him. He would show some of the show, then pause it, and try to explain what was going on, and explain enough Japanese to us that we would understand why what the character was saying was so wildly inappropriate. We all just stared, dumbfounded, at this completely ridiculous scenario. I was immediately hooked on anime, and that was a natural gateway into the language and culture.
I hope you go at some point, and post about it. I will enjoy the trip vicariously.
December 30, 2010 at 1:18 pm
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Oh! And Harajuku, of course! I would think this area would be a must-see for someone who dabbles in cosplay.
December 31, 2010 at 4:32 pm
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I was introduced to Japan in a not so positive way. My Grandpa lived in China during WWII as a child, and it obviously traumatized him. When I was younger he told me how he would have to hide out when there were bomb threats and had to starve, and that this was because of Japan.
Well, my parents decided to take me to Japan several years ago and it is one of the greatest places I’ve ever been! The best attractions I saw were the park with all the deer and the tree to hang your fortunes on. (Sorry I forgot the names.) I also went to several hot springs which was interesting and I felt like I was in Spirited Away. Maybe watching Lost in Translation will inspire you? ;)
January 2, 2011 at 1:27 am
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I went to Japan in 2000 when I was 17 for 3 weeks, without parents with my friends!
The sad thing is, I was there for a videogame tournament and all I wanted to do was play at the arcades and eat mcdonalds. What a waste! I was in Shinjuku, and hit up a bunch of places I can barely remember.
However, I’m actually planning a new, much more muture trip this spring. My goal is to check out the temples in kyoto and just bum around with my camera.
One place on my list I’m sure you’ll be interested in is the Ghibli Museum.
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
If I end up going before you do, I’ll let you know how it goes :)
January 2, 2011 at 10:49 pm
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Ahh good luck on the trip planning, that would be so exciting! I think as we get older, we can only appreciate trips (and life in general) more and more.
My friend Lindsey (linked above) went to the Ghibli Museum! It is definitely on my list of places to visit as well (along with the moss gardens and, as you mentioned, traditional Kyoto shrines).
Please let me know how it all turns out~
January 6, 2011 at 7:56 am
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I currently live in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture (home of Mt. Fuji) & have since Aug 09. I have family in Osaka City, Kanagawa Prefecture (including the seaside), Tokyo, & Okinawa (though I haven’t been there yet). I lived in Kyoto for 4 months on a study abroad in college, spring 07.
First off, this probably sounds odd as I never comment on your blog & therefore you have pretty much no idea who I am, but if you ever come to Japan & swing through Shizuoka I’d be happy to show you the countryside so you get the kind of experience most foreign tourists never bother with. (Apropos to that, I found you via Sara (blog: Simply Stardust).)
The must-sees:
- Kyoto: Kizyomizu-dera — and walk through a pitch-black tunnel. The Gion district. Kiyamachi (the shot of the sakura along the canal with the lamp). The Philosopher’s Path. Have an all-tofu lunch or dinner at a restaurant called Okutan, or have a kaiseki meal at any old Kyo-ryori restaurant.
- Osaka: eat takoyaki & okonomiyaki.
- Nara: Todaiji. Crawl through a hole the size of Buddha’s nostril to gain enlightenment in your next life.
- Hiroshima: A-bomb dome, memorial, & museum. Visit nearby Miyajima & gaze on the floating torii while feeding the deer.
- Anywhere: Stay at a hot spring resort for a night or two. Hike around the mountains. Any of the hundreds of festivals.
There’s so much; you couldn’t possibly do it all in one trip & those are just the famous things. If you’re coming all the way here you MUST find a way off the beaten track & experience something that a small town has to offer. I could go on for ages.
January 13, 2011 at 3:34 pm
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These places look beautiful. I love the one with monkey in hot spring.
January 22, 2011 at 6:28 am
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This is a little bit of a late comment, but better late than never I suppose! My first experiences with Japanese culture were through anime too — my brother and I used to watch Samurai X every weekend and I guess it just stuck. A few years later I got into J-pop and I never really looked back since.
So Japan! I visited the country for the first time this year and it was pretty much my life-long dream come true — I’m definitely going back someday. Of the places I visited I have to say Harajuku is a must – quaint little stores, a bustling atmosphere, cosplay galore. Definitely more intriguing than Shibuya or Shinjuku.
I didn’t have much time in Akihabara so I can’t comment much, but if you search in the right places you’ll find a bunch of cute anime shops complete with unique Japanese paraphernalia.
If you’re up for some adventure, try seeking out the snow monkeys at the Jigokudani Park. It’s a half an hour hike or so, but through gorgeous, snow-covered trails. And of course, the monkeys are adorable and considerably friendly!
Last but not least, wherever you are, don’t miss out on the onsens. The feeling of unwinding in a hot spring is totally initial awkwardness of oh-god-everyone’s-naked. Try the outdoor ones in winter, those are the best ever.
Yup, that’s all I have for now. If you want to know what hotels I stayed at just let me know and I’ll list them for you!
January 26, 2011 at 11:31 am
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beautiful pictures! also have to check out your friend’s blog.
i’m sure you would love japan. i’ve been to a lot of different places in japan (since i have relatives there) but my favourite is tokyo – i know that doesn’t come by surprise, but seriously – tokyo is just overwhelming. i’ve been there in december and i’m already planning to go in april. if you need any tips – you have my email now. :)