The real Japan

[wasabijuice]

Hi everybodies, I'm new here

I just have to say that its great that a lot of young people are interested in Japan and its culture. However there is a significant portion of the country you are all overlooking. It is the backcountry. Yes there is more to Japan than Tokyo, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Roppongi or those other- edit - ant farms- The real Japan lives offf the beaten track in the mountains. The urban areas of Japan comprise only 25% of the land area. Conversely the rural areas comprise 75% and contain only 25% of the population!!! Take a look at a Japan from space picture and you'll see this beautiful green archipelago, not some awful concrete covered heat island that is the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya megalopolises. Better yet, take a train ride from the Pacific side to the sea of Japan side and you'll see the most amazing, rugged mountains, and beutiful valleys.

If you go to the real Japan the people are not interested in manga, anime, ninjas or such other crap that most of the people posting here care about.
To think that manga, anime , and ninjas are representative of Japanese culture would be to say that, beer, maple syrup and hockey sticks are representative of Canada. Yes they are part of the culture, but by no means all of it.

In the real Japan you can buy a house for a few thousand dollars! You can rent a house for a free or almost free. (provided you have a visa) But most of you young people here have only a limited idea of the TV image that you see or the internet image. Wake up young people! Get to Japan, travel outside of the -edit - ant farm- on earth pressure cooker that is Tokyo and you'll see for yourself. Better yet go to Tokyo or any other major city in August, bring lots of white T-shirts and deodorant, cause your going to need it. Then imagine having to work in this awful heat and humidity, then imagine having to ride your bicycle to work and not turning into a puddle. Imagine yourself crammed into a subway car full of similarly sweaty, balding old guys . Not cool is it now?

I suggest making a list of about 20 words that are the most important for you for wanting to go to, or live in Japan. Take some time now and do it. If in your list of 20 words contain any of the following:

ninja, manga, anime, inuyasha, sushi, cute, hello kitty, cool, last samurai, kawaii, pink, cosplay, maid, youth tribe, Then please stay home.

If however, your list includes any or all of the following words:

nature, beautiful, snow, surf, ocean, beach, Hokkaido, Okinawa, hiking, mountain, outdoors, no cops, no rangers, no rules, cheap, free, inexpensive, healthy food, rent free, cheap rent, Then by all means come and explore the real Japan.

Oh and study Japanese and culture before you get here, keep your voice down and be polite. Leave your longboard and rollerblades in the coin locker in Tokyo. Do a homestay, as well as stay in a dorm or apartment. Stay in some youth hostels and gaijin houses, get a feel for the place before you decide to move. Better yet, get a job offer before you decide to come here , unless you can get a working holiday visa. And by alll means get outside of the megalopolis!! It's cool for a while, but it aint coool forever, trust me.

I welcome all questions, comments and criticisms, please.

edit- ant farm

[Tsuruneru]

This is nothing new to me but i still love the country regardless of what they are not showing.

[wasabijuice]

Glad to hear there is someone enlightened out there,

tell me, are you in Japan now or have you ever been?

[Reavyn]

Over every place in Japan, Hokkaido is actually the one place I'd want to spend most of my time. I'm quite aware that Japan is nothing like everything you see in Anime, Manga, Movies, or even the Drama's. Many people always have those misconceptions about anywhere they have never been but wanted to go. Sure, I like anime, sushi, and cosplayers, but I also like history, many of the other foods (not sure about squid ink pizza though...), and everyday wear. Sadly, due to traps I unknowingly set for myself in my younger days I will probably never get a chance to get out to Japan.

Even in the city I live in, I often just go walking. The only thing that really keeps me sane is such a horrible place is nature.

[blimp]

i reckon i must be mistaken since the japan i live in feels rather real, especially the other day when i accidentally hit an iron bar with my foot. a couple of my toes are still blue.

if indeed u r only joking i apologise. on internet no one hears your irony(!)

[AsianAtHeart]

This is.........nothing new to me.

I think I can safely say alot of us JFers do admire Japan outside of manga/anime or cosplaying.

[Pexster]

Im sure here people know this already. But still thanks for bringing this out for the people who don't know.

[ozkai]

最初の投稿者：wasabijuice

Hi everybodies, I'm new here


I suggest making a list of about 20 words that are the most important for you for wanting to go to, or live in Japan. Take some time now and do it. If in your list of 20 words contain any of the following:

sushi, cute

I welcome all questions, comments and criticisms, please.

I can't agree.

Sushi and cute play a big part within Japan, so big, that Sushi is now part of the Australian culture.

[wasabijuice]

最初の投稿者：ozkai

I can't agree.

Sushi and cute play a big part within Japan, so big, that Sushi is now part of the Australian culture.

Duly noted, glad people are paying attention.

[Firebird]

My list surely includes: Anime, Manga, Maid, Cute, Sushi

but the bigger part would be: Hiking, Yaeyama-shoto, Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku, Nara, beach, forest, shrine, camping,.....

so i guess i want to see both worlds, or i actually do.
I can only agree and wish that more people would step of the beaten track to see the other side of Japan. Away from Hello Kitty, Yamanote line and 24h internetcafes. Go out and hike the Alps, fly to Okinawa and travel the small Ilands (only the flight is expensive, food and accomodation are really cheap down there), explore the south east coast of Kansai,..... so many beautifull stressfree places!

But still you wouldnt want to miss: one afternoon in Akiba, wandering through the market in Ueno, one night in Shibuya, tempels in Kyoto, Osaka,....


What fascinated me most the last 10 month in this country is the diversity of this country. This country is so rich in contrasts that its sometimes overwhelming. Standing in a street in Tokyo, Mcdonalds on my right and Sega world on my left and seeing some guys in traditional clothes carry a shrine through the middle of the street just left me speechless.


If you want to see "real" Japan, you will have to see both worlds!