I’ve eaten excellent food all over the world, from some of the most famous restaurants to hidden gems with incredible accolades. Japan was the best culinary trip I’ve ever taken. From $2 curry udon at a counter to the two-star Michelin brilliance of Myoujyaku, I ate well every single day. Even the croquettes in the hot case at every 7-11 were terrific.
I loved that Tokyo bustles without feeling rushed or chaotic. I loved Osaka’s chip-on-the-shoulder pride in being the second city. I found peace in the stillness of the Okuin cemetery in Koyasan. I loved Japan.
A few things I wish I had done:
- The House of Gay Art, owned by Ogizaki Masahiro
- Fire Ceremony in Koyasan
- Nara
- More time in rural Japan
- A matcha tasting
- More art museums
- Kabuki theater
- The Zenkō-ji Temple underground passage
Japan is a place I could visit again and again. There’s so much to love and so little to dislike. I saw and experienced so much, yet I know I barely scratched the surface. I never felt overwhelmed, and I know I accomplished a lot. Next time, I’ll do less in Tokyo—but I still won’t skip it. I ate too well there. I want to visit Hokkaido, explore Shikoku, and see more of the countryside. And I want to find Yumiko.
It’s funny—I’ve written this whole entry without mentioning that my family in Ohio once hosted a young woman from Japan for a year. Her name is Yumiko Sakai, from Osaka. She attended a girls’ school in Kyoto before moving to Ohio, where she graduated from Paulding High School. I tried to find her before my trip, but couldn’t. I suspect she’s now a businesswoman in China, but I don’t know for sure.
There’s so much more to Japan, and I want to go back. You can’t go wrong there. Eat well. Enjoy your evenings. Sleep in. Let them make you great coffee.
Japan, I love you—except for that squishy white bread.
