Plan in Japan: Highlights and lowlights of a trip to Japan

Japan did not disappoint with its tranquil temples, towering cities and delicious food. But, as with every vacation, there were highlights and lowlights of my trip to Japan…

After living in Korea for a year, I knew it was time to take a short trip to Japan. I’d seen that the flight between Seoul and Osaka only took two hours, so this trip was inevitable. And I was more than happy to oblige to the inevitable. Due to scheduling, I didn’t manage to see as much of Japan as I would have liked. But this is just more reason to do a second trip there! I still managed to explore two cities in a five-day trip and ended up walking over a hundred thousand steps in this time frame. This holiday wasn’t for the faint-hearted (much like my trip to Thailand), but it was enjoyable and enlightening all the same.

While visiting Osaka and Kyoto, I was able to live my childhood dreams at Universal Studios and delight in quality food. I was also swept up in busy crowds and stuffed into jerky buses, which were experiences that I wouldn’t repeat. All things considered, I love Japan and await the day I can visit again. 

Highlights

1. Universal Studios
2. Monkey sanctuary
3. Convenience

Universal Studios

I’m a thrill seeker. Nothing gives me greater joy than finding my inner child and running around a theme park all day. And where better to do this than at Universal Studios in Japan. While staying in Osaka, this amusement park was very easy to reach from our hotel using the subway. And you can’t miss the correct carriage with its bright Super Nintendo World design. I loved crossing over from the dead and dull track, packed with white-collar workers, to the vibrant Universal Studios subway. In contrast, this carriage was filled with excitable kids and expectant chatter. The grandeur of the park met us at the entrance with the iconic Universal Studios Globe and easy check-in (made even more speedy with our printed Klook tickets). Once we passed those gates, the world was our oyster. We rode some epic roller coasters, my favourites being ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey’ and ‘Jurassic Park – The Ride’. For adrenaline lovers who like to be fully immersed in a ride, these attractions were perfect.

The use of special effects and technology also astounded me at the Studios, unlike any amusement park I’d visited before. And, of course, the pièce de résistance was Super Nintendo World. I felt like I was transported into a real life video game. There, the view in the evening, glowing with its many lights, was robotically beautiful. Using the park’s app, we were able to book a time to visit this world. You’ll need this time slot because it is always busy in certain sections of the park (more about this problem below). If you’re visiting Osaka and love theme parks as much as me, I would fully recommend visiting Universal Studios. It made for a very fun day out in my short vacation.  

Monkey sanctuary

I’ll admit it – I didn’t take a trip to Japan with the intention of seeing tons of wildlife. I’d expected to fill my vacation with cityscapes and museum visits. The juxtaposition to this assumption, which we found in Kyoto, was a welcome surprise in a metropolis-filled getaway. Taking a rickety bus to the outer regions of Kyoto, sprawling bamboo forests replaced the familiar skyrises of the city. Walking through the shade of these plants was magical and refreshing – a nice change from the pavement of Kyoto’s centre. Then we gained altitude and made our way up Arashiyama mountain to meet some monkeys. However, the excitement didn’t start at the summit. Even on the journey up, we heard rustling in the trees. Occasionally, we stopped and peered into the foliage for the signs of something moving within. Nearing the top, we glimpsed our first monkeys. Here, we witnessed a mother monkey idling mere metres from our path, keeping a watchful eye on her curious young.

After a fairly strenuous climb, we reached the peak and entered the feeding building. For a low price, we bought fruit and nuts and began feeding clamouring monkeys through the grates around the perimeter of the room. The way the animals stole the treats from our grasp, highlighted their inquisitive personalities. I could have spent hours at the top of that mountain watching them snatch food from each other, discard the morsels they didn’t like and interact with countless hikers. I loved being so close to nature, in an environment where the monkeys could run free. Not to mention, I enjoyed learning more about these animals on the way up through several informational signposts (written in English as well as Japanese), so that I left Japan feeling a little better educated than when I began.  

Convenience

I love an easy life. Work smarter, not harder. Therefore, I love a country that offers me convenience at every turn. And Japan does this and then some. Before taking a trip to Japan, I was pretty used to around-the-clock corner shops like CU and GS25 in Korea. I was happy to find that Osaka and Kyoto also provided this luxury so that I could go and buy a beverage at four in the morning if the mood struck (which it never did but hey-ho). But something I wasn’t used to was the countless vending machines on every street corner. These machines were a much-appreciated sight in the heat when we were constantly gasping for a drink. With a couple of coins, we could choose from a wide selection of drinks and quench our thirst in an instant. Not having to find a store or remember to carry around a bottle all day was really helpful and added a layer of ease to the trip.

Additionally, the accommodation arrangements were made very easy (not least of all because I didn’t make the booking). Check-in was automated and the hotels had good amenities, including washing facilities, a sauna and even a free bar. We were also provided with a guide to good restaurants in the area around our hotel in Kyoto, making finding dinner a lot easier. Along with this, getting around was fairly easy on the subway with an ICOCA card, although I do have some comments about the bus (have a look below). With this level of simplicity, I could even consider moving to Japan, although I’ll stick to just vacations for now.

Lowlights

1. Busy places
2. Bus rides
3. Tokyo next time

Busy places

I’m pretty good at weaving my way through a crowd. By burrowing through, I can usually power to my location, even if a large group stands in my way. But I finally met my match in Japan. The bustle of people was constant and swarming. Nowhere did I feel this more keenly than on the early morning subway to Universal Studios. Trying to traverse a station when you don’t know the area well and don’t speak Japanese is challenging at the best of times. Trying to do this while fighting through the onslaught of work-goers is near enough impossible. I distinctly remember finding a corner to shelter in for a moment’s reprieve while trying to make my way through Osaka.

Every destination we visited also seemed packed with people making any kind of photos difficult. I had to time my ‘Glico Running Man’ photo well so as to not have a random stranger in the shot. I found that even areas outside of the city centre were packed, for instance in the monkey sanctuary, meaning we weren’t even alone up a mountain. If the constant hubbub doesn’t sound enticing, you might want to think carefully about when you visit Japan to avoid peak tourist season (although I went in the heat of summer and it was still incredibly busy). Or perhaps avoid the big cities altogether and plan a more rural getaway to Japan.  

Bus rides

Yes, life was convenient in Japan. The vending machines, the hotel and, on the whole, the transport. However, my one bus experience would say otherwise. I hated it. Getting to the monkey sanctuary was long and tedious, and there were times when I wished I’d just forked out for a taxi. Now, I’d like to preface my complaints by saying that I’m a seasoned bus-goer. I’ve had my fair share of bumpy bus journeys to work in the morning, but I’m usually lucky enough to sit on a quiet, air-conditioned seat. The smooth journey I was expecting was the furthest thing from what I experienced. Perhaps, I got unlucky with an old bus or the route we chose hadn’t updated its services yet, but we were stuffed onto an old cuboid for over an hour.

It was busy and it didn’t become any less busy for the entirety of the journey, meaning it was hot and sticky onboard and I was craving fresh air throughout. I think I could of coped with all of this, but the constant stopping and starting as we trudged along was more than I could bear. Every other metre, the bus would lurch to a stop because of traffic. On top of this, the patchy travel was made more aggravating by constant commentary from the driver who continual warned us of the bus’ movements over an intercom. Although seemingly helpful, I was afforded no peace on the long journey. These complaints could sound picky, but I was surprised to have an unpleasant experience after the ease of the subway and train. If you’re planning to take the bus while in Japan, just know it might not be the smoothest ride.

Tokyo next time

I need to return to Japan. I left wanting so much more, and I definitely regret missing out on Tokyo. My friends carried on to the capital while I returned to Korea and, from what I’ve heard, Tokyo was the most magical leg of the trip. Now I live every day hearing the tales of a missed adventure. I promise I’m not jealous (well, maybe a little bit) but from these stories, I surmised that Tokyo is unlike Osaka and Kyoto in its splendour. My time in these two cities was ultimately wholesome, with bright walks around Osaka Castle and interactions with Kyoto’s wildlife, but Tokyo offers some more wild escapades in the form of its nightlife. I would love to take another trip to Japan and discover more of its bars and clubs in its biggest city.

Japan is also tugging me to go back because I have a need to visit Disneyland. You’ve heard how much I enjoyed Universal Studios and I can assure you I’ll feel the same buzz in Disneyland. After putting aside any childlike whims, there are plenty of other sights and attractions to see in Tokyo that I feel as though I missed out on, like Shibuya Crossing or Tokyo Tower. You can see how with so much to do in this one city, I felt like I barely scraped the surface in Japan. You don’t have to have the same regrets. When planning your trip to Japan, make sure to squeeze in some time for the capital as well as its other fabulous cities.  

To Tokyo…

Do you think you’ll give Japan a visit after reading this? Maybe, you’ve added it to your travel list, or maybe it was already on there. Perhaps, you’ve already been to Japan and have your own highlights and lowlights. Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo are great choices for destinations to visit if you want to explore multiple places in Japan, each with its own charm. You can easily travel between these cities by train so your trip doesn’t have to stop in the capital.

I would recommend seeing as much as you can so you don’t leave feeling like you’ve missed out on some wonderful experiences, like Universal Studios, bamboo forests or monkey sanctuaries. However, I’d stick to the train and subway to explore Japan as the bus can be tedious. Additionally if crowds aren’t your thing, consider travelling outside of peak hours and avoid the big cities. I, for one, will be visiting Japan again. The only question is, will I see you there or not?