Kathleen and I recently spent two weeks in Japan, a country we never visited, and combined that with our Vietnam “visa run” to reset for another 90 day stay. Even with all our experience in southeast Asia, Japan was a bit intimidating since we thought it was going to be SO different. And it was. But it was also surprisingly effortless to navigate, so I asked Kathleen to share her thoughts, recorded it, and had Gemini AI pretty it up. And then I added my own two cents, because, well, that’s what guys like to do.

Two Weeks in Japan: The Modern, the Authentic, and the Surprisingly Familiar

Kathleen: We just wrapped up an incredible two-week adventure spanning Osaka and Kyoto, and I’m still processing it all! I loved both cities for completely different reasons, but the trip definitely threw a few curveballs my way.

Osaka: Futuristic & Lively

Osaka is an absolute powerhouse of contemporary, modern energy. The train stations alone are mind-blowing—they are practically massive underground cities packed with endless shopping and dining options. If you love a vibrant, high-tech urban buzz, this is your place.

Norm: I SOOO agree, and what was nice is that even though the metro and malls and underground businesses were frantic at times, the PEOPLE were orderly. You stand in line for the metro or train and everyone is chill. No pushing or shoving, and overall they are extraordinarily polite. Getting a ticket to the train was daunting at first, but once I understaood the different lines and where they go, it was easy. And Google Maps for BUSES?? Amazing! They directed us to the right intersection, which platform, if there were more than one, and it took away a lot of the Fear factor.

Kyoto: Peaceful & Scenic

Kyoto definitely delivered more of that traditional Japanese ambiance. We caught a sumo wrestling match, saw beautiful geisha culture, and took an unforgettable train ride out past gorgeous waterfalls and rivers. Walking through the old town areas felt wonderfully peaceful and authentic.

Norm: Yes, Kyoto was much smaller and actually quite fun to navigate by foot. Mostly flat and MAPS worked great. We also attended a Taiko Drum show, and I visited the most amazing TRAIN museum! BUT finding food from menus that we could understand, was very frustrating, and put us off. But even so, we found a few places that we liked enough to revisit, so that’s always fun.

Oh, one more thing, which I mentioned before: their convenience stores, like 7-11, Lawsons, etc…were SO much more than what most of the world offers. We could find full meals there for a very reasonable price.

The Big Takeaway: A Westernized Surprise

If I’m being completely honest, I came away a bit surprised! Having traveled to many countries, I expected Japan to feel entirely different from anything else. Instead, I found both cities—even Kyoto—to be much more westernized and homogenized than I anticipated. From the standard modern hotel rooms to the Starbucks on the corner, a lot of it felt familiar.

Norm: I concur, and that’s a double-edged sword since it did allow us to feel more comfortable. No doubt if we visited the smaller places outside the big city we would truly find untarnished Japan that we read about.

Would I go back?

Absolutely, 100%! Japan is a wonderful country, and I highly recommend anyone visit. Next time, though, my goal is to escape the major cities. I have my sights set on Okinawa and some smaller islands—I think that’s where the deeply rooted, traditional culture is waiting to be found.

Norm: yea, ditto. Japan was a trip and Okinawa sounds good, along with maybe some islands that are a bit less structured. Osaka was fairly affordable by most expat/ nomad standards, but Kyoto; not so much. Granted, we stayed at BOTH places in the places that everyone wants to be, so you get what you pay for.

Until the next adventure!