Japan had been on my travel list for quite some time, and this year I finally got to experience it for myself. Since it was my first time visiting Japan, I wanted to share my personal Japan travel guide for first-timers, including everything from getting around by public transportation and finding food I enjoyed to experiencing Japanese car culture, seeing Mount Fuji, and wearing a traditional kimono. I had a long list of places I wanted to see, food I wanted to try, and experiences I wanted to have, so I was excited to finally make this trip happen.
I had heard so much about Japan before going. The amazing public transportation, delicious food, beautiful temples, shopping, Japanese culture, and of course, Mount Fuji. But as always, travelling somewhere yourself feels very different from seeing it online.
Since I live in Hong Kong, Japan is also a destination that is relatively easy to travel to. The flight is manageable, and there are so many different places to explore once you arrive. This trip was also quite different from some of my previous holidays because I was not looking for a beach escape. I had already had plenty of sea, islands and snorkeling earlier in the year, so this time I wanted something completely different.
I wanted cities, culture, food, shopping, photography and plenty of exploring.
And after experiencing both Japan and South Korea, I have to say that I personally preferred Japan.
One of the first things I noticed in Japan was just how much people rely on public transportation. There are trains, metro systems, JR lines, buses and the famous Shinkansen, so you can get around without needing a car in most of the major tourist areas.
Before my trip, I was slightly worried that I would find the train system confusing. There are so many different lines and stations, especially in Tokyo, that it can look overwhelming when you first see a map.
Once I actually started using it, though, I found it much easier.
My biggest piece of advice for anyone visiting Japan for the first time is to choose your hotel carefully. I always prefer staying close to public transportation, and Japan made me appreciate that even more.
After spending the entire day walking around, shopping and sightseeing, the last thing you want is to discover that your hotel is another twenty minutes away from the nearest station.
For me, staying around five to ten minutes from a train or metro station is ideal. It makes such a difference when you are travelling with luggage or coming back to your hotel after a long day.
The Shinkansen was another experience I really enjoyed. Being able to travel between major cities so efficiently makes it much easier to see different sides of Japan during one trip.
Now let’s talk about food because this was one of the things that genuinely surprised me.
Before visiting Japan, I was excited about the food. Everyone talks about Japanese ramen, sushi, wagyu, tempura and all the amazing local dishes, so I had quite high expectations.
But I have to be honest. I found it surprisingly difficult at times to find chicken options that suited what I wanted to eat.
Of course, Japan does have plenty of chicken dishes. You can find yakitori, karaage, oyakodon, chicken ramen and chicken curry. It was just that when I wanted something simple, I sometimes felt like I had to look a little harder to find it.
This is one of those things that you probably don’t think about until you are actually travelling.
I also found myself relying on convenience stores from time to time. Japanese convenience stores are so convenient when you are travelling around all day and just want something quick to eat or a snack between meals.
One thing I really enjoy about travelling is discovering food in my own way. Not every meal has to be a famous restaurant or something that appears on every travel guide. Sometimes you walk into a small restaurant because something catches your eye, and that ends up being one of the meals you remember.
One of the experiences I did not expect to enjoy as much as I did was seeing the Japanese car culture at night.
Japan has such a strong car culture, especially when it comes to JDM cars, modified cars and performance vehicles. I had seen photos and videos online before, but seeing them in person was a completely different experience.
I have to admit, I am not someone who knows a lot about cars. My knowledge is probably limited to the cars I have seen in The Fast and the Furious and Need for Speed, haha! But even with my very limited car knowledge, I could definitely appreciate how much passion and attention to detail goes into these cars.
My partner’s friend owns a dark blue Nissan GT-R, R35 generation, and he took it out for a night meet while we were in Japan. Seeing the car in person and then seeing it at the night meet was such a cool experience. I might not have been able to tell you all the technical details about the car, but I could definitely tell that it was something special.
The atmosphere at the night car meet was something I really enjoyed. There were different types of cars, different modifications, and so much attention to detail. Everyone seemed to have their own style, and it was interesting to see how much personality people put into their cars.
It was also nice to see a side of Japan that you do not necessarily experience when visiting the usual tourist attractions.
When you think about Japan, you might immediately think about temples, cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, or sushi. But there is so much more to the country.
There is fashion, technology, gaming, cars, food, nightlife, and modern city culture. That variety is actually one of the reasons I enjoyed Japan so much. It felt like there was always something different to discover, and the night car meet was definitely one of those unexpected experiences that made my trip even more memorable.
Before visiting Japan and Korea, I was really curious about which country I would enjoy more. As this was my first trip to Japan, I was also looking forward to creating my own Japan travel guide for first timers based on my experience.
After experiencing both, I would personally choose Japan if I had to pick one for a longer holiday.
I really enjoyed Korea too. I especially liked the skincare, beauty shopping and the efficiency of the services there. If you are interested in skincare, cosmetics, fashion and beauty treatments, Korea is definitely a great destination.
For me, though, Japan offered more variety.
I felt like I could travel around Japan several more times and still have completely different experiences. Tokyo has the huge city atmosphere and endless shopping. Kyoto has traditional culture, temples and beautiful gardens. Osaka has amazing food and entertainment. Nara has its deer, temples and history. Then you have Mount Fuji, Hakone and so many other places that I still have not explored.
There are also so many day trips you can take from the major cities.
That is probably the biggest reason Japan won for me. I never felt like I was running out of things to do.
I can see myself returning to Korea for skincare, beauty shopping and other specific experiences, but Japan feels like somewhere I could return to again and again simply because there is still so much more to see.
Of course, this is completely based on my own travel experience. Everyone travels differently, so my favourite country might not necessarily be yours.
One of the experiences I was really looking forward to was seeing Mount Fuji and wearing a traditional Japanese kimono.
There was something really special about getting dressed in a kimono and experiencing a small part of Japanese culture for myself.
From choosing the colours and patterns to getting everything styled properly, the whole experience felt very different from my usual travel outfits.
And then there was Mount Fuji.
Seeing Mount Fuji in person was one of those moments where you just stop for a second and take it all in. It is one thing to see it in photographs, but actually standing there and seeing it with your own eyes feels completely different.
Wearing a kimono made the experience even more memorable, especially because I was able to take photos and enjoy the surroundings at the same time.
I will say that walking around in a kimono is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. It is definitely not the outfit I would choose for a full day of walking around Tokyo.
But for the experience, the culture and the photographs, I absolutely loved it.
If you are visiting Japan for the first time, I would definitely recommend trying a kimono experience at least once.
Another thing I quickly discovered was that Japan is a dream for anyone who enjoys shopping.
There is everything from luxury shopping and Japanese fashion to beauty products, souvenirs and little things that you probably did not even know you wanted until you saw them.
I really enjoyed exploring areas such as Ginza, Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando and Shinjuku. Each area has its own personality, so even when you are not specifically looking for something to buy, there is always something interesting to see.
One of my little shopping highlights was buying my first pair of Onitsuka Tiger in Japan. I had wanted a pair for a while, so getting my first pair while I was actually in Japan made it feel even more special.
Another surprise for me was coming across a G Star RAW physical store in Shinjuku. I honestly did not expect to see one there, so of course, I had to go in and have a look. And yes, I ended up doing a little more shopping than I had planned!
If you enjoy shopping, I would definitely recommend spending some time in Shinjuku and Shibuya. There are so many shopping malls, department stores, fashion stores, beauty shops and smaller boutiques around these areas. You can easily spend hours walking around and still find something new.
For me, shopping is also about experiencing the culture. I enjoy looking at local brands, seeing what people are wearing and discovering products that I would not normally find back home.
Japan definitely gave me plenty of opportunities to do that, and I definitely came home with a few more shopping bags than I expected!
Without a doubt, yes, maybe around December to see the snow. My first trip to Japan made me realise how much more there is to see.I went there thinking I would experience Japan, but I came home feeling like I had only seen a small part of it.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Mount Fuji all felt completely different from one another. Then there were the unexpected experiences, from discovering new food to seeing Japanese car culture at night and simply walking around and exploring.
That is what I love about travelling. You can plan your itinerary, make a list of places you want to visit and save hundreds of recommendations, but some of your favourite memories will still come from the things you did not plan.
Japan gave me a little bit of everything I enjoy. Beautiful places, interesting culture, shopping, food, photography, city life and experiences that I had never tried before.
And now that I have been to Japan once, I already know there are so many more places I want to visit. So, would I choose Japan again? Absolutely. Japan wins for me!
Next time, I would love to visit Japan in December and experience the snow, perhaps in Hokkaido or Nagano. I would also love to explore a completely different side of Japan by visiting one of its beautiful islands or beach destinations, such as Okinawa, Ishigaki Island, or Miyakojima. It would be nice to experience Japan in a completely different season and see what the country feels like beyond the cities and cultural sites.
If you are planning your first trip to Japan, I hope sharing my experience helps you with your own travel plans. And if you have already been to Japan, I would love to know what your favourite place or experience was. Maybe I will add it to my list for my next trip!
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