I am a french student who needed to go in a foreign country for one month. I choose Japan and this are reasons why.

Why did I choose Japan?

I discovered Japan with mangas and animes. I read and watched a lot of them. I’m a real fan of Hayao Myasaki movies. I discovered environment, life in Japan and some strange things for us European like Maid Cafe. This gave me a first a impress. Then I wanted to know more about the culture so I watched many reports on Youtube.
Finally, one of my friends follows many Japanese news and likes to talk about it.
That’s why we decided to visit Japan together. The Click was thanks to our friends who went there in April 2016 and said when they came back

That was the most fabulous trip we did.

So we eventually decided to go to Japan. We booked tickets to Tokyo Airport, the 2 may 2016 for one month in June.
Our trip wasn’t very prepared. For hostel we booked on hostelworld, because we can compare simply and that was rather cheap. Youth hostel for us, were also important because we wanted to meet new people. We just bought first 5 nights. But we had planned to book more nights at different places in Japan.

First day at Tokyo

Good morning Tokyo

We arrived in Tokyo the morning (7:50 am). We didn’t sleep as much but with the euphory, we didn’t feel tired. I remember, we were so happy to discover the japan airport. We started by withdraw some yens at an ATM. We were a bit lost to join our destination so we ask in a information point. We bought tickets directly to the driver. Then for about one hour, we were on the ride to Tokyo Station.

When the bus stopped, we were really lost into the wild city. Because all signs were in japanese and we didn’t know how to find the subway. My friend knows simple phrases in japanese, so he tried to ask to a police officer "where is the station?" but it wasn’t very successful. With our huge luggage we hopefully found quickly the station. But it was just one more step done.

This time we needed to buy a card. There are two different cards for taking the subway. So we asked to different people which one we need to take and how to join our station Nishiarai, it was very complicated to exchange with them. They try to speak english but it’s not easy for them. With a bit of effort, we finally were on the good direction.

Last step was to find our hostel. We were just looking a map. Then an old man tried to help us. But sadly he didn’t understand an english word. A young woman seeing us in trouble, helped us, she knew where the hostel was. She accompanied to the front of the hostel with smile. It’s very common for japanese to help each other. One day a woman lose some coins in the subway, then all people around started to pick them up and gave back to the woman. That was very suprising! We also heard that a man lost his bag. He retrieved it thanks to a japanese guy who gave it him back. Japanese people explained us that if you loose something, you don’t need to worry, you can just ask to police and you retrieve your business.

Finally we were arrived. It was a very good hostel (emblem hostel) just as internet pictures. Nice staff, very clean, cheap and with breakfast included. Above all we were near with subway to the mostly known points of interests.

Midday, stomach growls

It was time to eat, we just looked around and finally found a popular japanese restaurant by walking.

It was very good except the meat, and the pick vegetables which were too salty. But Pick vegetables are the same in each japanese restaurant. It’s just a japanese taste which I dislike. It was very cheap about $6. Probably the most price quality restaurant we did.

Afternoon at Kita Senju

The afternoon, on the advice of a hostel member staff we visited the Kita Senju Bridge. It is often appears in mangas and dramas. It’s very peaceful placewhere you can practise sports or just relax.

Before to sleep

The night we went to Ueno. We started by visit some shops like Yamashiroya. Inside you find a lot of animes toys.

We continued to stroll on the streets. There are pachinkos (japanese casinos) everywhere which are very noisy when doors open. What is was shocking me it's posters. Instead of traditional sexy girls to bait players, it was decorated with a lot of animes pictures.

Finally we crossed many “salaryman” (white-collar workers) which ate and drink beer after their work. We didn’t go to the pub this day but we came back some days later. We ate ramens in a little restaurant where you order in a machine. We were thirty and we were glad to drink fresh unlimited tea (very common). Badly, I haven't take picture.

I hope you enjoy reading me. Don't forget to follow me, if you want to read more about my japan travel.