Japan has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. and is continuing. It has an interesting dynamic, mixing ancient culture with the newest technological innovations. The 2020 summer Olympics were supposed be held in Japan; however, it was delayed due to Covid-19. So, I decided to talk about Japan today, because it is on my bucket list of countries to visit, and hopefully once Covid-19 is over, people can visit for the Olympic games.  

Tokyo 

Well of course almost everybody knows the high-tech city of Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan. It is known for its advanced technology and is one of the most populated cities in the world. It is known for its amazing food and Michelin star chiefs, like Kanda. When in Tokyo, visit the iconic Tokyo Tower, which is featured in many movies. You can also stop by one of the most popular and recognizable temples in Japan, the Sensō-ji. Tokyo is also home to the busiest street crossing in the world, the Shibuya crossing. Tokyo is also known for its fashion. The streets are filled with high end fashion, and the streets are also filled with local goods. And for the night, you can stay in one of the famous capsule hotels, which are small little tubes where people sleep, which are much more affordable and sometimes even more luxurious than hotels.  

Shibuya Crossing

Osaka 

To taking a break from the bustling city of Tokyo, you can visit Osaka which is still large, but not nearly as big as Tokyo. It is known for its lush greenery, natural attractions, historical attraction, old Shinto shrines and temples. When in Osaka, visit the Tsuyuten shrine, which is a famous Shinto which is visited by lovers for good luck. You can also visit the Osaka Castle, an ancient castle, which is now a tourist attraction and museum. You can also visit Daisen park, which is famous for its calm gardens and tea house. Here, you can try some famous Japanese Green Tea, a local delicacy and tourist must have.  

Osaka Castle

Honshu 

This city is even smaller than Osaka, and not as popular as Osaka or Kyoto, however, I had to include it because it contains my favorite attraction in Japan that I have always wanted to visit. This is where Mount Fuji is located, which is the highest volcano in Japan and the second highest volcano in all of Asia. Is so high that the peak is covered in snow all year round. It is so important to the Japanese people that UNESCO World Heritage site June 22nd, 2013. There are many different paths to the top of the mountain, and I have personally always wanted to climb to the top. 

Mount Fuji

All in all, Japan is a wonderful, with the unique overlapping ancient cultured and technology. It contains many famous attractions and some of the best food in the world. I only talked about three cities; however, you can easily spend months visiting all of Japan. I highly recommend Japan for someone who wants to witness a country with a unique culture and wants to step up their comfort zone, since it is so different from the United States. So, I hope tourists will be allowed back into Japan soon, so we can experience firsthand, the beauty of Japan.  

Traveling to the different country can be very daunting, especially if you don’t speak the language. A language barrier can be something that not many people know how to overcome, however, it should deter you from traveling to a country. It can seem very intimidating at first, but I’m here to help. Here are a few tips and tricks for when you’re traveling to a country that does not speak a language you know. 

Prepare ahead 

Now I know it is completely impossible to pick up a language in a week or month before you plan on going on your trip. But you can make your trip a little bit easier by learning a few basic phrases and words in the language of the country that you’re going to visit. Learn how to say “hello,” “yes,” “no,” “Do you speak English?” “What’s your name?” or other simple phrases. This will make your trip so much easier. This will also make it easier for natives to understand you, and they will definitely appreciate the added effort. 

These are common apps that will help you learn basic phrases in a certain language.

Translation Apps/Books  

Translation apps and books are a great resource to have with you. Apps are a great way to communicate, and you can use audio recording to directly speak into them rather than typing out long phrases. However, there could be a problem with the translation, and you can get the wrong translation, which is especially common with Google Translate. There could also be a problem with cell service in the country you going to. A translation book could easily solve the cell service problem; however, it can be inconvenient going through a large book and looking up each individual word. These are helpful backup tools that can help you; however, you should not rely solely on an app or book. Make sure to prepare ahead, and you can carry a book to ease you nerves.  

Carry Important Documents and Addresses  

Now sometimes even with preparing ahead and translation apps, it can be difficult to speak to the locals. So, a great way to help in that kind of situation is to carry important documentations. I highly recommend you always carry your passport as well as travel insurance. It’s also very important that you keep a document with all the locations you will be visiting as well as their addresses. This will help you if you will be relying on public transportation or a taxi.  

All in all, traveling can be a bit daunting if you don’t know the language, but it is not impossible. With the world globalizing, there are more and more English speakers in foreign countries. So, don’t let the language barrier deter you from traveling because it is very easy to overcome. So, have fun, stay safe and step out of your comfort zone. 

Many countries have signs that include multiple languages, such as this sign from Canada, which includes and English and French Translation.

These past couple of posts I have mainly been talking about traveling abroad. I highly recommend traveling, however, traveling to all these wonderful places can be quite expensive. So, for this post I am going to be talking about how to travel rather than where to travel. 

Now there are many factors that make traveling expensive, such as transportation, accommodations, meals, spending money and more. Some of these costs are inevitable, such as airfare, however there are ways to reduce the other costs. One very popular way to reduce the costs of traveling that has been rising in popularity these days, especially among young college students, is backpacking. 

Many of us have probably heard the word being thrown around, but what exactly is backpacking? Well, backpacking is basically when one travels but everything that they take with them while traveling fits in a backpack. Now you might be thinking, how does carrying a backpack really help you save money and make traveling affordable? Well, backpacking emphasizes minimalism, since everything you take with you is carried on your back. This idea of minimalism is further applied to other aspects of traveling. 

An example of what’s in a travel backpack.

There are many ways backpackers will apply minimalism to their trips. For instance, when looking for accommodations, backpackers will look for the bare minimum and cheapest housing that balances comfort with affordability. This includes staying in hostels or staying in a homestay with families where it’s cheaper, and you also get to meet new people. Backpacking also emphasizes community and local culture, because they interact with locals more than traditional tourists. For example, backpackers will try to eat street food and local cuisine the most, since it is the cheapest. Local cuisine is relatively cheap compared to the common touristy restaurants you normally will see. So, you get to eat authentic food and help local businesses.  

A typical travel hostel.

Another and in my opinion the best part about backpacking is the emphasis on community. You get the opportunity to create a real connection with the locals because you are experiencing their culture, and you are interacting with them more. You also get to make so many friends, since backpackers seek accommodations in social areas, such as hostels. This builds a community, which I believe is a positive way to travel because not only is it affordable, but it makes traveling even more memorable. Backpacking also allows you to go to more remote places, since everything you need is carried on your back. This opens you up to millions of possibilities. It also removes the materialistic aspect of traveling so you can focus on making memories. 

All in all, I highly recommend backpacking, especially if you want to save money, meet new people, get out of your comfort zone and make amazing memories. In general traveling is wonderful, and if the cost of traveling is deterring you from traveling, then definitely think about backpacking your next adventure!