Japan

Japan has been on my bucket list for years. Its a long bucket list and when I tried to figure out where I was travelling in 2025 at the top of the list were Namibia, Argentina, W. Australia & Japan. Japan had the best climate for the month of April so decided it was time. One big item I wanted to see was the cherry blossoms in bloom and although I did not know it during the planning, Expo2025 (known as the world’s fair in USA) was opening in Osaka in April (13th). Turns out Japan is a top destination for world travelers in 2025.

So, my trip was confined to the main island of it Honshu. Honshu is the largest of Japan’s 4 main islands and has the majority of the 124.5 million Japanese. It’s considered the main island of Japan and is home to many significant cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as the iconic Mount Fuji. Honshu is a mountainous island with a diverse landscape, ranging from coastal plains to the Japanese Alps. 

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It’s larger than Britain and is the 7th largest island in the world. Honshu is a northeast-southwest arc, stretching about 800 miles (1,287 km) in length with has a coastline of 6,266 miles (10,084 km).   

I took advantage of Japan’s incredible bullet train (Shinkansen) system. Starting with a few days in Tokyo, 3 days in Kyoto, 4 days in Osaka, 1-day turnaround to Hiroshima and then a return trip for 3 days in Tokyo that included a 1-day turnaround to Mount Fuji.

Game Centers

Here are 2 game center videos, or (amusement) arcades. This one is crowded with players while this one is almost empty. The Japanese are addicted to gaming machines (incl. Pachinko) which hold a variety of game machines and experiences designed to entertain. Claw machines are very popular – they are known for their diverse prizes, which can include stuffed animals, action figures, and even practical items like handheld vacuums or pancake makers. In large cities game centers span several floors, each floor categorized by game genre. You pay a few yen and you win cheap prizes but don’t confuse this with gambling because gambling is illegal in Japan (although they plan to build Japan’s first casino on the island where EXPO2025 is constructed after the event is completed.

Shopping

Shopping is a whole different experience in Japan. I am really not the right person to describe this kind of shopping because I go to a store with a list and stick to the list – well, maybe buy something that’s not on the list. Shopping is a national past time and considered entertainment. There are so many places to shop – most stores have a small footprint but are crammed with thousands of items.

An interesting Japanese tradition is to wave goodbye to customers. The custom began during the early days of train travel in Japan – wave to the departing passenger until the train completely disappears on the horizon. So, that tradition has spread to shoppers – I noticed when I acted friendly they followed that tradition when I departed the store. Check out this video of sales people at a shop where I purchased green tea for my pal, Mark Hoffman.

Here are places you can buy stuff (from Wiki which forgot to mention flea markets):

Tips for Shopping in Japan:

Souvenirs: Consider traditional items like kimono, yukata, fans, and Maneki Neko (lucky cat). 

Etiquette: Shopping etiquette, such as lining up to enter stores, not eating or drinking inside, and paying with cash on a tray. 

Bargaining: Generally, bargaining is not common in Japan. 

Tips: Tipping is not customary in Japan. 

Packaging: Avoid removing packaging before purchasing items. 

Covered Shopping Promenades

Japanese covered shopping streets (which I call “promenades), known as shotengai, are a unique part of the Japan’s culture, offering a mix of local shops, restaurants, and entertainment. These tiled pedestrian-friendly streets are typically covered by a roof, providing shelter from rain and sun, making them ideal for exploring regardless of the weather without any motor traffic.

Check out this video of a shotengai in Kyoto that is many blocks in length. It is typical of covered promenades in every city. One in Osaka is said to be the longest in Japan, stretching for 2.6 kilometers, with a wide array of shops. 

Accommodation

Upon arrival in Tokyo I stayed in the APA hotel in Shinjuku. By North American standards the room was tiny but discovered some hotel rooms in Japan are “standard size”. Checkout this video of that hotel room in Shinjuku.

Plumbing

The plumbing in the hotel is mentioned in the accommodation video above. The plumbing seems much more expensive than in North America.

Suica Card

This prepaid, rechargeable IC card is unique to Japan and is very handy — it’s actually Japan’s version of the European “Smart Card” where you charge the card with cash – for example, at the airport. Suica vending machines are everywhere. The beauty of the card is that it supplants need to carry around cash. It can be used almost everywhere on public transport instead of buying tickets for the Metro or Shinkansen, and as e-money at stores (think convenience stores) and restaurants.

Ohtani-Mania

Shohei Ohtani is a God in Japan – a store in Tokyo is dedicated to him, selling everything from pillows to iced tea (he is the face of Ito En unsweetened green tea). His image appears on countless product advertising and billboards. Shohei Ohtani’s stardom has elevated baseball’s profile in Japan, drawing huge crowds to see him play and Los Angeles Dodger paraphernalia is worn by millions of Japanese and endorsements worth $100 million annually in Japan.

For folks who do not follow sports’ stardom, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making it the largest contract in sports history.  This is a staggering sum to a guy who plays a game. Turns out the Los Angeles Dodgers got a bargain from commercial endorsements alone.

Lets look at the jolt to the LA economy. In 2024 more than 320,000 Japanese flocked to LA where 90% attended at least one Dodger game. That was before the World Series, which whipped Japan into a frenzy where 14.1 million viewed each game in Japan (to watch Ohtani) compared to 15.2 million in the USA.

Ohtani is not the only household name to make a huge commercial impact in Japan. There are countless famous sports stars commercially successful but one golfer, Hideki Matsuyama, a Masters Tournament winner in 2021 has his face splashed all over Japan.

Here’s a breakdown of some famous American celebrities and the Japanese products they’ve endorsed:

  • Actors:
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger: Energy drinks, cup noodles, TV networks, and more, according to Salon.com.
    • Harrison Ford: Kirin Beer.
    • Tommy Lee Jones: Boss Coffee.
    • Bruce Willis: SoftBank, Daihatsu, Subaru, and other products.
    • George Clooney: Kirin Beer.
    • Jodie Foster: Honda Civics.
    • Ben Stiller: Kirin Fruit Beer.
    • Richard Gere: Orangina (a sparkling orange beverage).
    • Brad Pitt: Roots Coffee, Softbank.
    • Keanu Reeves: Suntory whiskey.
    • Nicolas Cage: Sankyo Pachinko machines.
    • Leonardo DiCaprio: Credit cards and Jim Beam.
    • Cameron Diaz: SoftBank.
    • Sylvester Stallone: Bayern Sausages.
    • Audrey Hepburn: Wigs.
    • Natalie Portman: Lux Shampoo.
    • Sharon Stone: Vernal soaps and other luxury goods.
    • Kyle MacLachlan: Georgia Coffee (as his Twin Peaks character Dale Cooper).
    • Sean Connery: Suntory whiskey.
    • Eddie Murphy: Seibu Department Store.
    • Kevin Costner: Suntory Malt.
    • Gene Hackman: Assess toothpaste.
    • Mickey Rourke: Panasonic.
    • Charlie Sheen: Ito Ham.
    • Rob Lowe: Fuji Bank Credit Cards.
    • Sigourney Weaver: Suntory Whiskey.
    • Anne Hathaway: Lux Shampoo.
  • Musicians:
    • Britney Spears: Go Go Tea and Mikakuto Gummy Candies.
    • Madonna: Takara whiskey.
    • Sammy Davis Jr.: Suntory whiskey.
    • Miles Davis: Honda Scooters.
    • Bruno Mars: Don Don Donki (Japanese Supermarket Chain).