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Have you ever seen Japan on TV? Did you notice what is broadcasted as Japan is a bit different from what todays Japan really is? Are you fond of manga or anime? Do you enjoy karaoke? Do you like sushi? Have you thought about visiting Japan? Well, what do you say to having a 10-day-trip across Japan in an hour or so? You can visit major cities across Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, and Naha! The story itself is fictional, but it could work as a guide of the cities from a locals perspective. I hope youll see different aspects of todays Japan! Are you ready to explore Japan with our traveler, Katie?

Here is the itinerary ! Day 1: Leaving New York....3 Day 2: Arriving in Tokyo..3 Day 3: Tokyo...12 Day 4: Karuizawa (Nagano).........16 Day 5: Sapporo (Hokkaido)......17 Day 6: Osaka19 Day 7: Kyoto.22 Day 8: Kobe, Hiroshima, Hakata......24 Day 9: Naha (Okinawa)....26 Day 10: Tokyo to New York....26
*Hi! I cant believe its already been quite a while since I first published Japan Magic! The story reached more than 1K reads- thank you all for your support! This story is the 2nd edition of Japan Magic originally published on Sep 3, 2009. Ive revised/ updated some materials and also added some pictures to make the story more fun to read (thank you for your help a good friend of mine, who helped on condition of anonymity). Now that the Olympics is decided to be held in Tokyo in 2020 (yay Tokyo 2020!), and I hope more and more people will become interested in visiting Japan- and I hope this story will give you a feel how it is like to travel Japan, a truly beautiful country. I hope this edition will be even more fun to read for our new and revisiting readers! See you soon in Japan!

Prologue
Japan is an interesting country. It is indeed still a mysterious country. It is a country where energetic cities of Tokyo coexist with traditional towns of Kyoto. What is shown on TV is only partial aspects of todays Japan, and the best way to explore Japan is to actually visit the country. But first, why not travel with Katie across Japan with this story? Katie will literally travel across Japan, from Hokkaido (North Japan) to Okinawa (South Japan). You dont have to spend actual 10 days and you can save your travel cost as well! Here is the brief background of Katie, our traveler. Katie, an American girl, has just graduated from university. She has never travelled abroad, and she loves her country. Although Katie herself does not look Japanese at all, her great-grandmother was Japanese. As the destination of her graduation trip, she has chosen the land of her greatgrandmothers. She wasnt a big fan of Japan with her worst at secondary school having been a huge fan of Japanese anime and whatnot, but she decided to go see her own roots. She went to a local travel agent, and arranged a 10-day-trip across Japan. As she didnt want to go on a group tour, she decided to travel the country by herself. She is a bit worried because she cannot speak Japanese. She bought a handbook of Travel Japanese, but she gave up very soon because the sounds were too unfamiliar. She will visit the following prefectures of Japan: Tokyo, Nagano, Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. Please note that the overall story is fictional. If you decide to visit Japan (which I hope you will sometime soon!), please consult your travel agent, and make sure to check flight/ train schedule etc! Also, names except for city names and historical sites are fictional. Any correspondence is just coincidence. All the photos used in the book are taken by the author or the friend I mentioned above. Bon voyage!
Arashiyama, Kyoto

Day 1 and Day 2: New York to Tokyo (Stay @Tokyo)

Katie Shed left made her apartment she in in had her

Tokyo and Mt.Fuji

Manhattan early in the morning. sure everything necessary

suitcase and backpack. She had 2 hours of waiting time at the airport, so decided to read the guidebook shed bought the week before. Here are some of the things she learned from the guidebook. People in Japan speak Japanese, whose roots are still unknown. Really? Katie was surprised. Isnt it related to Chinese? The guidebook suggested an answer. As both Japan and China use Chinese characters, they are sometimes mistaken as sister languages. The reason both languages similar characters is because Japan imported Chinese characters, or kanji, from China more than 1000 years ago. Japan covers only about 380,000 km2 of the Far East. It is an archipelago very prone to earthquakes. This small country is home to over 120,000,000 people. Wow, its overpopulated Katie thought. And earthquakes! Hope I dont have to experience one. Japan has very different landscape depending on the area. Id love to see the difference was the Katies comment. Japanese food is worth trying. There are unfamiliar foods, yet their delicate taste will color your visit to Japan. Hmm I hope I wont have a stomachache! Flight to Narita, please proceed to Gate 22. Oh, already time? Katies seat was 30A, a window seat. The aisle seat next to her was occupied by a (rather good looking!) young Japanese man. Hi! he said. Hi Katie replied in a quiet voice, already becoming a bit cautious about him. She didnt really like strangers who casually initiate a conversation. First time to Japan? His English had a slight Japanese accent. Yeah. Katie tried to make a frowning face. Are you gonna stay in Tokyo?

For a few days, replied Katie and started to read the guidebook so that she didnt have to continue conversation. The plane finally took off. It would be Katies first time experience to travel over the Pacific Ocean. When the seatbelt sign was turned off, cabin attendants started to offer drinks and lunch. Hi, would you like to have beef teriyaki, tomato pasta, or fried fish? Id like to have pasta, thank you. Katie didnt like fish nor teriyaki sauce. What would you like to have for drink? Just some water please. Here you are. Thank you. The Japanese man ordered beef teriyaki and Japanese tea. When they both started to eat, the man talked to Katie again. You know, I was studying at a university in New York for a year. Really? I was an exchange student from a Japanese university. Are you going back? Yeah, Ive got half a year to go. What are you studying? Literature. Suddenly, Katie started to hold familiarity to the Japanese man, or should she say, a Japanese student. Katies major at university was American literature, and after all, if people have the same major, conversation usually flows naturally. English literature? Katie asked. Japanese. Why were you studying abroad then? Im interested in comparison of Japanese literature with American literature. When are you graduating? Next March. Next March? Thats unusual time of the year. Compared to American schools, yes. But in Japan, schools start in April. Really. Katie was thinking, Ive never heard of schools staring in April.

How long are you gonna stay in Japan? He asked. About 10 days. Where are you going? Im gonna travel across Japan. Why did you choose Japan as your holiday destination? Well, Japan is where my ancestors came from. Wow, then youll have great experience in Japan! Im hoping to. They continued to talk throughout the lunchtime. The student told Katie that his name is Takeo and he lives in the suburb of Tokyo. She gave him the itinerary of her travel, and he offered her to take her around Tokyo. Katie answered that she wasnt sure about it, as she had not trusted him yet. Takeo gave her his phone number, and told her that she could call him when she needs help. Katie thanked him, and as the lights went off in the plane, they decided to take some sleep. When the lights of the plane were turned on, the plane was already approaching Japan. As Japan is located West to the USA, and you have to fly over the international time line, you lose time when you fly to Japan. So, it was already at noon in Japan though Katie had left NY at noon the day before. Katie ate her second lunch, and as Takeo also woke up, they talked some more. Takeo told her that his mother would come and pick him up at the airport, and asked her if she wanted his mother to drive her to her first hotel. Katie thanked him but declined the offer, as she had already booked a ticket of Narita Express. Katie asked Takeo if Narita Express really is an express train, as it takes nearly an hour to central Tokyo. Katie was surprised to learn that Narita Airport is actually in a prefecture next to Tokyo called Chiba. The plane landed safely at Narita International Airport at around 1:30 Japan time on August 24. When she got off the plane, Katie was surprised by the humidity of Japanese summer. Japanese summer is always hot and humid. Takeo, who was walking together, told her. They went through quarantine together. They waved good-bye at the passport control, as Takeo was a holder of Japanese passport and Katie was not.
Tokyo seen from Tokyo Skytree

Well, enjoy your trip! See you around! There was a long line at the passport control. As the entrance policy became stricter last year, each person took some time to complete the process. Hello Hello, welcome to Japan. Katie was only going to stay in Japan for a short period of time, so she didnt have much trouble. She was of course asked for finger prints and a photo, but she didnt mind that at all. After all, their policy is similar to that of USAs. When Katie reached the baggage claim, her suitcase was already being circulated. She grabbed her suitcase and went through the custom. The custom officer didnt check her suitcase, and let her pass with a smile. Takeo seemed to have already left the airport, and she wasnt able to find him. Katie looked for a sign saying Narita Express. Thankfully, there were English signs all over the place along with Korean and Chinese signs. She soon found the sign and went after it. The Narita Express was a comfortable train going to Tokyo Station and other major stations around it. Katie had booked a hotel in a place called Shinjuku, so it was about 80 minute ride from the airport. She soon started to see skyscrapers outside of the window. The next stop is Shinjuku. Passengers going to please change trains here at Shinjuku station. Oh, this is where I have to get off. Katie grabbed her suitcase and landed in the central Tokyo area. When she got off, she was amazed to see so many people walking around the station in the middle of the afternoon. Shinjuku is one of the busiest areas of Tokyo, where headquarters of Japanese leading companies gather around. Shinjuku station is one of the biggest stations in Tokyo, and nearly 20 different train lines stop at the station. There are more than 6 different exits from the station, and it is very easy to get lost, even for Japanese tourists. Therefore, it was no surprise Katie couldnt find her way. She made up her mind and approached a station staff. Excuse me, she said. Do nasai mashitaka? the reply was in Japanese. She decided that he had just greeted her, and continued. I need to get to this hotel called.... As she was not sure how to pronounce the name of the hotel, she decided to show him the reservation form she had. The man seemed to have

understood her question. Soredeshitara, nishiguchi o dete hidarini. Katie thought, This is going nothing, so she decided to rely on gesture. I dont understand Japanese. Could you draw me a map? She mover her right index finger over her left hand. Sadly, the man started to have a puzzled look and went into his office. Sighing, Katie left the place to find somebody who can help her. However, someone soon caught up with her, it was a different station staff. Sorry, he does not understand English. He told me you were looking for Hotel. This man had a strong Japanese accent, pronouncing the whole sentence in a flat tone. Katie managed to understand what he said and replied, Thank you. I dont understand Japanese. I just arrived in Tokyo, and Im lost in this big station. Its easy to get lost at Shinjuku station, the staff chuckled merrily. I need to get to my hotel. Yes, yes. Please exit from West Exit and turn left. With direction being made clear, Katie thanked him and headed for her hotel. She soon found her hotel. The hotel was about 5 minute walk from the station. Nice and convenient, she thought. She entered the gate, and a porter ran to her and helped her with the heavy suitcase. She went to the check-in counter. A friendly lady helped her fill in necessary documents and gave her a card key. Her fluency in English was actually surprising to Katie. Where did you learn to speak like that? Katie couldnt help asking. I lived in the states for a while she winked at her. I see. Breakfast will be served in the dining room from 6:30. OK. Your luggage will be delivered to your room. Thanks. If you need any help, your concierge will be glad to help you. Thanks. Or, you can just come down and find me, she added with a kind smile. That would be great. I hope youll have a pleasant stay at our hotel. Katie waved see-you-later to her, and took a lift to 12th floor. Her room, 1225 was a cozy

Harajuku, Tokyo

room with a single bed. She would be staying at this hotel for 3 nights before taking a flight to Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan. The ported soon came to her room and put her suitcase onto the luggage holder. Thank you, she handed him 2 dollars, as she hadnt exchange money yet. Arigato gozaimasu. The porter gave her a bow, and left.

As it was around 4:30, Katie decided to go for a walk. She also wanted to ask the kind lady at the counter things to see in Tokyo. So, she unpacked her stuff a bit, and left her room. Luckily, the lady was still at the front. Hi! May I ask a few questions? Of course. How can I help you? I need to exchange dollars for yen. Where should I go? Oh, there is a bank nearby. Their rate is good, too. Can I use my credit card in most places? Will you travel outside of Tokyo, too? Yes, I will. Well, most stores and restaurants in Tokyo accept credit cards, but it is a good idea to some have cash at hand, especially when you travel around. Is Tokyo a safe place? It is. There are some pick-pockets, but except for that, you dont really have to worry. Just stay away from dark places at night time. Also, there are certain areas that you should be aware of. And she indicated certain areas on the map she showed Katie. Thanks. Im spending rest of the day and tomorrow in the Tokyo area. Any recommendations? Well, theres a lot to see in Tokyo. Why dont you walk around Shinjuku tonight? You could take a tour around Tokyo tomorrow. I see. I will definitely wander around this area tonight. But I dont really like tour buses, so.

Have you got any friends in Tokyo? No. Then, the plane. Well, Katie said, There is one guy from the plane. He said he could take me around, but I dont really know him. Hmm. It will be easier to get around if you have a Japanese friend. Do you think its safe? Thats a difficult question. But Id say it will be OK. Just make sure you come back before it gets dark. Thanks, Ill think about that. Well, here is a map of Shinjuku, and this one is a map of the central Tokyo. Enjoy your evening! Thank you. Katie left the hotel and started to explore Shinjuku area. She decided to visit the East area first, as it was located on the opposite direction. Wow! This is what Ive seen on TV! In front of the East Exit of the station were busy crossings. And on the wall of one of the building was a large TV screen often shown as Tokyo. She found a bank nearby and exchange some of her US dollars with Japanese yen. 1US dollar corresponds to about 100 yen. Its a good idea to think about yen as cents, the clerk at the bank told her. When Katie came out of the bank, she met many business people walking toward the station. The office hours must have finished, she thought. As it was hard to resist the flow of people, Katie went back to the station. She found a department store directly connected to the station. As she was getting hungry, so she decided to go to the restaurant floor. The direction was in Japanese, but as there were photos of dishes on the direction, she could easily tell where she should be heading. Katie remembered about Takeo, who she met in
Odaiba, Tokyoo

At the restaurant floor, she found cuisine of various countries. There was French food, Italian food, American food, Hawaiian food, Chinese food, Korean food, and of course, Japanese food. Its so international though there arent many non-Japanese, Katie thought. She went into and American-buffet, as she was interested in what Japanese people regard as American food. As she expected, there were hamburgers and pizzas, and so on. But she also found some unfamiliar food and amused by that. It was her first time to try Japanese rice, or sticky rice as youd call it. Its kinda chewy, she thought. Overall, she had a good dinner, and paid 1800 yen for the food. At the cashier, she paid 2000 yen2 sheets of bluish currencyand left. But she was surprised when the waiter caught up with her and gave her 200 yen change. No, no, thats for you, Katie told him. The waiter looked a bit puzzled, and said, Otsuri desuga. Katie decided to be direct, and said, Its tip. And realization came to the waiters face, and he started to try to speak in English. Thank you. But Japan, tipping, no. It your change. Hah? You no need tip in Japan. Oh, you mean I dont have to tip in Japan. Yes, yes. Oh, thanks for letting me know that. I never thought there are countries without the custom. Anyway, this time, that 200 yen is yours, and the waiter smiled and thanked her, Arigato gozaimasu. Mata no okoshi o omachishite orimasu. Katie explored the department stores for some time. There were shops she had seen a lot back in her country. Irasshai mase. Whenever she walked past a store, the attendants said to her, so it didnt take her long to realize that Irasshai mase means Welcome to our store. Katie decided to have a look at a stationary store and was very pleased to find some pretty postcards of Japan. This is Tokyo. This is Mt. Fuji. This is Osaka. This is Kyoto. The shop attendant explained to her. She bought some cards at the store, and left the department store happily. She walked around the area for another hour, and decided to call

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it a day. When she came back to her room, she was impressed by the beautiful views of Shinjuku at night time. She was very sleepy, yet she made up her mind to call Takeo. Shinjuku Station was large enough for her to get lost, so she would definitely get lost in Tokyo area if there wasnt anybody to help her. I only have a day in Tokyo, and I wanna make most of it. So this cant be helped. She hoped that Takeos mom wont pick up the phone. Hai, Mori desu. It was Takeos voice. Hey, Takeo, its me, Katie. Oh, its you! Hows it going? Great. I walked around Shinjuku area. Sounds good. Didnt you get lost? Yeah, at the station. Do you need a tour guide then? I was getting there. Would you mind showing me around Tokyo tomorrow? Thats a great idea. Where do you wanna go? No idea. Totally up to you. OK, then I will come and pick you up tomorrow morning. Where are you staying? Katie told Takeo where shes staying and they decided to meet at 8:30 next morning. Good night now. See you tomorrow. He hanged up. Katie thought, well, Im gonna have a wonderful day tomorrow. She didnt want to admit but she wasnt sure which is priorityseeing Tokyo or seeing Takeo. She took a shower, asked for a morning call, and turned off the lights. Good night, Tokyo.
Tokyu plaza, Harajuku

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Day3: Tokyo (Stay @Tokyo)

She was woken up by the morning call at 6:45. She prepared herself, and went down for breakfast. English breakfast, or Japanese breakfast? She took English one as she wasnt yet sure about Japanese food. Takeo was already there when she went downstairs. He was wearing a cool vest over his T-shirt and looked very cool. Hey there! Did you sleep well? Yes, thanks. Wow, you look very pretty today. Takeo had a good point, as Katie was wearing a cute mini-skirt compared to the jeans shed been wearing the day before. Thanks. Where are we going? Well, Im gonna take you around Tokyo in one day! So they left the hotel. Their first stop was Asakusa. There Katie saw Sensouji, which is also famous on TV. I didnt know this place is in Tokyo! Katie commented. Yeah. Its kinda interesting that traditional stuff like this are located between skyscrapers. She asked him to take a photo of her in front of the famous red lantern at the gate of the temple. Well, I dont really come to shrines or temples, but youll see a lot of them around Japan. You know, when you travel to European countries, you get to see loads of churches. Same thing. Katie had never visited Europe, but decided to agree. Their next stop was Tokyo Skytree. The 634m tower which opened to public in 2012. It is a conspicuous structure in the middle of Tokyo. Tokyo now has two tall towers! Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. They went up to the observatory and enjoyed the beautiful view of Tokyo.
Asakusa

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The next stop was at the Kokyo, or the emperors palace.

Tokyo Skytree

You cant enter the actual area, but this bridge at the front is quite famous, Takeo said. It was a beautiful area with lots of green in the very heart of Tokyo. I didnt know you still have emperor. Well, he is symbolic according to the constitution. He doesnt have political power. I see. They took a train again and got off at the Shibuya station. It was already lunchtime, so they had lunch at an Italian restaurant. After that, Takeo took her a walk from Shibuya to

Aoyama and Omotesando, and then to Harajuku. These are basically shopping areas. They are located very close to each other, but they have different faces. Shibuya is an office area with major department stores. The famous diamond cross is in Shibuya. There are about 5 crossings and the traffic signal turn green at the same time, so you can go to whichever street you want to cross to. It is a bit tricky, but Japanese people surprisingly walk across the street without bumping into others heading toward other directions. Aoyama and Omotesando are elegant areas with international boutiques. Expensive brand stores are lined up along the main street. Omotesando and Harajuku are actually next to each other. If you cross a street, you are already in Harajuku area. Harajuku, however, is a town for young people. Inexpensive fashion shops are clad together, and teenagers often hang out in this area. Katie walked around this area with Takeo, stopping now and then to take a look at shops. She was particularly interested in the toy shop located close to the intersection of Omotesando and Harajuku. She could see various Japanese cartoon characters including the world-famous kitten. There were cool robots as well. She bought some character goods

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there. She also enjoyed Takeshita-dori in Harajuku, and bought a cute dress there. It was only 1500 yen. They spent most of the afternoon in the area, so it was already around 6 oclock when they arrived at the Shinjuku station. Well, I hope you enjoyed Tokyo, Takeo said. Yes, it was a wonderful day. Thank you for taking me around. I enjoyed it a lot, too. Hey, its already 6. You wanna have dinner together? Well she remembered what the front lady had told her the day before. She had told her to come back before dark. But, as Katie judged Takeo as a good and cool guy, she agreed. Then, I will take you to a good restaurant. He took her to the East area. Along the street were bright lights of different colors. He took her into a Spanish restaurant. This is one of my favorite restaurant in Tokyo. They had a nice dinner staring from gazpacho and ending with paella and good dessert. They also had some drinks together. Takeo talked about his future plan, and Katie talked about hers, too. They left the restaurant at around 8:30. Takeo kindly paid for Katie. Hey, you wanna go and have another drink? Takeo offered. Katie was already quite sleepy, but thought she should agree as he had paid for her. He took her further among the neon signs and stopped in front of a fancy bar. He was about to open the door, when a group of young Japanese girls talked to them. One of them started to talk with, or argue with Takeo in rapid Japanese. Nani shiteruno. daredame. Datte koit katte. Another Japanese girl signaled Katie to come close to her and started to whisper in English. Hi, are you just visiting Japan? Yes, I am, Katie whispered back sensing urgency in her voice. Are you a friend of Takeo? I met him at the plane yesterday. He showed me around Tokyo today. OK, but listen, you shouldnt go into the bar. Its not good for you. Why? I go to the same university with Takeo, and he doesnt have good reputation, especially with girls. But. Just go, OK? Ill tell Takeo that youre exhausted and need to go to bed. Where are you

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staying? At the Hotel Koku. The girl waved at a taxi and told the driver something in Japanese which included the name of her hotel. She pushed Katie in. But what about Takeo? Dont worry about him. Hes busy arguing with his ex, just go. OK. Thanks. The taxi driver smiled at Katie, and in 5 minutes, she was in front of the hotel. She paid him 740 yen and thanked him. She went upstairs, wondering about Takeo. He looked a very good guy, showing her around Tokyo. She wasnt sure whether the girl was telling her the truth. Maybe, she just didnt want her to be around him. But she looked really serious, so Katie might have been saved from trouble. Well, she thought, At least I could enjoy Tokyo and get back here safely. She checked her itinerary and went to bed.

Tokyo Bigsite

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Day4 Karuizawa, Nagano (Stay@Tokyo)

She woke up at around 7 oclock. She didnt have breakfast at the hotel because she had booked a Nagano-shinkansen leaving Tokyo around 8:30. She was planning to visit Karuizawa, one of the major resorts in Nagano prefecture. She took Chuo Line to the Tokyo station, and got on a shinkansen, or bullet train there. Shinansen is rapid express system offered by JR, and their maximum speed is over 250 km per hour. Katie had breakfast on shinkansen, and enjoyed the landscape. When the train left busy areas of Tokyo, the landscapes gradually changed. She first saw some residential areas, and then rural areas where rice fields spread. Its gorgeous, she thought. It only took about an hour to the Karuizawa station. She went to a tourist office, and then went on a bus. She went to see a lava park near Mt. Asama. As the surrounding was was very green, the black stones of the lava park struck her eyes as very different. She went to see a volcano museum and was intrigued by the fact there are some active volcanoes across Japan. She then took a bus again, and went to see green areas of Karuizawa. She had acquired an English map of the area, so it wasnt very hard to find the beautiful cascade of Shiraito. She then had lunch at a French bistro nearby a lake. She tried Japanese ayu, a small fish, and surprised that she liked it. After lunch, she explored the central street of Karuizawa. She was happy to see wooden and woven artifacts of Japanese culture. Not many shop attendants there spoke English, but Katie managed to do some good shopping. She also had a look at a huge outlet center, and then took another bullet train back to Tokyo. She bought obento at the Karuizawa station and enjoyed it for dinner in the train. Obento is neatly packed Japanese meal, and you get fish, meat, vegetables, and rice in one box. She avoided octopus, but apart from it, she ate everything. It was around 8:00 when she got back to the hotel. As she was leaving for North Japan the next day, she repacked her suitcase and then went to bed.
The image of Karuizawa (the actual place: Mitaka, Tokyo)

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Day 5: Sapporo, Hokkaido (Stay@Sapporo)

Katie had to wake up early again. She quickly went downstairs and had breakfast. She tried Japanese breakfast for the first time, and she found it pretty pleasant. It consisted of white rice, miso soup, some boiled vegetables cooked with soy sauce, salmon, and tofu. She had tried miso soup before, but authentic miso soups was much thicker and more tasty. She checked-out before 8 oclock and hurried to Haneda Airport, where most domestic flights depart and arrive. She took two JR trains to Hamamatsu-cho, and then took a monorail to the airport. She made it to her plane to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. Hokkaido is the prefecture very north of Japan, and in winter, it attracts many skiers. In contrast to winter time, summer time is marked by its magnificent green environment, and the season attracts many mountain climbers. Katies plane landed at Chitose-airport at around 11oclock. She took a taxi to central Sapporo, and checked-in at a hotel located a few blocks away from the central street. The room wasnt ready yet, so she left her suitcase and decided to walk around. She had asked the concierge what she could do in the half day she got in Sapporo. He strongly suggested her to take a horse-drawn carriage so that she can look around the city. She liked the idea as there arent many occasions you can ride carriages. So, she went to the carriage station, and soon was on a big carriage of two stories. The carriage took her around important sites of Sapporo, and she enjoyed the views from her ride. There were modern buildings in Sapporo, but they were not as high as those in Tokyo. The streets were wider, and there were certainly less people. After the 40-minute-carriage ride, she went to a small restaurant and enjoyed local food. As farming is a large industry in Hokkaido, beef and cheese there were really good. Her favorite was deep-fried Camembert. She also had nice Sapporo beer there. After lunch, she went to see the factory of Sapporo beer. They showed her the process of making beer. She had never seen the raw materials of beer, so she found the factory intriguing. She then went to see central park of Sapporo. She looked at some photos from the winter festival held in the park. They were photos of snow statues, and she thought shed love to come back to Sapporo during winter. She also went to see a museum and learned about the Ainu, the indigenous people of North Japan. She had dinner at a local Izakaya, or casual bar restaurant. She talked with other Japanese people there. They only spoke English a bit, but they managed to communicate each other. One of them taught her easy Japanese, such as Konnichiwa or Arigato. Katie

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also tried Japanese sake. It tasted

This cute deer is from Nara

different as the ingredients are different from what she usually enjoys at home. It wasnt her favorite alcoholic drink, but conversation with other people enjoyed the drinks. She waved good-bye to them and went back to the hotel. She received her key, and went up to the room. Her suitcase was already there. As she was leaving for Osaka the morning next day, she didnt unpack and just took out necessary things for a night. Before she fell asleep, she was thinking about her great-grandmother. Katie had only seen her in photos. I wonder how it was like to leave all her friends and start a new life in a totally

different country, Katie thought. She must have missed things she had to leave behind. Hadnt she made a choice to cross the Pacific, I wouldnt be here. She felt a surge of thankfulness toward her great-grandmother coming over. When Katie finally fell asleep, she had both traces of tears and a smile on her face.

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Shinsekai, Osaka

Day 6: Osaka (Stay@Osaka)

Again, an early morning. The schedule becomes a bit tight if you try to travel across Japan in 10 days including your flight. Anyway, Katie checked out the hotel after enjoying Japanese breakfast again, and hurried to the airport. Her plane carried her from the North Japan to West Japan. As Tokyo is located in East Japan, it took her longer to fly from Sapporo to Osaka. She arrived at Itami Airport, or Osaka Airport. She took a monorail and changed to Hankyu line at the next station. She wasnt sure about her destination, but a

passer-by helped her. She got off the train at Umeda station, and found her hotel located right next to JR Osaka station. She asked the concierge where she can visit in the afternoon, and received an English map with helpful comments by the concierge. She had a quick lunch at a caf nearby, and headed for Dotonbori area. The concierge had said to her, Area around the Umeda and Osaka stations are called Kita area, and there are elegant shops and tall buildings. Area around Dotonbori, Namba and Shinsekai are called Minami area, and you can see older Osaka there. So Katie decided to go and see older districts of Osaka. She took a subway from Nishi-umeda and got off at Namba station. As it was a subway station, she wasnt sure at all which direction she should be heading. She asked the station staff, but none of them could communicate with her. She was at a loss, and then another passer-by stopped and helped her. He told her to try some Osaka food such as Okonomiyaki. Katie thanked him, thinking how many people so far have helped her get around. I didnt expect Japanese people would help foreigners like me this lot! but of course, Katie was glad they did so. She soon found out the right exit, and turned around a corner. And, there she was at the middle of Dotonbori area. There was a river, and along the river were many shops and restaurants with big mascots of various creautesblowfish, crab, octopus, and so on. It was a totally different area from what she had seen in Japan so far. She found the mascots a bit grotesque yet cute, and took some photos. Then she found a bridge and saw many Japanese people taking photos there. She thought that it must be a very famous bridge but

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wasnt really sure why. She concluded that the river is a famous one and started to take a photo. She then felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. It was a young Japanese man. Katie became very cautious as she had rather awkward experience with Takeo. But he pointed at her camera and then at a huge picture of an athlete facing the river. Oh! Katie said, Thanks, I didnt realize that picture is the popular thing. The man smiled and went away. She strolled Dotonbori area for some time. She tried a Takoyaki. There were two Japanese men baking and selling unfamiliar dumplings at a shop, and Katie asked them what they were. She used her newly acquired Japanese word, Nani? meaning What is it? Then one of them said Takoyaki. He then said Try! and gave her one. Katie had no idea what takoyaki is, but she accepted it. It turned out to be a dumpling with octopus in it. The dumpling part tasted very nice, but octopus part was chewy and tasted very unfamiliar. Katie thanked them, and walked away hurriedly. She thought, Well, it wasnt my favorite Japanese food. Katie then went to an area called American Village, where many vintage clothes shops gather around. She then walked to the Shinsaibashi station through Shinsaibashi shopping arcade. She took a subway back to the JR Osaka area, and had dinner at a Japanese noodle
Okonomiyaki is great too! Ah, I wasnt good at topping aonori

restaurant. She couldnt make up her mind, so she ordered both Udon and Soba. Udon turned out to be thick white noodles made

from flour, and Soba turned out to be thin brown noodles made from soba seeds. They were prepared in brown soup with some topping. Unlike its outlook, the noodles were delicious. She finished both bowls and the waitress looked a bit surprised. She went back to the hotel and asked how to get to Kyoto the next day. She didnt want to take a tour, but the concierge convinced her to be on an English-guided tour as there are so many spots to see in Kyoto. Its kinda tricky to see all the important sites in one day if youre not on a tour, he said to her. So, she chose an English-guided tour leaving from Osaka. Her room was a very large and comfortable one. It wasnt a suite, but beautiful paints

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were on the wall, and she could play out a very relaxing music. Sweet fragrance of rose filled the room. The lady at the front desk had winked her when he handed her the key. Katie enjoyed some Japanese TV programs before going to bed. She enjoyed some anime, and also some game programs. Game programs were kind of silly, with comedians doing stuff you could never imagine, but they were a lot of fun. She turned off the lights after an hour or so, saying Oyasumi or good-night to herself.

Kyoto is coming up next!

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Day 7: Kyoto (Stay@Osaka)

Katie had a nice English buffet breakfast at the hotel. At 9 oclock she went downstairs and a tour bus soon came and picked her up. As it was Saturday, there were quite a few passengers in the tour. The tour guide introduced herself and told them that she is a graduate student in

The Golden Pavilion

a local ladies university. It was only an hour drive to the first destination. Kyoto and Osaka are next to each other, so its very easy to access Kyoto from Osaka. Kyoto is a traditional town of Japan. Nara also preserves traditional architecture, yet Kyoto is more widely known. Historical sites are mostly temples. They look similar at first look, but each temple has different treasures and styles. The tour bus drove Katie and fellow passengers around Kyoto. She saw so many historical sites that she couldnt remember all of them. The Golden Pavilion was particularly impressive. As it was a clear day, the golden roof reflected on the pond, and the view was breath-taking. Sanju-sangendo memorable. was also had They

traditional lunch at a fancy restaurant in the center of Kyoto. Katie hesitated to east raw fist, or sashimi, but ventured to try some. She enjoyed the taste of Japanese food, but she also enjoyed the way dishes are
The garden of Sanju-sangen dou

decorated and prepared. The tour guide said, Traditionally,

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Japanese people enjoy food with their eyes first. After lunch, they went to see more temples. Katie also liked Byodoin in Uji. It is located outside of central Tokyo, yet its magnificent main temple is worth a visit. The tour guide took them on a walking tour around Arashiyama to conclude their visit to Tokyo. She told them that autumn in Arashiyama area is particularly beautiful, but is very crowded at the same time. Katie asked her photo taken on a Togetsu-kyo, a 155m bridge over Oi River. They saw some actors and actresses clad in traditional costume. They also enjoyed some Japanese sweet there. Katie was amazed by the delicate decoration on each piece of sweet. The sweets were mainly made of sticky rice and sweetened red beans. Some people didnt like it, but Katie loved it. She had seen rice cakes before in the USA, but she had refused to try it. Now that she was in Japan, she was surprised herself enjoying taste of Japan. They had some shopping time in Arashiyama, and Katie bought a Japanese fan and a cute Japanese doll. She also bought some Japanese sweets, which would last about a week. The tour bus dropped Katie at the hotel at around 6 oclock. As she was tired, she had dinner at the hotel and went to bed early. She was planning to visit three cities within a day on Day 8.
Arashiyama, Kyoto

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Day 8: Kobe (Hyogo), Hiroshima, and Hakata (Fukuoka) (Stay@ Hakata)

She left the hotel at around 8 oclock the next morning. express which She train took took to about an 30 Kobe,
Kobe port

minutes. Kobe area was again different. Kobe is known red for its tower beautiful and a harbor area, with a short port ship-shaped museum and a hotel. Katie walked down to the harbor area from the station. It took her about 25 minutes, but she could feel nice breeze from the sea. The harbor area was picturesque. As it was Sunday morning, there were hardly any people and she could take in the beauty of Kobe as much as she could. Katie thought, Kobe is again different from other cities I visited. I expected major cities to be more or less the same, but they arent indeed. She enjoyed the harbor, but then she had trouble. She needed to reach a place called Shin-kobe but she had no idea where it was. She had thought it should be near the port, but it turned out she was reading the map wrongly. There was a taxi parked nearby, so she approached the driver, whishing he could speak some English. Katie was lucky. The driver not only taught her how she can get to the station but also some sites around the station. According to him, there are Western-style buildings remaining from over 100 years ago. She wasnt sure if she wanted to Western-style houses but as she had some more time, she decided to follow this advice. She asked him to drive her there, as the buildings were located on a hill. It was about a 10-minute drive from the harbor area to the hilly area. The driver agreed to wait for her for 30 minutes and then to take her to the station. Katie enjoyed the Western houses, as they were slightly different from American traditional houses. She became fond of a Germanic style building with a weathercock on top. The guide at the entrance told her that the building is the symbol of Kitanothats the name of the area.

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Katie went back to the taxi, and he drove her to the station. She took out her wallet to pay him, but surprisingly, he declined. It was my pleasure to take you around, he said. But. Dont worry. It was a very boring morning, so. Thank you so much. You are welcome. Enjoy the rest of your trip! The driver then drove away, waving bye to Katie. Katies heart was filled with the warmness of the driver. Her image of Japan was now different from the one she had before. There is omotenashi spirit in Japan- to welcome visitors. Anyway, she took shinkansen from Shi-Kobe. She had a quick lunch on the train. She got off at the Hiroshima station, just to take a look at the a-bomb dome. It was something. She then hurried back to the station, and took another shinkansen to the Hakata station in Fukuoka prefecture. When she arrived at the station, it was already 4 oclock. She quickly checked-in at her hotel, and strolled around the city. It was another industrial city, yet the atmosphere felt different. Japanese people walking by seemed to be speaking in slightly different accent from people in Tokyo. Katie had noticed the difference in Osaka as well, but as this was her 8th day in Japan, her ears were becoming more sensitive to the sounds of Japanese. She managed to go into a museum or two, and also did some shopping. She decided to go into a bar restaurant like the one she enjoyed in Sapporo. She again enjoyed the local food and local sake. The local sake was quite different from what she had tried so far. Someone told her that they make sake from sweet potatoes. It was her first time, but by now, Katies tongue had become used to Japanese taste.

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Day 9: Naha, Okinawa (Stay@Naha)

Katie had to wake up early again to catch a plane to Okinawa, southern islands of Japan. From the windows of the plane, she could see ocean of emerald green and sapphire blue color. Her plane landed at Naha Airport. Naha is the capital city of Okinawa. As her hotel was right next to the airport, she quickly checked-in, and left for culture centers of Okinawa. She had heard that Okinawa is very different from other areas, and really wanted to experience the difference. She first visited a local museum and learned about history of Okinawa and its culture. She then went to what can be called Okinawa Village, where you can experience Okinawan culture by yourself. She tried some Okinawan food there. After lunch, she enjoyed watching Okinawan dance, accompanied by pleasant sound of Sansen, a characteristic string instrument of Okinawa. She decided to spend more time in the culture center, enjoying all the different artifacts of Okinawa. The houses within the village were built as traditional Okinawa houses, and Katie thought Okinawa indeed is quite different from other areas of Japan. She then took a bus again to a picturesque beach of Okinawa. The sand was white, the sea was blue. The sound of the waves filled the air. It was poetic. Some local kids were swimming, splashing water to create rainbow. She wished she could stay her longer. She watched the sunset from the beach. As there was nothing to hinder her view, the sun set into the ocean quietly and beautifully. It is the most memorable sunset Ive ever seen, Katie said to herself. She went back to the hotel by bus and enjoyed fusion cuisine of Japanese food and Okinawan food. Tomorrow, she will be flying back to USA.

Day 10: Back to New York

Katie left the Naha Airport by 8 oclock plane flying to Haneda Airport. She then took a bus to Narita Airport, and boarded on the 12 oclock flight back to New York. She flew over the international date line, so she came back to NY on the same day. It had been a very busy 10-day-trip across Japan, but Katie enjoyed it so much. She could see different places in Japan. She could enjoy Japanese culture both traditional and modern. She could meet many different people. She did have some trouble especially with language, but the overall experience was wonderful. Katie went straight to bed when she arrived home. But she told her mom one thing. I love Japan.

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Final comments from the author

Did you enjoy the 10-day-trip across Japan? When I started to write this story, I was a bit doubtful if 10-day-trip across Japan including international flights was actually possible. I know the Tokyo part was longer than other parts, but as Tokyo is the center of Japan, there was a lot I wanted to write about (and yeah, somehow the Takeo character said he wanted to appear in the story, so). Just a reminder. As was written above, this is a fictional travel story, not a model plan at all. Information included in the story can be wrong. When you arrange a travel plan to Japan, please make sure you consult official guidebooks and your travel agent (and I feel youd like to spend at least a few more days). The Japan you get to see on TV and magazines is only partial aspects of Japan. As you have seen, Japan has both similarities and differences with countries such as USA. Japanese cities are different from each other, with different local characteristics. Id be glad if you become more interested in Japan after reading this story. Japan is waiting for you visitors from abroad with the spirit of omotenashi. Thank you so much for reading!

Arashiyama, Kyoto

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