“I Didn’t Have To Plan a Thing and I Loved It” – Jacqueline’s First Time to Japan

Instead of hearing just from us, there's a special authenticity when we get to hear first hand from our guests and how their trip went. To give a personal look into her experience, Jacqueline shared her thoughts before and during her trip, along with some tips she thinks might benefit other guests who are thinking of visiting Japan.

Thanks for being open and sharing your story about visiting Japan for the first time. To start us off, what did you know about Japan before you went?

J: To be honest, I didn’t know anything at all. I knew they had a Disneyland, but that’s about it. If you were to ask me about what landmarks they have before I went, I wouldn’t be able to think of any. Oh, there is Mount Fuji, but that’s about it.

It sounds to me that you were being quite adventurous then - jumping in head-first to something completely new to you. What exactly made you want to visit Japan instead of other places around the world?

J: I've been to different parts of the US many times like Portland, LA, New York but after visiting Taipei and Seoul, I really wanted to see more of Asia. Other parts that I haven't been to before.

One of the first ways for many people to connect with the local culture is through food. Were you hesitant at any point to try the food there?

J: I'd say the first thing is that it wasn't what I expected when it came to sushi, because growing up in Vancouver, sushi is mostly rolls with lots of sauces and flavours and that’s what I thought it would be when I got there. But instead, they go for simple and high quality. Usually just nigiri, a nice piece of fish on a piece of rice.

The other thing is that I expected not to be a fan of ramen. It seems quite greasy and so I'm always worrying that my stomach might not agree with it. The nice thing is that depending on where you go, every shop does ramen a little differently and there's variety. It can be pork-based or chicken-based (which I loved and found even better than the pork one). I ended up choosing to eat it more than once. It tasted good and never caused any discomfort. One thing that stood out to me was that the ingredients always felt fresh wherever we visited. Maybe it's the curating or just overall Japan, but because of that, it gave a feeling that they cared about being health-conscious if that makes sense.

For a first-time trip, there definitely had to be some surprises for you. Was there any moment you were trying something new, but positively surprised by it?

J: Yeah, the ramen was one, and the tempura don wasn’t that special when I had it in Vancouver, so I didn’t have much expectation going in, but there was a lightness to it and it just tasted better. Something about the flavour was better than [Vancouver]. 

I also really liked the okonomiyaki when I first tried it. It was interesting to see them grill it in front of me like those chefs you see on [social media], and that mix of cabbage, noodles with the sauce made it all come together so good.

It seems like the food really left an amazing impression on you and there's a magnetic pull to try more new things next time. What about aside from the food? Any other positive surprises come out of your trip?

J: There was the cup noodle museum, seeing the history and also being able to make my own personalized cup of noodles to bring back home. They even had a cafeteria area with all these different types of ramen and flavours from different areas. I guess that still about food, but it was good!

I also really like stationary and scrapbooking, so when we had that free time, I stopped at a few of those stationary stores. There's just so many little tools and products that I haven't seen before and I love seeing the designs because I think they are so creative and simple. It's kind of like it's such an simple idea, how could no one else have thought of it before and why don't we have it back home?

I'm pretty sure Japan is arguably the capital of stationary, so you were definitely in your element in the best place for it. Taking a small shift, was there anything you were worried about when it came to traveling to Japan?

J: Hmm worried. I was never worried about safety, since Japan has a reputation for being safe and even from friends that have gone before.

Before I went I was scared though because I heard stories where [the locals] didn’t speak English and knowing that their culture is so respectful to each other, I didn’t want to offend anyone while I’m there. At the same time, I didn't want to have to walk up to a stranger to ask for help and have that awkward interaction where they can't speak English and I can't speak Japanese.

I can see that being quite overwhelming, so what took it from a worry to something you didn't need to think about?

J: It helps that I was traveling as part of a group and having someone there that can figure that out so I didn't have to- which definitely helps. I was also given a tip from [the local coordinator] to download an app like Papago or Google Translate in case there's small conversations I wanted to have with store clerks when buying stuff.

Now that you've been and loved it, you're in the perfect place to share some tips with others who have never been before. So, any tips from you to others?

J: I heard about having to bring lots of cash from friends who have gone in the past, because they don't take [credit] card, but from what I was told by [Momiji & Maple] and in my experience, most places, unless it was very small and local, they took card.

Also, yes convenience stores are everywhere but they are worth visiting. It's not just a [social media] trend. The prices are actually cheap compared to Vancouver and the food and drink there is so much better. So many more things to choose from and so many [food items] you can’t find back home at our own 7-Eleven. If you have time, you have to try it at least once for yourself. 

Editor’s note: There are three main convenience store brands across Japan: 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart. Each of them sell similar items but with just enough difference that locals actually all have a favourite, much like a sports team. From smoothies, to hot meals, all the way to clothing, these Japanese stores mean it when they say convenience.

I just want to say I am so glad you had fun going on your trip and let me just say there's so much more of Japan to explore. Lots of places to come back to each time. With that said, thank you for sharing your experience, are there any last things you want to share before we end [the interview] off?

J: I really enjoyed that while there was some structure to the whole trip with things thought of beforehand like the food, place to stay and things to do - there was always some breathing room to do my own thing. The last few days where I was able to explore the big cities was a really nice touch, since I could go stationary shopping or see the things I saved up on my Instagram feed. I never felt rushed, but I also never felt like I was ever bored with nothing to do.

So there is nothing to be scared about, I was well taken care of. It’s now one of my favourite places and I am pretty sure I'll be back soon.

Thinking about seeing Japan for yourself instead of reading about it?
Take a look at one of our curated itineraries and reserve your spot on the next Momiji & Maple experience.