The Very Unhelpful Series

In case anyone wants unhelpful advise for the places I visited.

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    A Very Unhelpful Guide to Japan

    ByChih Sang
    (According to Someone Who Whispered in the Wrong Places)

    Japan does not raise its voice.
    It does not rush you.
    It does not explain itself.
    It does not have public garbage bins.

    You are expected to notice.

    📍 Tokyo
    DO:
    • Follow arrows you don’t understand.
    • Trust the train system with your life.
    • Eat like you may never eat again.
    DON’T:
    • Talk loudly.
    • Block walking lanes.
    • Assume you’re the main character.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Chaos here is choreographed.
    • Silence is respected.
    • Convenience stores are holy ground.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Understanding how many people walk Shibuya Scramble Crossing each day.
    📍 Yokohama
    DO:
    • Walk the harbor slowly.
    • Eat something steamed.
    • Appreciate space.
    DON’T:
    • Expect Tokyo energy.
    • Rush the waterfront.
    • Forget to breathe.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Yokohama feels like Tokyo exhaled.
    • It’s calm without being sleepy.
    • You linger here without meaning to.
    DON’T MISS:
    • New Year’s day on the pier —watching the first sunrise.
    📍 Hakodate
    DO:
    • Ride the tram.
    • Climb for the view.
    • Let the cold wake you up.
    DON’T :
    • Expect crowds.
    • Overpack your schedule.
    • Skip the night view.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • The quiet here is generous.
    • The light feels cinematic.
    • This is a place to slow down.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Eating fresh sushi from the fish market.
    📍 Mount Fuji
    DO:
    • Look.
    • Pause.
    • Accept that photos will fail.
    DON’T:
    • Assume you’ll see it.
    • Plan emotional expectations.
    • Compete with clouds.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Fuji reveals itself when it wants.
    • Seeing it feels earned.
    • It rearranges your sense of scale.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Eat kuro-tamago for 7 more years of life.
    📍Kyoto
    DO:
    • Walk temples early.
    • Listen more than speak.
    • Let centuries do the work.
    DON’T:
    • Rush through history.
    • Treat shrines like checkboxes.
    • Miss the small details.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Kyoto hums.
    • Time slows without asking permission.
    • Respect is felt, not performed.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Eating at MenBaka Fire Ramen – you may lose an eyebrow if you’re lucky.
    📍Osaka
    DO:
    • Eat everything.
    • Laugh loudly (within reason).
    • Follow locals into side streets.
    DON’T:
    • Count calories.
    • Expect restraint.
    • Leave hungry.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Osaka feeds your soul.
    • Joy is practical here.
    • This city wants you full.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Eating a whole cheesecake without utensils on the curb.
    📍 Nagoya
    DO:
    • Pass through with curiosity.
    • Eat miso things.
    • Appreciate efficiency.
    DON’T:
    • Expect spectacle.
    • Skip it entirely.
    • Underestimate subtlety.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Nagoya is dependable.
    • It doesn’t perform.
    • It works.
    DON’T MISS:
    • .Being at peace here.
    📍 Jigokudani Monkey Park
    DO:
    • Watch quietly.
    • Respect the monkeys personal space.
    • Accept being judged.
    DON’T:
    • Make eye contact.
    • Act surprised.
    • Assume you’re in charge.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • The monkeys know something.
    • They look relaxed in ways humans don’t.
    • You are the exhibit.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Bringing your winter coat.
    📍 Tottori
    DO:
    • Walk the sand dunes.
    • Let the wind hit you.
    • Feel confused (gently).
    DON’T:
    • Expect beaches.
    • Ask why dunes?
    • Overthink it.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Japan contains deserts.
    • It makes no apologies.
    • Surprise is part of the design.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Running up/down the dunes.
    📍 Okinawa
    DO:
    • Slow down.
    • Swim.
    • Forget the rest of Japan for a moment.
    DON’T:
    • Rush.
    • Compare.
    • Bring mainland expectations.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Okinawa feels separate.
    • The air is softer.
    • Time loosens its grip.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Watching the sun set.
    📍 Kagoshima
    DO:
    • Look at the volcano.
    • Respect its mood.
    • Eat well.
    DON’T:
    • Ignore Sakurajima.
    • Assume calm equals inactive.
    • Forget where you are.
    Things no one warned me about:
    • Living near a volcano changes perspective.
    • Power doesn’t need to announce itself.
    • Nature is always present.
    DON’T MISS:
    • Trying to find a toy store.
    📝 Absurd Japan Checklist

    ☑ Bowed when unsure
    ☑ Whispered in convenience stores (just in case)
    ☑ Trusted vending machines too much
    ☑ Got lost inside a train station
    ☑ Felt deeply moved and couldn’t explain why
    ☑ Wept at monuments
    ☑ Watched sunrise with thousands of locals
    ☑ Took 30 to get to a destination because I took the wrong exit
    ☑ Lined up for restaurant 3 hours before they open
    ☑ Get naked in hot springs

    “Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find anything.”
    — Lost in Translation (2003)

    Japan didn’t overwhelm me.
    It calibrated me.

    It taught me that quiet can be powerful,
    that systems can be kind,
    and that respect isn’t loud.

    I left speaking softer,
    walking straighter, and noticing more.

    Still lost. Just… intentionally.

    Not all on this journey, but decided might as well add more places just as a reminder to myself.

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