Ultra, Uber Japan

Japan is known for so many things, from sushi and karaoke to anime, temples and shrines. Every street and subway is spotlessly clean, timetables are adhered to and waiting lines are orderly. All of this calm is a welcome invitation for us to fearlessly investigate a world so different from our own.

Dive in and have some fun — your kids are going to love this crazy mix of ultra-modern and uber-traditional!

Ride the Shinkansan

The bullet train looks like a sleek modern rocket and it travels like one too — at 320 km (1999 mi) per hour. The speed is impressive but what really startles us is how clean, in fact gleaming, the trains are. And since storage space is so limited, Japan of course has an efficient luggage delivery system – simply send your bags ahead and they’ll be waiting for you when you arrive at your next hotel!

Eat at a Kaiten-zushi

You might know this as conveyor-belt sushi; these restaurants have a tantalizing array of small color-coded dishes — each a set price — that roll past you as you sit in your booth or at the counter. Pick what you like – the stacked dishes are then counted so you can pay your bill at the end.

Learn a Shinto Ritual

First rinse your hands with cool water scooped with a bamboo ladle. If there is a large incense burner its billowing smoke serves the same cleansing purpose. Approaching the shrine, pull the rope to ring the bell two times to get the attention of the kami-sama (Shinto gods). Bow twice, clap twice, then make your silent prayer. Finish the ritual with a final bow. Well done!

Pick your Omikuji

These little folded papers of fortune-telling are found at many shrines and temples. Pay a small donation and choose your paper at random. The messages range from daikichi (“great good luck”) to daikyo (“great bad luck”). But no worries – simply tie the piece of paper around a branch to ensure your good fortune will come true — or bad fortune will be averted.

Sleep in a Ryokan

A countryside ryokan is a haven of peace and relaxation. When you arrive the shoes come off – and your city clothes too! Wrap yourself in a soft yukata and shuffle around in bamboo slippers — you can’t feel silly because it’s what everyone does! After a stroll into town, a soak in the onsen (hot springs), and a traditional dinner it’s time to retire for the night. Your minimalist room has been transformed, the low table put away, and bedding laid out for you. Feel the soft crinkle of tatami mats under your feet, then snuggle down on your futon under a cozy duvet for a surprisingly comfortable night on the floor.

Try Shinrin-Yoku

The Japanese art of forest bathing began in the 1980’s and today is spreading across the globe. The purpose is to capture the calming and restorative benefits that come from simply enjoying nature. A peaceful walk through a forest, taking time to appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells, has been scientifically proven to boost our immune system, reduce stress, and make us happier and more focused. How many shades of green or textures of bark can you find?

Top