Random musings and thoughts after 3 weeks in Japan!

I’m finishing up 3 weeks here and thought I’d put together a short/succinct list of random thoughts or reflections I’ve had whilst here.

– I shouldn’t have exchanged cash at the outgoing airport (ripped off)
– I got a travel money card from a bank (CBA for any Australians) and I couldn’t withdraw more than 5,000 yen per transaction due to some limit (haven’t contacted them about it, just put up with it). Unfortunately only **one** ATM I found at a family mart in Shinjuku would let me get 5000 minimum out. The rest were 10000 minimum so I was battling quite a lot with foreign transaction fees and using my regular card.
– I should have bought better walking shoes. We were doing an average of 120km per week. I bought an old pair of vans and ended up buying a newer pair of comfortcush Vans, but DAMN my Achilles, feet and calves are wrecked.
– Japan is a coffee lovers heaven! But don’t expect a good brew before around 10am minimum unless you’re near a Verve or Bluebottle. Most good cafes begin to open between 10-12midday and stay open late.
– If you like going to the gym don’t expect to be working out much, if at all. And don’t expect to eat ‘clean’. It’s also quite hard to find protein rich meals. Meat servings are quite small unless you’re willing to pay for extra or add a side of karaage chicken (which is never a bad idea)
– I wish I wasn’t so much of a morning person, I should have prepped to stay up later prior to coming.
– there are A LOT of Mercedes G Wagons around
– I wish I booked time for an overnight stay in Nikko and/or the bay down the bottom of the cable car in Hakone. By the time I got to that part of the trip i was ready to get out of Tokyo. And Nikko was really what I needed.
– hotel resol in Kyoto was a great spot to stay. We got really lucky with prices
– I should have stayed an extra night in Kyoto
– Don Quixote is a must visit where ever you are
– for a country I thought was economically weak people LOVE shopping.
– the further south you get the less swag people are
– I’m glad I went to Okayama even though I almost skipped it. There’s a bike path (I think it’s called Kibiji). I’m glad I rode it even though I’m not cycling inclined
– Hiroshima was a sobering but important and beautiful place. The Daiwa Roynet hotel was unreal.
– Fuji is large. Glad I booked the right side of the JR when traveling to Kyoto
– Dotonbori during Halloween was wack
– Tamade supermarket in Osaka is wack

All these are just some of the random thoughts I’ve been thinking.
They may help someone. They may not, but I’d rather throw it out there than not 🙂