Reflections: What Wondrous Sights to See

Well, it's that time again.  I am tired and don't want to do anything else...so, I've decided to reflect on Japan and how much I miss it.  Specifically, on all the sights I've seen and how they compare to similar tourist sights in America.

Though I traveled a great deal in Japan and visited many great tourist attractions, it was often difficult for me to tell where the tourist site began and the town ended.  They were often woven so intricately together that it was difficult to tell them apart, save for the sites being a bit more ostentatious.  Okay, maybe that doesn't make perfect sense, but it's the atmosphere.  The sites don't seem separate or different from the towns they are in.  They've grown together organically.  To me, this was a stark contrast to all the memorial parks or big buildings in the States that I had seen, things like the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty seem cut off, separate from an area, while places such as Fushimi Inari or the Hiroshima Peace Museum are rooted in the towns around them.

There is also an air of tradition around the specific sites in Japan.  Temples have a bit of decorum to be looked after, such as services or offerings to the guardian deities, traditional food from the area is served around such sites, and as a whole, it feels...I don't know, a bit more authentically Japanese than anything else I've seen.  In America, the tradition doesn't seem to be there.

Above all else, the sites I saw moved me because of the atmosphere and surroundings.  Even though Japan is a densely packed Island nation, you wouldn't know to look at it from any of the major sights.  There is a great respect for nature, especially mountains and trees.  They have signs around them asking not to litter, typically by saying please don't anger the mountain or something, are cared for by those around them, and make the industrialized country seem more rustic than many small towns in the states.  This atmosphere is one of the charming aspects of Japan and the sights to be seen.

In total, went to Kyoto 5 times, saw 4 different theater performances, visited around 7 temples, saw the Hiroshima Peace Museum, and traveled to several small towns, both to see these sights and to just explore.  In total, that's more than I've seen in nearly a decade in the states.  The only experience close to this was when I traveled cross country with my family, and even then, the sights we saw didn't compare to the majesty and the atmosphere of Japan.  I miss it dearly.  I also have to mention that this kind of free travel wouldn't have been possible without their excellent public transportation system.

I guess looking back, I don't have much to say about my travels and the sights I've seen that hasn't already been said before.  I suppose the take away from this is that the atmosphere, the tradition, and how organic the sights felt were what enchanted me.  They were so different from the States, which often is a mash up of cultures, as we are a melting pot, but in Japan...I suppose everything feels Japanese.

I'd recommend seeing as many sights as possible for those who are considering a trip to Japan.  While I didn't include my travels to the big city, Osaka, in these journals, but it too was an amazing experience, as the city felt much different, much safer, much more labyrinthine than the states.  The atmosphere was different, as was the layout.

I guess this reflection is going to be a bit short.  My apologies for that, but I've already covered my travels in painstaking detail in past posts.  Look to those if you missed anything.  Up next, a reflection on the culture, on Japan, and on my precious memories of the trip.