Tomás Galván[translations idioma=”ES” url=”http://rgnn.org/2014/02/27/japon-una-experiencia-lowcost-alternativa”]
JAPAN. Beyond urban clichés. Nihon. Country and culture shaped by an eternal dualism between the most conservative and traditional, and the most liberal and modern sides. Customs, rituals and values coexist in harmony with innovation, social recognition and Tokyo’s urban coloring.
With Ryo at Matsumoto castle | ROOSTERGNN
However, many of those who actually visit the country just stay in the metropolis’ comfort zone, intoxicated by the city lightings, the noise, the movement and the novelty, which is not something negative. But the question here is: Are these individuals experiencing the other face of Japan? No.
Maybe you wonder if it’s because it might be quite complex to get out of the travel organized plans or just too difficult or expensive to move around Japan. Well, it’s not.
Why rural Japan? Why not? Rural Japan has a lot to offer, from great cheaper everything to great smiling non-stressed people and beautiful landscapes, the countryside has it all in order to have the most amazing experience in your holiday.
Metro at night in Tokyo
How to do rural Japan? You can do it the old-fashioned and pricey way: by train, visiting the smaller cities and towns and staying in youth hostels or hotels. Or, you can go a bit more adventurous and try things like WWOOFing (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and Couchsurfing (Sharing accommodation and travel community), using yakko-basu (night buses) and asking locals for directions. Is this too much for you? No. It’s not. You’re young, you’re wild, and you’re cool. So you must give these a go.
The result? A magic and overwhelming experience full of wonders that will let you craving for more.
The food. Let’s face this; Japanese food is beyond yummy and mouth-watering. We are witnessing another world history episode of “Mastering the Art of Giving You Foodgasms”. And it’s CHEAP! No, you don’t have a lazy eye, that’s what you read. There’s a common misbelief that everything in Japan is expensive. Some things may be, like public transportation or clothe shopping in Harajuku, but food ain’t a problem here.
Goodbye dinner, Suwa, Nagano
Food is as cheap as it gets. You can get scrumptious lunch meals (with everlasting miso soup and rice refill) for less than 8 or 9 euros! Plus, if you decide to go to Japan in summer you will sweat and walk so much you won’t even gain weight. You can just keep eating. Isn’t everything just perfect? I guess I could stop here, I shouldn’t give you any more reasons to start planning your trip, but I will. Just one more.
The friends. If you happen to travel the alternative way, you will undoubtedly meet a lot of people along the way. You will get to know amazingly kind and welcoming Japanese people that will eventually become your friends, even if you stay with them just for a couple of days. Funny enough, I personally believe that Couchsurfing in Japan works better than in other countries because Japanese are eager to get to know gaikokujin, or foreigners, as they want to practice their English and make new friends from all over the world.
For that reason, they will treat you not like a guest, but like an “old friend” (remember that quote from Lost in Translation when the Japanese interpreter tells Bill Murray to look into the camera like an old friend?). This way of travelling allows you not only to grasp for the physical armor of a country, but it helps you engage with the local culture and people you find in your path. They are people who will add “a touch of spice in your life.”.
Take a look at it, design the trip of your dreams and make it happen. It’s not a joke; it’s low-cost.