Youkoso

In the annals of travel, Japan is fairly well publicized. In fact, I’d argue that for the past three or four years, Japan has received, warranted, if somewhat unwanted, excess attention.

And why is that? One, the land is beautiful. Roughly 80% of Japan is mountainous, an island nation with sandy or rocky beaches all around. Its metropolitan areas are metropolitan in ways that few cities in the world can compare with. Some of the technology is mind blowing.

And there’s history, too. Amazing architecture, solemn reverie, and natural splendor. The residents take care of their place (Kabuki-cho notwithstanding, where you are apt to see litter, public intoxication, and touts offering all kinds of entertainment).

But even seedy Japan is no worse than something like Greenwich Village in New York, and much less seedy than some areas in San Francisco. It is about as safe a place as you could visit, which I think certainly adds to the touristy appeal.