The Allure of Japan & my Nostalgia
Growing up in Hawaii and in a Japanese household I never personally (at the time) felt that I wanted to visit Japan. I thought in my mind that as we grew up Japanese, what else could we learn by visiting. I on the other hand was IN LOVE with New York. I so desperately wanted to be there. The big lights, towering buildings and an atmosphere of people trying to get ahead.
Ironically, it was IN New York that I decided to visit Japan for the first time. It was in 2016 when my brother was getting ready to graduate. As an early present we flew to New York (it was on his wishlist). We had celebrated him and were on the way home from watching Wicked.
When we got back to the hotel I got an email from Hawaiian Airlines stating “New Flights” to Japan. I casually looked at that and saw that the fares from Honolulu were $400.00 roundtrip, which if you know Hawaii is about the same price as an inter-island ticket at the time. So I asked him if he wanted to extend the celebratory trip and add Japan to a destination.
Without hesitation of course he said yes. He was into everything anime and manga at the time so it was almost a dream come true. We flew home from New York and had a two day layover in Honolulu, I was able to get some work done and headed out to Japan for the first time.
Getting there was another experience as a whole, I had chosen the wrong area to get a hotel (the red light district) and we were surrounded by a crazy nightlight.
But then we took a walk around the city and ended at Akihabara. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing the big buildings, bright lights and the energy it put off. It truly made me smile.
We didn’t go home until 3 that night as we were having too much fun.
Since that trip we had many other opportunities to visit Japan (thankfully). Some just us, some with family and some with friends. ALL of which have been amazing. The memories I have attached and formed with Japan are truly some I’ll never forget and will always put a smile on my face.
I know travel is hard for some people, trust me I have been in the position more times then not, in life. But if the opportunity arises where you can get to Japan even for a short time, take it. Its not where near a perfect place but it really hits a lot of checkmarks.
But today I was feeling nostalgic so I apologize for the rant.
Until the next one!
