Fall in Love With Japan’s Nostalgic Vibes and Modern-Day Culture

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Reverence for all things cool, frisky, exciting, childish and fun, Japan remains a constant reminder of all things good. 

For all of its obvious geo-strategic and global importance, Japan is unabashedly a playground for children and adults that welcomes the world with open arms.

This is not to say the world should look at it as a place like Epcot come to life. Rather it’s a place that welcomes the curious, weird, nerdy, awkward, trendy and cool alike. Treat Japan with the respect it deserves and it will grant you the experience of travel through a fresh set of eyes. 

Japan’s Nostalgia Vibes

For me, Japan brought me back to my childhood, an era when Japan was the cultural juggernaut of the world. Anime and manga were king, Pokémon, Yu-gi-oh, and Dragon Ball Z were everywhere. Tamagachi and Beyblades were what the cool kids played. 

I ran around that country gobbling up every bit of childhood nostalgia like a kid that stole their parent’s credit card. From the fabled convenience stores to multi-storied department stores, it’s easy to get lost in the past and future trends from Nintendo 64 classic arcades to niche baggy clothes shops with merch that all the Z-ers are wearing.  

But now, Japanese culture in its modern resurgence is sophisticated, hip and sleek. Shohei Ohtani, a living baseball legend, spearheads baseball’s modern reinvention with respect and suavé. This connects Japan to America and attempts to catapult baseball further into the global stage. 

Shogun’s Game of Thrones-like appeal and unique stylism have made the mere samurai cool yet again. 

But beyond the pop culture reemergence, Japan retains its flair with its neon light-clad streets of Tokyo and the edgier underbelly of Osaka, with its endless alleys full of pachinko and themed bars. 

And in this nostalgia for all things Japan from its 80s trendiness and 90s-2000s childhood hits are the serene and ‘new’ parts of Japan that have yet to be popularized in the West. 

Secrets of Japan

Amongst its peaks and valleys and never-ending islands are little-kept secrets of domestic tourists. Hokkaido, the jewel of the north, boasts mountain skiing in the winter and lush nature in the summer.

Still remains one of Japan’s only ethnic minorities, the Ainu, whose origins are rooted to Siberia. Now the group has worked towards a cultural resurgence promoting tourism to share their culture standing in contrast to what many view as Japan. 

In the south Okinawa is a tropical paradise. Known to American military members due to their prominence amongst the islands, the islands are a combination of natural beauty and vacation getaway.

Like their countrymen in the North, the ethnic Ryukyu people are represented on the islands with a culture distinct from mainland Japanese. Also, a bit of fusion between Japan, Taiwan and mainland China.

American Influence

The host of American servicemen gives the islands a distinct character from anywhere in the world. An example is the American village in Chatan which blends with traditional Okinawan Island culture. 

Between these far ends of Japan are where many have come to know through the Japanese cultural media empire. It is just as beautiful as the Ghibli movies, making every train ride feel like a trip into the story of Spirited Away.

Villages and Volcanoes

But beyond Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo the nooks and valleys add complexity second to none. Villages are pristine with subtlety reminiscent of pastels in the Louvre. This is reflected in the quiet streets and hills in and around Yamanouchi. The town is known for the ‘snow monkeys’ that relax in the natural baths up the mountain. 

Elsewhere the volcanoes are a reminder of the volatility of living on the ring of fire with all the lush greens that come with it. Fuji remains the gem of the world making every town around it serene with the iconic backdrop. 

Fall in Love With Japan

Japan has made me fall in love with being a tourist again. I still am the kid that wants the next shiny pikachu card. I do want to try every niche dish under the sun and every iteration of mainstream classics like ramen or chicken katsu. And I want to venture through all the rugged nature that makes Japan the cornerstone of the Pacific rim.

To all of the curious weirdos save up a buck if you can and go remember what has made Japan the cultural juggernaut it will continue to be. In the meantime, dust off the old mangas, throw on a ghibli and feel like a kid again. 

Read More:

• Japan Travel Guide
• Tackling Mt. Fuji: Climbing in Japan
• The Art of Mu (無) – Osaka, Japan
• Top 10 Things to Do in Japan

Author Bio: Alex Mutnansky is a writer, traveler and political activist. He is particularly interested in the intersection between culture and politics.

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