Tokyo and Beyond – A Journey Through Extraordinary Japan

Tokyo is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, renowned for its futuristic atmosphere, exceptional organisation, and unique culture. Japan feels incredibly developed and efficient, yet daily life is still shaped by strong customs, etiquette, and respect for others. Despite being one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, Japan remains largely a cash-based society, and as English is not widely spoken, using a translator app proved extremely useful while travelling.

My trip to Japan was my first experience as a solo traveller, and I could not have chosen a better country for it. One of the first things I noticed about Tokyo was how calm and green the city is, despite the Greater Tokyo Area having around 37 million inhabitants, making it the world’s largest metropolis. Even with its constant movement and busy train stations, there is a surprising sense of peace everywhere.

Although much of Tokyo was destroyed during the Second World War, the city today combines impressive skyscrapers with districts that preserve an older atmosphere. One of the best examples is Asakusa, home to Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. The area is filled with small shops, excellent street food, and matcha cafés. Around the temple, it is common to see traditional rickshaw rides moving through the historic streets.

Another memorable place was the beautiful garden surrounding the Imperial Palace, known for its approximately 2000 carefully maintained pine trees that reflect traditional Japanese landscaping. I also visited the famous Tokyo Tower, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, which offers an incredible panoramic view of the city. Of course, a day at Tokyo Disneyland is not to be missed, with tickets more affordable than those for Disneyland Paris or Orlando, making it an even better experience for visitors.

highest mountain and one of the country’s most important national symbols. The volcano is still considered active, although its last eruption was in 1707. Its snow-covered peak, visible for much of the year, has inspired Japanese art, religion, and culture for centuries. In Shintoism, Mount Fuji is regarded as a sacred mountain and a place of spiritual significance. The mountain is surrounded by the famous Fuji Five Lakes: Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Sai, Shoji, and Motosu.

My first stop was Oishi Park in Yamanashi Prefecture, located next to Lake Kawaguchi, offering beautiful views of Mount Fuji reflected in the water. I then visited Oshino Hakkai, a popular tourist village known for its eight crystal-clear ponds filled with melted snow from Mount Fuji. The water has been naturally filtered through volcanic rock for decades, making it exceptionally pure.

Another highlight was Arakurayama Sengen Park, famous for its iconic view of the red Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background – one of the most recognisable views in all of Japan.

My first day trip was visiting Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture and Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture. Hitachi Seaside Park, situated along the Pacific coast, combines sand dunes, forests, grasslands, and seasonal flower fields into one expansive natural landscape. The most impressive area was Miharashi Hill, covered in blue nemophila flowers, creating a beautiful landscape that almost blended into the sky.

Later, I visited Ashikaga Flower Park, renowned for its spectacular wisteria gardens. Purple, white, and yellow wisteria hang from large wooden structures, forming tunnel-like pathways filled with flowers. I also tried the unique wisteria-flavoured ice cream. Both parks revealed another side of Japan – one deeply connected with nature and attention to detail.

One of the things I respected most about Japan was the remarkable cleanliness and organisation visible everywhere. This is closely linked to discipline and education from an early age – children in Japan are taught from kindergarten to clean up after themselves and take responsibility for shared spaces. This mindset is evident throughout daily life. On public transport, people are expected to remain quiet, everyone patiently waits in line for the subway, and even walking through the city feels organised, with people generally keeping to the left side.

What surprised me most, however, was how kind and welcoming people in Tokyo were – some of the kindest people I met during my travels. Even in such a vast city, it was possible to meet new people and have spontaneous conversations in the street.

Tokyo also has a very lively nightlife, especially in areas like Shibuya, known for its bright lights, restaurants, bars, and endless crowds. At the famous Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, almost everyone stops to take photos while crossing – and luckily, I managed to get one too.