Seems Like Everyone Is Going to Japan

I must have heard that half a dozen times by the time I’d finished telling my people I’d be in Japan for most of June. Friends, clients, the women at Pilates – everyone had the same reaction: What is it about Japan?

Truth is, there is a genuine surge in American travelers heading to Japan right now — it’s climbed to sit alongside Italy and the UK as one of the top international destinations for US travelers. So, what’s the draw? Having just returned from three weeks there (my second visit), let me try to break it down for you.

The Contrast Is Surreal

Japan somehow manages to be both ancient and futuristic at once — and not in a way that feels forced or curated. Centuries-old temples sit quietly in the shadow of gleaming, technology-forward cities. Pristine mountain forests give way to neon-lit streets. This coexistence of the natural and the modern is unlike anything I’ve experienced anywhere else in the world. It stops you mid-step. Repeatedly.

The Food Deserves Its Own Blog Post (It’s Getting One)

The food in Japan is, in a word, special. The seafood is the freshest I’ve encountered anywhere. The soup curry—I’m convinced—has medicinal powers. And the ice cream? I say this with full confidence as a self-declared connoisseur: it’s the best in the world.

Even a quick detour into a convenience store will land you with mouth-watering, cheap eats. The famed egg sando alone is worth the airfare. Japan has an almost reverent relationship with food at every price point, and it shows.

The Transportation System Is Unmatched

I strongly believe that one of the best ways to truly experience a place and the people who live there is to use its public transportation. And Japan will make a believer out of anyone.

The trains and buses are remarkably punctual — we’re talking to-the-minute accurate — and they’re inexpensive, clean, and surprisingly easy to navigate even without speaking Japanese. My favorite practical tip: add a Suica card to the wallet on your phone. You’re then one tap away from almost all public transportation in the country. No ticket lines, no fumbling for cash. Just tap and go.

Your Dollar Stretches a Long Way

Many travelers assume Japan is expensive. And yes, the flight is an investment. But once you’re there? The exchange rate is working in your favor in a big way — right now, one US dollar equals roughly 150-160 yen to the dollar. That means meals, transit, shopping, accommodations, and experiences that feel like a splurge actually aren’t. It’s one of those destinations that routinely surprises people with how far their money goes on the ground.

On Overtourism — And How to Sidestep It

There’s been a lot written about overtourism in Japan, and I won’t dismiss those concerns. But I will say this: it’s very navigable with a little intention.

On our first trip, we did the classic Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka circuit. And despite all the warnings, we didn’t find the crushing crowds people had predicted — largely because we traveled in shoulder season, when the light is still beautiful and the tour groups have either gone home or are yet to arrive.

This trip, we spent five days in Tokyo before heading to places most itineraries never reach: Hokkaido (Sapporo, Otaru, and Hakodate), then Aomori, Morioka, Bandai National Park, and Nikko. The crowds were small. The nature was enormous. The connections — with places, with locals, with the slower rhythm of regional Japan — were the kind you don’t forget.

Everything Your Eyes Land On Is Either Stunning or Adorable

Japan has an extraordinary attention to aesthetics. The art, the advertising, the parks, the temples, the markets — nothing feels thrown together. Everything is considered.

There’s even a word for the cuteness factor: kawaii. It translates roughly to “cute,” but it’s so much more than that. Kawaii is a full cultural phenomenon rooted in childlike innocence and charm, and once you start noticing it, you see it everywhere — from the packaging on a box of sweets to the way a train station is decorated to the mascots that represent entire cities and prefectures. It’s delightful in the most earnest way.

So — Should You Go?

Here’s what I’ll tell you: the buzz around Japan isn’t hype. It’s one of those rare destinations that delivers on every expectation and then quietly exceeds them. And the good news is that the version of Japan most travelers see — the crowded highlights reel — is only one version of a country that has so much more to offer.

If you’ve been thinking about Japan, this is your sign. Want some help getting started? I’d love to help! christina@wildworldtravels.com