We walked.
And walked.
And then, for variety, we walked some more.
At some point on day two (or was it day twelve? Jet lag dissolved all sense of time), I realized our itinerary was less “vacation” and more “urban endurance sport.” In our defense, we forgot to factor in three small details: the time difference, two long-haul flights, and the fact that the human body requires sleep.
This was our first sibling trip. No parents. No supervision. Just the three of us roaming Japan like mildly organized chaos. A new tradition was born.
It was my brother and sister’s first time in Japan. Not mine. So naturally, I appointed myself leader.
We went during cherry blossom season. You know — that dreamy, cotton-candy, petals-floating-in-the-air moment you see all over Instagram.
It was cold.
It was rainy.
The parks were blossomless.
The only cherry blossom I saw the entire trip was a decorative arrangement in our hotel lobby. She was beautiful.
And yet.
Japan remains one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever been. It is impossibly clean. Impossibly safe. And somehow… completely overstimulating at the same time. Neon lights. Endless signage. The polite rush of commuters. The gentle chime of train doors closing.
I love being in a big city and not feeling afraid. That combination feels rare.
We learned that there are women-only train cars. We learned that trains arrive exactly when they say they will. We learned that you can traverse an entire metropolis with quiet efficiency. The ease of movement is intoxicating. The lists of things to do are infinite.
The shopping? Elite.
I stocked up on makeup from Suqqu (which I can’t get in the U.S.). Consider this my formal petition for global access to Suqqu beauty products.
And the convenience stores? I miss them daily.
The holy trinity: FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson (honorable mention). I will be thinking about those tuna sandwiches for the foreseeable future. A perfect snack. A masterpiece.
Next time, I want to slow down.
Stay in a ryokan.
Attend a sumo match.
Sit in an onsen.
My Sister’s Takeaways (A Dramatic Interpretation)
“Japan: We would go again.”
High praise.
She’d like to spend more time seeing the city like a local, not a tourist. She insists Japan is more fun when you’re not on a schedule.
This is bold, considering she made the schedule.
She also does not want to be hangry next time. Apparently, skipping meals in pursuit of “maximizing daylight hours” is controversial.
There was also a recurring theme of the siblings forming a temporary alliance against her. My brother and I like to “chill in the hotel room.” She prefers public transportation and forward motion. Constant forward motion.
It’s hard being the only visionary in the family for her.
My Brother’s Takeaways (The Philosophical Angle)
“The people are respectful. Efficient. The hospitality is next level. They live in the future.”
And honestly? He’s right.
There’s something deeply aspirational about the way things run. The courtesy. The systems. The quiet pride in doing things well. You leave wanting to adopt at least 17 new personality traits.
He was especially struck by a moment at the train station when my sister was attempting to haul two large suitcases down a long staircase to the platform. Before we could fully strategize (or argue about whose turn it was), locals stepped in to help her carry them down. No fuss. No performance. Just immediate, matter-of-fact kindness. That moment was everything. It was deeply human.
Final Thoughts
We didn’t get the cinematic cherry blossom moment.
We were cold.
We were tired.
We walked an unreasonable number of miles.
And I would go back tomorrow.
Because somewhere between the train platforms, the convenience store snacks, and the sibling debates about whether we need a break (we don’t), a new tradition started.
