Greetings From Japan: A Virtual Postcard

Ever since August 2017 when anyone asks me "so where are you planning on traveling next?" I answer with Japan.

"But haven't you been there already?" They may respond with.

"Why yes, I did! In 2017. Would you like to hear about my journey for the 47 millionth time??"

"No that's okay. Besides Japan, where else would you want to visit?"

"... Ja... Pan..."

As we're all attempting to adjust to whatever new normal will be life post-quarantine, let's take a moment to sit, relax, and envision which area in the world you'd like to visit other than your local movie theatre and/or sit down restaurant.

Japan is that area in the world for me so please indulge me as I feel a sense of catharsis while highlighting where I plan on visiting on this hypothetical trip in order to regain some semblance of sanity.

5 Japan-centric YouTubers I Follow Religiously

Before starting off, I'd like to mention five creators who put out amazingly entertaining Japan content on a consistent basis.

Watching their videos keep me afloat. It gives my mind ideas on where to visit and what to do in a country that offers endless options.

Due to their impressive catalogues, it would be impossible to tell you my absolute favourite video of theirs so I'll include a must-watch pick that causes me to be brimming with eagerness in planning my (hopeful) trip.

Abroad in Japan

Chris Broad is easily one of the funniest creators on the platform. Paired with his podcast of the same name, Chris' channel contains a variety of content that has kept me entertained for years

Make sure to also check out his Journey Across Japan series wherein he traveled across the entire country on a bicycle! Absolute madness yet immensely intriguing.

Paolo fromTOKYO

Paolo de Guzman's channel provides a ton of helpful tips and suggestions for those interested in visiting Japan. He and his partner Maiko are currently sharing their experience while awaiting the arrival of their first child on their second channel Tokyo Zebra.

Paolo also has a Day In The Life series where he follows the typical day-to-day routine of a Japanese person. The series has followed a Manga Creator, Ramen Chef, Game Programmer and Pachinko Worker, just to name a few.

Sharmeleon

Fun fact! Sharla and Chris Broad are a part of the same agency (Tokyo Creative) so there are delightful times when the two collaborate on certain projects.

Sharla has been on YouTube for about six years. Her vlogs truly feel like you're hanging out with a friend on the streets of Japan and I love watching them.

ONLY In JAPAN

ONLY in JAPAN features informative and entertaining videos on certain spots that you will find... Only in Japan.

There is also a second channel called ONLY In JAPAN *GO* which features longer, live streamed content.

Japanese Ammo with Misa

Whenever I travel to another country with different customs (and languages), I strive to learn at least the bare minimum required to hold a semi-comprehensible conversation. While knowing "こんにちは (konnichiwa)" and "ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)" is fine, I prefer having just a tiny bit more at my disposal to cause a native Japanese speaker to cry out "すごい ! (sugoi!)" in disbelief.

Misa-san does a phenomenal job in breaking down essentially every grammatical aspect of a phrase you should know causing you to be relatively confident in your undeniable broken Japanese.

Tourist Spots I Need to Visit

A common gripe heard from travelers everywhere is "I don't want to go to X spot because it is such a tourist trap." As someone who's been fortunate enough to have traveled a fair amount, I frankly adore a good tourist trap. While it's vital to expand your range of exploration to lesser visited spots in order to fully experience what a country has to offer, there's no harm in visiting the overpriced places as seen in postcards.

Here are a number of places featured on my Must Visit List. Although I did visit a few of these during my initial trip, there's never anything wrong with returning to a classic!

• Tokyo Tower, Tokyo
• Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kyoto
• Deer Park, Nara
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima
• Mt. Fuji, Chūbu region in Honshu
• Any Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku
• NEW YORK BAR located in Park Hyatt Tokyo AKA the bar where Bob and Charlotte meet in Lost In Translation
• Shibuya Crossing
• A maid cafe in Akihabara

Making Our Way Through the Locations Seen in "Kimi no Na wa" ("Your Name")

2016's Kimi no Na wa directed by Makoto Shinkai is my second favourite anime of all time behind the Hayao Miyazaki triumph in film-making Spirited Away. The film follows Taki and Mitsuha, two Japanese students living on virtually opposite ends of the country who suddenly awaken in each other's body. It currently holds the record for being the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time and is an absolute must-watch for those who enjoy watching movies.

Film fans journeying to a specific location featured in their favourite film is not a new phenomenon with Japan certainly not being an exception to this. Following the release of the 2016 anime, countless have flocked to the various locations as seen in the film... And let's be real: the unbelievably flawless animated renditions of the real-life locations translated perfectly onto the big screen.

Tofugu is the online "Japanese teacher we never had." There are tons of resources on the site for those interested in working and/or visiting Japan ranging from "10 Secret Onsen" to "Here Are Your Options For Getting Internet in Japan."

In October 2017 they published a spectacular piece entitled "A Pilgrimage to the Real Life Locations of Your Name: A Step-By-Step Anime Walking Tour You Can Follow." Writer Kanae Nakamine details the 15 locations they visited during their trip including the time in which they went and posted stunning side-by-side comparisons to the real location and the film. There is also a Google Maps pin for every place they visited. I would highly recommend this article for anyone interested in the film and its physically existing counterparts.

During this hypothetical trip of mine, it would not be during the summer season as when we went in August I became a walking human reservoir because the weather was incredibly humid. Hot in the summer, go figure. The later months seem to be the best course of action, possibly in October or November when the weather cools down and the autumn leaves amass.

I plan on visiting all the spots mentioned in Kanae-san's article. For the sake of this piece I'd like to highlight three locations I am dying to see.

1. SALON DE THÉ ROND (12:00PM)

During this scene in the film, Taki and Okudera-senpai went on a date at this coffee shop. When we arrive at this chic establishment, we will have a late breakfast (AKA the time I usually have breakfast) indulging in all the cake, pound cake, ice cream and macarons.

Following our nutritious start to the day, we'll stroll around the district of Roppongi before proceeding to the final moments of Kimi no Na wa's celebrated conclusion.

Perusing around the internet looking at those who posted pictures from here, the animated depiction is spot on compared to the real cafe - A sentiment that is essentially universally agreed upon when discussing just how painstakingly accurate the anime's gorgeous backdrops are to the actual location.

2. SUGA SHRINE STAIRS (4:00PM)

The scene at the Suga Shrine Staircase is undeniably the most iconic (and emotional) sequence of the entire film. For anyone familiar with Kimi no Na wa, visiting these stairs are a vital component of this pilgrimage.

Following our brief photo shoot, we will take our time blotting away the ugly tears streaming down my face prior to reaching our final destination in the heart of Shinjuku.

3. SHINTOSHIN PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE NEAR TAKARAZUKA UNIVERSITY (7:00pm)

During the climax of the film there are numerous moments where you find yourself yelling horrendously from your seat at the characters on screen to "turn around!" One of these moments features the Shintoshin Pedestrian Bridge.

Will I most likely ask someone to take a picture of myself and my travel partner's backs in a similar fashion to the image above? Probably not because I'll feel like a nuisance... So I'll take a picture of two strangers' backs instead.

I will forever hold out hope for this entirely hypothetical Japan trip because without hope we'd all be lost. Planning out certain ideas and expanding on them is a method I personally use to keep looking forward to the future.

Wherever your travels takes you post-quarantine, I hope you remain safe, healthy and considerate of others.