Ivory beaches bathed by a placid turquoise ocean only tinged with blue, a gigantic metropolis of skyscrapers with mirrored facades animated by commercials and instant news 24 hours a day, and again, rural villages among ancient forests, spas, castles, and Shinto and ancient Buddhist temples where the smell of wood intensifies with the smoke of burning incense.
Nestled between unimaginable folklore and modernity, Japan often seems to be a risky destination for the average tourist. Whether due to the cost of travel, the language, or the sometimes embarrassing eccentricity of the Japanese, the Land of the Rising Sun remains a corner of the planet very little explored by Italian travelers. However, nowhere else will you find a punctual public transportation system that can break the second and is always within a short distance as in Japan, so much so that even the smallest urban centers are served by at least one train station. So, if you already have half a mind to go to Japanese lands, know that you will not find the slightest difficulty in getting around, whether to visit the gigantic capital or a typical village in the south of the country.
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Discovering Japanese Spirituality
Wherever you go in Japan, you will certainly not fail to notice the vibrant spirituality of the natives. Although the topic of religion is, in fact, a kind of taboo (when questioned about the subject, the average Japanese becomes embarrassed or, to avoid interrupting the conversation, evades and shifts to a “lighter” topic), the Japanese maintain a strong connection with Shinto tradition and often willingly join it with Buddhism, alternating between the two through various phases or situations in life.
A wonderful example of this very normal Japanese eccentricity in terms of spirituality is represented by the Zeniarai Benzaiten temple. You won’t believe it, but at this Shinto temple, the Japanese go every time they want to submit their money to the purification rite. First of all, it must be emphasized that money is considered a malicious object in itself, therefore, the purification rite helps to ward off any kind of misfortune related to the use of money. You can find the Zeniarai Benzaiten temple in Kamakura (Kanagawa Prefecture), a true valley of Japanese temples, where you can wash your money in the sacred water spring: the Buddhist deity Benten (and here Buddhism and Shinto intersect in a unique tradition), goddess of water, music, and well-being, will protect all your future purchases or investments. Just think that Benten’s fame is such that many Japanese go to purify coins to buy lottery tickets. Don’t forget: the “washed” money in the temple spring must be spent to produce its good fruits!
Tokyo, the giant of megacities
A single day in Tokyo will never be enough to see all the wonders of this city, which knows how to be futuristic beyond imagination and traditional in the most disarming way possible. Before entering the alleys of this immense maze of streets and lanes, grab a map to consult step by step (practically, almost all shops have at least one) or download an internet app that allows you to understand with extreme precision where you are and where to go. If you are not afraid of mazes, Tokyo is all yours! In this giant among the most limitless megacities, you will be literally captured by the gravitational attraction of the flow of people moving almost synchronized in unison; it is impossible not to be caught by the human circuit of Tokyo!
Even the seemingly most remote alleys are, in fact, well-lit and populated with typical shops or restaurants displaying images of their main dishes on monitors shown in the window. In the Ginza district, the most elegant and refined meander of the capital, you will find the most exclusive shops in the entire country: the one that sells the best types of paper in the world, including paper made in Italy, used for wrapping objects, but also for making colorful greeting cards or very refined business cards.
The rural villages not to miss
Besides surprising with its ultramodern jewels, the Land of the Rising Sun remains above all a country of ancient traditions and rural villages, lost at the foot of some mountains and populated by wooden houses and peasants who still wear kimonos (which city Japanese only wear for special occasions, such as ceremonies or national holidays).
Tsumago Juku is one of the villages found on the now-famous Magome-Tsumago route. It was born as a cluster of houses around the post office, where travelers used to sleep and change horses. If you want to go back a few centuries, Tsumago is the number one destination to include in your trip to Japan. If you wish, you can also stay overnight in one of the many inns and savor the typical flavors of the place.
Another village that definitely deserves a stop is Takayama, famous for its sake distilleries and for that sweet and intense aroma that blends with the smell of the old wood of its houses. To not miss anything, Funaya (also known as Ine no Funaya) is a village that will impress you with the unique characteristic of its houses: all have space to accommodate a boat. Funaya is, in fact, the Japanese Venice, where people travel by boat and the houses seem to emerge directly from the water.
Still regarding the issue of water, the village of Oshino Hakkai was born in eight lakes that receive water from the melting snow on Mount Fuji. As the mountain acts as a natural filter with its layers of lava, the water that flows downstream is clear and pure. You can drink directly from the spring, which the locals consider a sacred source.
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