- Grace Cheng, a 22-year-old travel blogger based in New York, has visited Japan 11 times.
- She said first-time travelers to Japan routinely make a few mistakes.
- Travelers are focusing on Tokyo, Cheng added, but not leaving enough time for other cities.
Of the 34 countries travel blogger Grace Cheng has visited, none has left a lasting impression on her like Japan. From visiting historic temples during cherry blossom season to the diversity and delicious Japanese cuisine, Japan has captured her heart.
“It’s so different from what you see here in the United States, and it’s so different from any other country,” she said.
Cheng, who is 22 and lives in New York, noticed the country was becoming a “hot spot” for tourists.
The International Trade Administration shows that the number of American travelers to Japan already exceeded 900,000 from January to May, a 17.4 percent increase from the same period in 2023. One of the factors behind the increase in tourists from the United States is the strong dollar-yen exchange rate. in recent history. As of July 8, $1 was worth 160.74 yen.
Cheng first visited Japan in 2017, and she’s been there 11 times since. Here, she shares three of the biggest mistakes to avoid when planning a trip to Japan to improve your chances of immersing yourself in the culture and exploring off the beaten path.
Mistake #1: They overload their routes
There’s so much to explore in Japan, from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing (one of the busiest in the world) to the serene tranquility of Kyoto’s gardens and shrines.
But even though tourists are eager to try everything, Cheng advises them to make sure their itineraries are not overloaded every day.
“The ideal amount of time I would give Japan is probably seven years. “10 days,” Cheng said, adding that’s enough time to explore some regions without feeling rushed.
A shorter trip, especially for first-time visitors, could mean that “every day is a succession of attractions or moves,” which ultimately leads to high stress.
“You can’t really experience Japan to its fullest because you’re always on the move,” she added.
If you’re really pressed for time and only have a few days to spend in Japan, Cheng recommends prioritizing Tokyo, as it’s a “major destination that everyone should visit” at least once in their life if they can.
Mistake 2: They don’t set foot outside Tokyo
The problem with simply visiting Tokyo, Cheng says, is that it doesn’t fully represent the breadth and versatility of Japan or Japanese culture.
If visitors want to get a real sense of the country’s history, cuisine and local charms, they should venture south and north of Tokyo.
“Tokyo is not Japan,” Cheng said. “You have to explore other cities to get a sense of what Japan is like.”
Outside of Tokyo, one of his favorite cities is Sapporo, in Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan. Cheng says he’s found cheaper prices and friendlier people there.
“They go out of their way to accommodate us and you can clearly tell if someone is from Tokyo or from the north,” she said.
The food scene is also completely different depending on where you visit: Sapporo, for example, is famous for its curry soup, she said.
Osaka is a city near Kyoto, so famous for its cuisine that it is sometimes called “the kitchen of Japan.” Cheng said he ate an incredible tonkatsu, a deep-fried pork cutlet, prepared to “perfection” with shredded cabbage on top.
Mistake #3: They never turn off Google Maps
I was told to Knowingly getting lost in a foreign country may seem scary, but Cheng insists it’s one of the best strategies for discovering a new place.
“The best way to discover the streets and know the country itself is to get lost,” Cheng said. “Don’t use your phone. Don’t use Google Maps.”
She said some of her best interactions with locals and restaurants have occurred while walking around Japanese cities, when she avoids using her phone.
“If you go to Google and search for ‘best restaurants in Tokyo,’ for example, you’ll come across all these restaurants that cater to tourists,” she said. “You won’t really experience the local food or the local atmosphere,” and you’ll come away with a false “impression” of Japan.
“The best restaurants I’ve discovered are the ones I’ve discovered while walking down the street,” she said.
