Quote:
Originally Posted by imiss
While I've never been there before, I'm sure it can't be worse then any other large metropolis? Can it? Plus if anything, the reason *why* I want to go is specifically for the reason that its so huge. I think a 3 month "trial" wouldn't hurt; I could get a first hand look at it all and decide if its for me...
But yes, I'm quite aware that Tokyo does not equal all of Japan, and specifically for that reason it is why I want to visit all of the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya etc) before making any final decisions concerning staying in Japan
But I see where you're coming from, its kind of like when people visit Moscow, and that sums up all their opinions of the whole country...
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The point is, try to get OUT of the major cities. See the countryside, visit the inaka and enjoy the "real Japan", not just busy, crowded cities full of neon lights and shopping centers.
IMO, the best part of most countries are found outside of the cities. Cities are all alike, wherever you go... busy, relatively impersonal, and filled with all the same kinds of stuff. It's when you get out of the cities that you see the real country, the scenery, the local flavor which is all too often lost or diluted in a big city. It's when you are hiking in the Japan Alps, staying overnight in a mountain-top monastery, or eating at a mom-and-pop restaurant in a small village that you see the real, traditional Japan, IMO.