Get back to work u lazy sod !!!

So im back in the UK after my  3 weeks sojourn in Japan. The jet lag is still bugging me but its kinda cool coz im waking up everyday around 4am which means i have plenty of time to get ready for work.

What's my final thoughts about Japan ? i guess it was everything i thought it would be and a lot of the glamour and mystique has disappeared, especially some of the myths and sensationalist facts about Japan. I didn't find it really busy having lived in London all my life and rush hour is the same in any large city. The fact that Japan is really clean and orderly actually gives the impression that its not busy or crowded at all.

Well the food was supreme - and i just wonder how the British continue to eat the slop served up in UK eateries. The extreme politeness can get on ones nerves but just after a week i was bowing my head and doing all sorts of absurd polite gestures. In general i found the Japanese people the same as any other people in other place, but with extra politeness, cleanliness and the ability to do some hard grafting.
Though i never understood the Otaku culture - i guess the whole manga and anime scene is where the Japanese excel compared to any other nation and really let their imagination flow. This surge of imagination must be in my opinion due to the fact that they are a reserved and polite people and thus need a outlet and as such the crazy Otaku/Cosplay/Anime/Manga thing is a result of this venting.

The weather was outrageously hot and humid - August/September time are definitely not the months to be walking the roads of Japan. Spring and Autumn are probably a lot better dates.

One thing i found odd was that a lot of the Japanese men were outrageously skinny, its one thing for the girls to be skinny (this is an issue in all countries) but the men to be built like adolescent teenage boys was eerie to be honest.

Japan is expensive and for the first time traveller will be expensive unless you know the in's and out's of Japan. This is usually not something that comes easy or is readily learnt. I guess this brings us to the fact to enjoy Japan one must have some inkling of the Japanese language- otherwise the unprepared tourist will be totally lost and will not know from left to right and almost anything can be intimidating. Thus learning the basics of the Japanese language is essential and can result in a more complete and fun packed time. Also having local friends helps a great deal.

Though getting lost in Tokyo is not a problem as the underground train system is all in English and there is the helpful police officer on some street corner to help - in essence there is almost no crime in Japan and it is really safe in Japan and whatever crime happens in Japan is so tame to be almost sweet compared to the shit that goes down in the UK and US. Due to this the main function of Japanese police officers is to give direction to lost citizens or helpless tourists.

All in all Japan is a great place to visit with thousands of years of culture to see and safe for families/children/women, and definitely not a place for someone looking for a lads holiday or a traditional British booze up like Tenerife. Will I return anytime soon ? of course i cant wait !!!!. Though next time i definitely would like to see Okinawa and improve my Japanese before i go.

Watch out for my 'Return to Japan' blog to start very soon.