Japan, land of the rising sun, cutesy bright-eyed cartoon characters, over-priced foods and the ubiquitous Harajuku girls is a cultural soup steeped in ancient traditions and western ideologies. A place people have become so jaded with, from television to its infiltration into popular culture, still cannot compare to experiencing it first-hand, as I was blessed to do so.

Arriving at Narita airport, is to arrive at a seemingly normal international airport, with exceptions such as garishly colored ads and a gargantuan Toshiba television. Security is also somewhat relaxed here, meaning that the security people are a little more trusting.

An hour away from Narita airport was the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The hotel my group was staying in and it was really something else. It had the façade of an entertainment center but the interior of a normal hotel. The hotel room’s bathroom was even more of a shock from super-deep tubs to heated toilet seats with two built in bidets, and they were also loaded with amenities. From the looks of it I’m assuming that the Japanese take hygiene as a top priority. Well, because I brought my own toiletries I decided to keep the hotel’s toiletries to give as gifts.

Touring Tokyo in a bus is something I do not suggest. If you like riding in a bus, and hearing an incoherent tour guide talk, then fine, but it would be a more enriching experience to explore Tokyo on foot. I can almost guarantee you will get more out of it. A tour guide can only tell you facts, figures and major landmarks, and it’s nice to know all of that. However, it goes by too fast and I believe you actually gain less by seeing everything at once then by going to one place and explore. Another reason to walk around Tokyo is that you can notice how clean the streets are. Their streets are virtually litter-free, except for cigarette butts, and the occasional piece of trash. In addition, Public transportation is extremely efficient, unlike San Francisco’s MUNI light-rail system. I heard that most Japanese would complain if the bus was late three minutes, whereas we San Franciscans could wait for an hour and just deal with it.

I was very fortunate not to have to pay for virtually any of my food, because if I were to, I would be in as much debt as a sixteen-year-old can be in. Take into consideration that a small, appetizer sized plate of spaghetti cost about fifteen U.S. dollars. Although the cost of food is astronomical, it is kind of balanced by the generally excellent service and no tipping policy, which is very nice.

While staying in the ultra modern Tokyo, it was nice break to be able to see the more residential areas of Kamakura, Kyoto and Nara. I was extremely fortunate enough to stay with a wonderfully experienced host family, which in my opinion is the best way to see and experience Japan. These older regions of Japan provide sharp contrasts to the vibrant and lively Tokyo. Going to the more traditional regions gave me more of a sense of history then being in Tokyo. A sight that will forever be burned into my mind would be Kinkaku-ji i.e. the Golden Temple in Kyoto. Gilded in gold the temple is a real feast for the eyes.

Japan in most ways and the literal sense is a world apart from the U.S. A place where manners and punctuality are supreme yet puts out an air of beauty and poise. Someone once told me that Japan takes ideas from other places and makes them better. From fashion to culture, Japan is super Kawaii (super cute in Japanese).