The allure of Japan

 Safety, reliability and quality are among the topmost considerations I have for choosing Japan as my premier travel destination in Asia, and I would surmise, the same goes for most Filipinos nowadays, especially with the Japanese yen at an all-time low, making it even cheaper to visit now.

Hong Kong, which in the past was the destination of choice for Filipinos, has somehow lost its appeal since COVID-19 and as the cost of visiting the former British colony has risen. In fact, recent news is that the Chinese government is planning to increase its departure security fee which would surely be another turn off for visitors.

Even the allure of luxury shopping in Hong Kong has faded, with Japan now attracting even more Chinese nationals to do their high-end purchases from their island neighbor. I saw Chinese buyers eagerly lining up to buy the latest models from Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

It was quite clear during my visit that while Chinese tourists have not come back in droves, a lot of them – families mostly, are traveling to Japan. It was apparent that mainland Chinese tourists are becoming more adept at traveling on their own without having to rely on package tours.

Indeed, with the still cool May weather, visitors from all nationalities are congregating in Japan. In my hotel alone, there was a constant stream of visitors from Australia, Britain, Korea and India, but surprisingly few Filipinos this time around. Perhaps Tokyo holds more allure for Filipinos than Osaka.

Osaka

In Osaka, where we chose to vacation this time around, a variety of tourists have learned to opt for a visit to the Kuromon market to get their fill of the bountiful and fresh Japanese seafood and famous wagyu and Kobe beef, and with the very favorable exchange rate of a depreciated yen, indulging in these delicacies was a steal.

A word of advice though, while the Kuromon market may offer an opportunity to sample oysters, king crab, abalone and other delicacies, bear in mind though that the market only offers basic grilling that oftentimes does not really enhance the flavor of the said delicacies and that to enjoy the best wagyu, Kobe beef or eel, one should still go to reputable restaurants to enjoy the best preparation of the ingredients, with the cost of the meal of course more pricey.

The Namba district where the famous Dotonbori strip is located remains to be the main tourist shopping area, although the area where the Osaka Station is located houses more upscale malls such as Lucua and Eki Marche and where some of the more upscale hotels like the Intercontinental, Westin and Hilton hotels are.

Osaka’s other attractions, of course, are the Osaka Castle, Aquarium, Zoo and the American Universal Studios recreational park.  Unfortunately, or at least in my opinion, the one thing that Osaka lacks is the old world charm of traditional Japanese homes and neighborhoods.

A subway ride exploration, in fact, revealed that Osaka is very urbanized with residential buildings, a very industrial feel and even some depressed neighborhoods whose traditional markets are dying, with shops shuttered and interestingly, baggage counters where old men, who I suspect do not have a home, store their luggages or bags during the day and most likely sleep in the streets at night, a growing phenomenon I have witnessed even in the very heart of the business district of Tokyo under overpasses.

Kyoto

The best thing about Osaka is its connectivity. Kyoto is a mere 25 to 30 minutes away by limited express train. It is also the jump off station to visit the famous town of Nara which has become quite popular recently, offering a chance to feed and pet some friendly, but increasingly pushy deer.

It is also a quick 45-minute train ride to Kobe where the famous Kobe beef is produced. Don’t expect prices to be cheaper though because quality still demands the same price, and like I said, preparation is still key to enjoying the ingredient and the service preparation adds to the cost of  an enjoyable meal.

Kobe is a nice day trip from Osaka and offers a relaxing look into a more suburban lifestyle for Japanese families and retirees and offers another cultural glimpse into the different islands of Japan.

I finally returned to Kyoto after a decade to find it as enchanting as ever. A walk along the Kamo River and the Gion district always brings a sense of calm and continuity of culture in the Land of the Rising Sun. The simple pleasure of watching a clear river, with beautifully colored ducks and heron fascinates the viewer.

However, it is also quite clear that the modern world has begun to slowly change the way of life in the culturally historic city, the most glaring of which is seen in the world famous Nishiki Market.

It was, in fact, sad to see the traditional food market catering to locals now transformed into a very touristy and performance driven food hall, packed with tourists and tour groups all jostling for space in the somehow narrowed lane.

It was also sad to see some of the struggling merchants trying to hold on to their traditional stalls as new more commercial stall owners cater to the throngs of foreigners wanting to experience the famous Japanese food market while some stalls were shuttered, probably as the rents may have increased as competition for tourist dollars has changed the Nishiki market.

Lost and found

One unique trait that foreigners admire most in Japanese culture is their trustworthiness and honesty. The Japanese NHK World TV had a feature segment about the increasing number of lost items turned over to lost and found counters all over Japan... including even the smallest items.

It is ingrained early in Japanese students to return whatever they find, and thus the system works because whatever they see that is not claimed, they return to a lost and found center.

I have witnessed this on several occasions, even during a silent fight between two Japanese women who dropped their belongings during their physical altercation. When I informed the manager about the dropped items, he assured me to just leave the items where they had left it as they would likely return when they settle down, and sure enough they came back after a long couple of minutes.

Even in shopping malls, if an item remains unclaimed, usually the cleaning staff or some concerned person will bring it to the lost and found center where there is always a person on duty to process the paperwork from the person who turned over the lost item, and for those looking for an item to file  a claim for their lost belonging.

I always notice the long line at these counters and truly admire the honesty of most Japanese. According to the NHK World TV feature, they have now developed an app for the millions of lost items turned over so that claimants can more easily search and claim their lost belongings online.

In my own case, I left my special prescription eyeglasses on my PAL return flight back from Osaka and I was apprehensive that it may not be returned as I only noticed the loss before I sent this story. A quick call to Cielo Villaluna of PAL and she assuaged my fears. After a search...hallelujah! It was returned...so, honesty is not only from Japanese people, it is also from Filipinos as well.

Thank you to PAL’s Lito Hibo for personally returning my eyeglasses to my home – over and above the call of duty!