Tokyo recap and why I love Japan

Sharing a recap of what we did in Tokyo, where we stayed and already looking forward to going back. 

Hi friends! How are you?? I hope you’re having a lovely morning. I have a lot of content to record today – Healing Code re-launches on Monday! – and am going to catch an upper body workout and the massage chair at the gym.

Today, I’m sharing the first of my Japan posts!

Here are our Japan and Korea recap posts so far:

Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate

Tokyo recap and why I love Japan (this post)

Kyoto itinerary and tips for travel to Japan

What we ate in Japan (and gf picks)

My Korean Head Spa experience

Tokyo recap and why I love Japan

I’ve been avoiding writing this post because the reality is that I have Japression.

Usually I feel a little down after coming home from a trip, but this is next level. It normally hits me hard that I can no longer walk outside all day (it’s way too hot here and Tucson is definitely not walkable), explore new places, spend uninterrupted time with the fam, eat incredible food, and shop all the livelong day. Instead, I’m back to chores, feeding everyone, and cleaning up after feeding everyone lol.

This trip feels different because Japan was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The culture, the way of life, the deep respect, kindness, care, and professionalism, the clean streets, the cleanest food, the scenery… it honestly felt like another planet.

One of the biggest things I noticed was the level of pride people take in everything they do. It didn’t matter if it was a restaurant server, Uber driver, hotel receptionist, convenience store employee, or someone helping us at the train station. Everyone seemed committed to doing their absolute best, and it was inspiring to see. People were kind and welcoming, everything felt incredibly safe, and I felt the best I’ve felt in a really long time while we were there.

I also noticed how healthy and well-groomed everyone seemed. You don’t really see people wandering around in pajamas screaming at each other lol. There’s just this underlying sense of respect for yourself and for the people around you.

What surprised me most was how calm my nervous system felt the entire time. Even though you’re surrounded by bright lights, huge buildings, and tons of people, it never feels chaotic. Everything is so organized and orderly that your body actually feels like it can relax. I didn’t realize how much I needed that feeling until I experienced it. Since we’ve been home, I’ve been trying really hard to bring pieces of that feeling back with me.

I mentioned this in my Seoul recap, but Japan and Korea honestly weren’t my first choice for a vacation. I knew it would be fun, but I felt overwhelmed by the planning and wasn’t sure if they’d be places I’d ever want to visit again. Now I feel so naive because I had no idea how special these countries are. I already can’t wait to go back.

People keep asking if I preferred Korea or Japan, and I can’t choose because they’re so different while also complementing each other perfectly. If you ever have the opportunity to visit that part of the world, do both. I promise you’ll understand the second you experience it for yourself.

And if you do both, I highly recommend starting in Seoul and then heading to Tokyo. It was the perfect combo. Read Original