For westerners traveling to Asia, is it better to vacation in China or Japan? – Part 1
Having been to both China and Japan, I am now writing this based on experience. Let me start off by saying I have been to many countries in Asia and all of them have their own perks and negatives. As far as vacationing in China or Japan I have picked Japan simply because I had more fun in Tokyo than in Beijing.
My Journey started off in Camp Fuji, about 2-3 hours west of Tokyo. I was blowing explosives at the base of Mount Fuji, when i looked up to admire the view. My curiosity grabbed me so I filled out the waiver required to climb Mount Fuji when it is off limits. And we started to climb. There were check points along the way and when they are open you can get stamps on your stick to show how far you have been up. The snow at my feet and the mountain above me my troupe and me continued to press the mountain. We wanted nothing more than to be at the top for a few pictures and a victory cheer. Once at the top you are humbled. Looking out to see what is presumably the country side of Japan. In the distance you can see the famous cherry blossom trees. and right next to us hole that is the top of a volcano. After a full hour of relaxing at the top we started our decent. I thought the down was interesting because the whole world seemed to shape around our view. We were almost skiing down the mountain but if felt as if we were actually walking a straight line and the city at the bottom was on another mountain. I made it down the mountain without a hitch. Walking away from the mountain I decided to take another picture (you know those postcards of Japan that show Mount Fuji with the extra side of the volcano sticking out? I actually have that picture on a personal level). The awe mother nature never ceases to amaze me and is what really keeps me going.
The mountain was an amazing experience, Tokyo would prove to be more amazing. The next day waking up in the cold environment reminded me to bundle up. I started out by leaving toward the train station, about a 45 minute walk. Armed with this information I hailed a cab. and the 1000 yen and 7 minute drive was well worth it. I got on the train and went to Shinjuku, then jumped on a bus from there to Tokyo. I was told Rapungi was the place to go if you wanted to get a drink. My source was right. Walking around reminds me of Times Square at New York City. I found the cheapest of hotels, a Government ID card only place called the New Sano right next to the American Embassy and about a 15 minute walk from the “strip”. Tokyo has a certain lure about it. I found most of the people extremely friendly. So I was walking up and down the strip to get a feel for the place when I realized there were more shops and bars in the upper levels of the super tall buildings. The day was exciting and the evening doubly so. if drinking is your thing then there are Irish bars. if dancing is your thing then the Gas Panick is the place for you. There are many places to have fun and unwind. I ended my weekend at Shinjuku where i found myself on the second floor of a dance club listening to Japanese rap music and drinking a beer.
This was just one of my weekends in Tokyo. I lived in Japan for about a year and have had many experiences in different locations in Asia. Japan was the absolute hands down most fun I have had in my life. I was able to do more in Japan than China because the cost of living in China was so much higher and I wasn’t able to do as much.
Disclaimer: I personally believe that a better vacation spot is actually relevant. You can have just as much fun in China as you can in Japan. I had to choose a side and I just happened to have more fun in Japan. I also encourage you to get out and travel.
