Visiting Japan: Why You Need To Go Soon

Japan is a country that has garnered a reputation for itself as offering a rich culture infused with a modern and innovative society. This society quickly endears itself to the visitor and continues to draw in those who can’t help but want to learn more.

This is highlighted by the fact that Japan attracted a record number of tourists in 2017, with 28.69 million people visiting, resulting in an incredible increase of 19% compared to the previous year and the sixth consecutive yearly increase.

Large increases in the number of tourists can be attributed to substantial numbers visiting from fellow Asian countries, especially thanks to an increase in the number of budget flights from South Korea. This has been further supplemented by greater numbers of cruise ships arriving from China thanks to visa restrictions being lifted.

However, the appeal of visiting and spending time in Japan is not confined to Asian tourists, the combination of continued uncertainty back home and the rise of ‘Ego Travel’ has led to an increase in Millennials and members of Generation Z seeking out new destinations to fulfil their growing wanderlust.

This has been further underlined by the fact that following on from the publication of its half-year results for 2018, tour operator Thomas Cook announced that it is going to be pulling the plug on its notorious Club 18-30 holidays. They cite that this is due to a shift in the travel landscape, which has seen more and more young people become more interested in taking the perfect snap for Instagram rather than getting themselves ridiculously sunburnt and downing endless shots.

This has also been supplemented in the younger generations’ decision to embrace a healthier lifestyle compared to previous generations. Reflected by an increase in the popularity of health and well-being apps, with usage increasing by 330% in just 3 years. Despite the perceived hectic image of the large Japanese cities, this is a culture that has plenty to offer the younger traveller in terms of focusing on self-fulfillment and improved well-being.

If you are looking for a destination with a difference, then find out why you should consider visiting or even spending a period of time working in Japan before there is an explosion of westerners visiting this beautiful and unique country and get those perfect snaps for Instagram!

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Bathe in a Forest

The practice of forest bathing does not actually involve immersing yourself into water or bathing in a traditional manner. It is instead the translation for Shinrin-yoku, which is associated with spending time appreciating a forest for health and well-being reasons. There are numerous Japanese studies that claim that doing so actually boosts your immune system, leads to a reduction in stress hormones while enhancing your mental wellness and improving brain health. There have also been studies claiming that it lowers blood glucose levels for diabetes sufferers and improves the quality of their lives.

 

Recharge in a Zen Garden

Following on from the practice of bathing in a forest, it will come as no surprise that the Japanese culture places such a large emphasis upon one’s mental health and well-being and being interlined with the natural world. Due to this, the majority of gardens in Japan contain an area of Zen, which consists of a dry section reserved for an arrangement of smooth rocks set in raked gravel. This symbolises water and is believed to represent calmness and the soothing nature that water can bring; the omission of plants and tree is believed to be due to attempts to evoke emptiness through abstraction and proving a doorway for the individual to engage in the art of meditation.

Japan’s most famous Zen garden is situated at Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto, which attracts hundreds of visitors each day and is popular with both residents and tourists alike. There is an abundance of Zen Gardens located across Japan offering the visitor rest-bite from the stresses and strains of modern life and opportunity to indulge in a spot of photography in an incredibly beautiful location.

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Halloween

Japan is not only renowned for its encouragement of personal wellness, it also has a wacky side which is well documented. This is a country where the art of Cosplay was born thanks to a group of Japanese students who were fans of the television series Urusei Yatsura and would dress up as their favourite characters to re-intact scenes from iconic episodes.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Japanese are beginning to fall in love with Halloween more and more as it continues to grow in popularity across the country. Yet, it is not only limited to the usual ghouls and spooky costumes that we tend to see in the western world - there is pretty much a free for all on any and every kind of weird and wacky costume.

If you are able to spend time in the country around this festive period, then prepare for one of the most surreal experience of your life - seriously, you won’t be forgetting it any time soon!

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Job Satisfaction for Foreign Workers

Japan has something of a reputation for requiring workers to work all hours of the day and night while being stifled by unnecessary bureaucracy. However, this could not be further from the truth and there is no better way to discover Japan than by spending some time on a working holiday there and gaining a greater insight than most into the country. This is further highlighted by the fact that 80% of foreign workers in Japan are either satisfied or very satisfied with their employment in Japan.

With such a high percentage of job satisfaction, this really is one destination that should be on the list of anyone wishing to fulfill their wanderlust and spend some time in one of the world’s most interesting and diverse locations.