What I’m Most Looking Forward to in Japan 2024

My dear friend Ingrid asked me the other day what I’m most looking forward to in Japan this year. It’s been four and a half years since my last trip. I told her the first thing I’m going to do when I arrive is go to the konbini (convenience store) at Narita Airport and buy an omurice onigiri. If this sounds mysterious, it’s really not. It’s rice, cooked with ketchup and sometimes chicken, with an omelet on top. It’s the very best kind of comfort food, and the perfect snack for the train ride in to Tokyo.

Super Sake Boy will almost certainly be buying sake one cups for the journey. Japan, being a very civilised place, allows consumption of alcohol on bullet trains and airport trains. A sake one cup is a perfect serve, ready to drink in a glass, and available from all konbini. Not only is there a wonderful choice of sake in Japan, it’s a fraction of the price it is in Australia, so we always make the most of the opportunity.

Food

Eating in Japan is a treat, always. I’m excited to visit izakaya and eat yakitori and other delicious morsels. Ichiran Ramen is on my list, for their incredible tonkotsu ramen. My mouth is watering just thinking about it and I just ate. I’m craving okonomiyaki, cooked on a grill in the table in front of me. It will be the end of winter, so Japanese kare-rice, curry rice, will be an excellent choice this time of year. Embarrassingly, along with omurice onigiri, my other favourite thing to eat also comes from the konbini. Arabiki sausage, on a stick, with equal squirts of ketchup and mustard. Heaven.

Sake

Sake, or more accurately, nihonshu, is abundant, cheap, and wonderful in Japan. Additionally, the choice is overwhelming, and it’s difficult not to be tempted to justify drinking a lot. We are really looking forward to meeting members of the Taste With The Toji Tokyo Chapter, and the Kyoto crew, too. Hopefully, we will be tasting lots of sake which is unavailable in Australia.

Bookstores and Libraries

Japan has some of the best bookstores in the world. Tsutaya Bookstore in Nagoya is one of the most photographed bookstores in the world. I’m looking forward to visiting the Ginza store. We will also visit Kinokuniya and Daikanyama T-Site. Unfortunately, due to luggage allowances. I won’t be able to buy as many books as I would like. But, I’ll certainly be bringing some back.

I’ve never visited libraries in Japan before, but have found two that look amazing. The first is Nakajima Library, in Akita. It is built to look like a coliseum of books, made from wood. The second is Kanazawa Umimirai Library, in Ishikawa. This building is a modern architectural space, making great use of natural light. Look out for bookish photos to follow.

Socks

Japanese socks are inexpensive, cute, and comfortable. I used to buy all my socks in Japan when I was visiting regularly. As it’s been such a long time since my last visit, my sock draw needs some new Japanese socks. (Marie Kondo folded, of course). I have a favourite sock shop in Teramachi in Kyoto, and I hope it’s still there. I nearly cried when my Miffy socks got a hole in them. I’m looking forward to being able to replace them.

stationery

Lastly, my other obsession in Japan is stationery. I buy Japanese stationery here in Melbourne. But the good stuff is expensive. So, I will be stocking up on all my favourite things while I’m there. It’s cheaper, and the range is bigger. The stationery stores, bookstores, and department stores have such a brilliant range, it’s sometimes like torture trying to choose just a few things.

Thirteen days away, and counting. I can’t wait to be in Japan again. I forgot to mention trains and toilets…but that goes without saying.Oh, and Japanese breakfast. And…my home away from home, Guesthouse Soi in Kyoto.

Follow my adventures on Instagram here. If you’re into sake, discover Taste with the Toji here.

You can read about Eating in Japan here.