On the Go: Day 3… Maybe 4… No, we’ll say 3.

A little confusing day two was; if your strictly speaking of whether it was one day or really two.

Japan is an interesting country. At first glance it can seem rather clean and organized, filled with friendly people that are always trying to help.

But I think that impression depends upon where you travel in Japan.

But if your like most people and start your journey In Tokyo it can seem positively overwhelming… in a positive way.

In fact, in some ways it made this proud American (usually…) feel kind of embarrassed over the state of the good ol US of A.

Arriving at the airport for starters:

The place was teaming with staff guiding and directing, answering questions (as best as the language barrier will allow). Each check point had sometimes dozens of queue’s processing people through.

And it was the cleanest airport I have ever seen; there wasn’t a spec of litter to be seen. It even smelled clean. Once we started walking around town it was much the same.

Then we got into the train system.

We had to take a couple smaller commuter trains around town before we got to the bullet train which took us from Tokyo to Osaka.

From there it was two more trains to our final destination: Wakayama.

All these trains were all clean and organized and well staffed. There was no graffiti on any train cars, period. And they never had that American subway smell of just not quite clean.

The United States has Amtrak, which is OK if your not in a hurry and you don’t mind sharing the rails with every American and Canadian freight train that has first dibs to every track available. And, the US has been ‘working on’ high speed rail for decades, and has yet to build one.

Meanwhile, Japan has them winding their way all around the country and has had them for years.

Don’t get me wrong; I like the USA.

But this push to “make America great again” makes me wonder what they are using as a benchmark for what’s great.

Japan is not perfect.

Even Japan has its seedy under-belly.

I was in a little town today on the way to our final destination where I actually saw 3 or 4 walls with graffiti on them and a candy wrapper on the sidewalk.

America’s reputation is safe after all.

So on to the favorites for today.

Obviously the people:

To see what looks like a 10 year old hop onto a train in one of the most complex and confusing rail systems in the world and ride, who knows where, all by himself.

This, a testimony to Japanese parenting styles, and a country where it’s generally safe enough for this to happen.

The culture:

In America I believe -too often- places where people are meant to enjoy a natural or man made spectacle is covered or surrounded with barriers and safety devices all in the name of keeping people safe.

In Japan, if there is a path with a short wall built by some lord from the 15th century overlooking the picturesque view of his lands below his castle, all you get is the original construction, and a perfect view.

The view:

To ride a bullet train and see mount Fuji outside your window.

The world’s best ramen noodles:

Being told by the hotel desk clerk that the little 5 seat restaurant in the train station has her favorite ramen, only to find your self in a spot that looks like something out of the Studio Ghibli movie ‘Spirited Away’, and serves’ only the best pork ramen I have ever tasted.

It was truly a spiritual experience.