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Thirty minutes out of Nikko, our train stopped and didn’t start again. There had been a serious accident ahead of us. What happened over the next few hours — the way the staff drew the curtains, explained what they could, and moved an entire train full of strangers into taxis without a single person raising their voice — is something I’ve thought about every day since. Japan doesn’t just run on time. It runs on care.
More than thirty years after my first exchange trip to Japan, I’m finally returning. From Hokkaido school days and government exchange programs to teaching English in Sendai, Japan became a second home during my youth. This August, I’ll be sharing that world with my daughter as we reconnect with lifelong friends, revisit cherished memories, and explore both familiar and new corners of Japan.
Etiquette and respect are highly valued in Japan, and misbehaving tourists are increasingly causing frictions. In order not to annoy or offend the locals, foreign visitors should be familiar with at least the basic rules…
The protector of travellers and children, a series of nearly 100 small stone effigies of the Buddhist at Kanman-ga-Fuchi Abyss. Nikko is a truly diverse destination. Ornate shrines coexist with towering peaks, dramatic waterfalls, rejuvenating hot springs and sublime cuisine.