Japan. The Land Of The Rising Sun. One of the most popular travel destinations in the world. A bucket list entry for many. Well, I’ve done the honourable thing and have visited Japan so you don’t have to. Here are 20 reasons why you should not travel to Japan.
1. Japan is pretty boring. I’ve no idea why people travel here
Osaka Castle
2. It definitely isn’t for the bland food…
Street food at the Tsukiji Food Market, Tokyo
3. Or its uninspiring architecture
Senso-ji, Tokyo
4. Or the slow and outdated trains
A shinkansen train
5. The autumn colours are nothing to shout home about
Autumn colours, Okunoin cemetery
6. And the scenery doesn’t really stand out
View from Magome on the ancient Nakasendo Trail
7. There are probably better views outside your bedroom window!
Kokoen Garden, Himeji
8. Japan is all about skyscrapers and cities
Magome
9. I mean, Tokyo is just a jungle of concrete and glass
A storefront in the Golden Gai area, Shinjuku
10. And there are so many people everywhere!
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto
11. The sunsets are not very impressive
Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
12. Sunrises aren’t much better, either
Sunrise in Arashiyama
13. There is no wildlife
A deer in Nara
14. There are too many tourists at major sights
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto
15. There is not much happening after dark
Shibuya, Tokyo
16. Did I mention the food wasn’t great
Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima
17. And there is nowhere to shop
Yodobashi Akiba department store
18. There really isn’t much to see
Reikado (Hall of Eternal Flame), Miyajima
19. I mean, there are way way cooler places to visit
Itsukushima shrine, Miyajima
20. Hopefully I have convinced you not to go to Japan
Torii gate, Miyajima
Pin this for later to remind that of all the reasons not to go to Japan
33 Comments
Albert Bond
May 19, 2017 at 5:35 pmLove the title! At first I was like this must be a typo or something is wrong with me, why is he saying I shouldn’t go to Japan. Great post. Japan is of course on everyone’s list, certainly mine for the very reasons you highlighted.
Tracy
May 19, 2017 at 6:10 pmYep had the opposite effect! I cannot wait to see Japan!!! So much to see and eat and see and eat and it looks amazing!!! And I want to take one of those trains!!!!
Sanna Vegancruiser
May 19, 2017 at 7:23 pmFabulous photography! Love the look of Japan and think I would love to visit (esp Kyoto for the temples) but the long flight puts me off. There must be a cruise or two I could do, surely?
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net)
May 19, 2017 at 9:56 pmOh yeah. We are definitely not going just as soon as we can’t make it there. 🙂 #FeetDoTravel
Garth
May 21, 2017 at 8:51 pmtoo funny! Great photos, just love everything about Japan!!
Angie (FeetDoTravel)
May 22, 2017 at 7:59 amIt’s very lovely of you to visit Japan to save me going, and after reading your post, I definitely don’t want to go there now … I NEED to go! I cannot live the rest of my life not travelling to this amazing country, it’s now a right of passage for me as a traveller … it’s something I feel I should do! Japan is absolutely top of my bucket list. Pinned for when I visit! #feetdotravel
Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
May 22, 2017 at 2:53 pmLove the stunning photos of Japan! Also love how you spun the article and photos to have fellow travels visit the amazing Japan. Great job! Thanks for sharing 🙂 #feetdotravel
Shona @ paraphernalia.co
May 23, 2017 at 10:43 amHaha! Most amusing. I thought this would be tongue in cheek based on the title. Lovely photos! 🙂
Carmen Baguio
May 25, 2017 at 7:06 pmThe hubby lived in Japan 3 years and has been saying the same thing! I’ll think we’ll be visiting in the next year or two. Great photos!
Trippin' Turpins (Kelly)
May 26, 2017 at 4:44 amSo you obviously want to keep Japan all to yourself! Great photos!
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:51 pmHaha, it’s clearly not working judging by my visit last week!
Maria
May 26, 2017 at 7:22 amWow those photos are gorgeous! And dedinitleybsome valid arguments there hahah
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:50 pmYep all factual and unquestionable!
James
May 26, 2017 at 8:07 amYou took some wonderful images in Japan and added a nice bit of sarcasm! I’ve canceled my upcoming trip to Japan, lol.
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:49 pmHaha, yes my plan worked! Funnily enough I was there 2 days ago! Clearly not listening to my own advice!
Siddharth and Shruti
May 26, 2017 at 8:49 amHahahah. Love it! Beautiful photography. You have managed to make us smile and be jealous both at the same time. Japan is such an amazing country!
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:49 pmIt truly is! Hopefully I haven’t put you off!
David
May 26, 2017 at 12:48 pmYeh, it looks pretty dull. Your posts from there haven’t made me want to go back in the slightest. Those photos above are terrible and in no way make me want to visit immediately. *not
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:48 pmPhew, I am glad you agree!
Cat (Not Wanderlust)
May 26, 2017 at 4:56 pmSarcasm is one of my favorite things, and so this was fabulous. A nice change of pace from articles taking themselves too seriously. Loved it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:47 pmThank you – was hoping it wouldn’t backfire like I’ve seen in some similar posts!
Sandy N Vyjay
May 27, 2017 at 7:39 amWow! your efforts to convince me not to go to Japan, seems to have boomeranged. Now i want to get to Japan ASAP 🙂
Kreete
May 27, 2017 at 2:20 pmHaha hilarious! You are right when you say this might have an opposite effect! Haha! Damn Id love to see it one day! Amazing gallery, Alexei!
Sina
May 28, 2017 at 9:58 amIt does have the opposite effect 😀 Japan looks stunning and I’d love to visit that part of the world. It looks so different to anything I’ve seen so far, not sure about the food though – looks quite bland 😀
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:44 pmYeah, I mean make sure to bring food from home with you! Glad I’ve put you off!
travel4lifeblog
May 31, 2017 at 7:02 pmLOVE LOVE LOVE your sarcasm! AT first, when we read your title we thought that you were the only person in the world not to love Japan! Perfect title as in fact it encouraged us to read your article. Very nice article and different to the usual posts so well done! Love the photos too! We have been to Japan in the past but we can’t really say that we know it as we only visited Tokyo and Kamakura. Your post made us want to go back and explore more! Patrick and Cecile from http://www.travel4lifeblog.com
Travel Lexx
June 6, 2017 at 5:43 pmThank you! My worry was that my photos won’t be good enough and people won’t get the message!
ThriftyTrails
July 4, 2017 at 10:53 pmI knew I missed Japan already but you just reinforced the feeling. I had to click to see how you could possibly find a single reason NOT to visit Japan….I see what you did there. Japan will forever be one of my top favorite countries to visit!
Travel Lexx
July 19, 2017 at 11:06 pmI was lucky to go back for a few days last month and fell in love with it all over again!
Taiss (Together To Wherever)
January 5, 2018 at 8:15 pmI love this article! Japan is such an amazing place! We were only there for 5 days but enough to fall in love and want to go back again someday. so much to see and do and the foooooooood!!!!
Travel Lexx
January 7, 2018 at 5:51 pmAh just thinking about the food is making my mouth water! I was in love after about one day!
Eugeniy Palatkin
June 8, 2022 at 12:52 pmThis MUST be a joke! I only want to go to Japan because of all of the skyscrapers and modern architecture in Tokyo. Also, because Japan is pretty funky with their candy and everything.
Travel Lexx
September 15, 2022 at 1:26 pmDefinitely tongue-in-cheek 🙂 Tokyo is great fun