Japan

“What is sought for in a holiday is a set of photography images, which have already been seen in tour company brochures or on TV programmes.” – John Urry from his 2002 book, The Tourist Gaze. It’s how we prove we were there, and the growth of online platforms has made these images into the social currency that we use to validate our lives. Each photo says, I was here. I’ve seen it. Hell, I live it. And it most definitely altered the way I experienced Japan. I’d been told that Tokyo ...

I have a shelf full of Lonely Planet books. I buy one about six months before each trip and flip through it, folding page corners for coffee shops, quirky hotels and the like. I also hoard travel magazines. I have my favourites – Afar, Conde Nast Traveler, Airbnb. They’re stacked together in white mesh racks. Oh, and Pinterest. I do that too. Gorgeous images. Well researched articles. Insider tips. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I do research. I have a pretty good idea ...

We arrived in Tokyo on a Friday afternoon. Picked up the bags, bought a SIM card and booked seats on the train that would take us into the city. Ordinarily, I’d grab a cab to the hotel after a long flight. In Japan, that would cost more than $300. And if you read my first post, nope. The high-speed train that runs the length of the country is called the Shinkansen – and it moves fast. I watched the scenery glide by. The city seemed muted. Square windows, flat walls, soft colours. ...

If you’re like me there’s a feeling of dread that comes with walking up to a check in counter at the airport. Did I remember my passport? Did I get the aisle seat? Did my booking even go through? But it’s always ok. It always works out just fine. Until it doesn’t. We arrived at the airport early. Really early. There was no line. We walked up to the counter and handed over our passports. She checked our tickets. Good. Our seats. Also good. But as she flipped back and forth through our ...