Japan: The Place I Sometimes Wonder If I Should Have Never Left
By Luca Bonafede · May 30, 2026 ·
A few days ago, someone I care about asked me what they should see in Japan besides Tokyo, and what they absolutely should not miss while visiting Tokyo itself.
My experience is admittedly a little outdated. I lived in Japan in 2013 and returned a couple of times in 2014. A lot has changed since then.
However, experiences do not expire.
The Japan I experienced was real, and it remains one of the most memorable chapters of my life.
It Started With a Movie
The first time I became fascinated with Japan was in 2006, after watching Tokyo Drift.
I remember thinking:
"One day, I'm going to live in Tokyo."
At the time, it felt distant, almost unrealistic. But I knew it was going to happen at some point.
In early 2011, I was preparing to visit Japan with a friend who is half Japanese. I was close to booking the ticket when tragedy struck. On March 11, 2011, the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami changed everything.
The trip never happened.
A few months later, I moved to Australia instead. Life took a different direction.
Then, in 2013, I finally made the decision. How? That's another story...
I moved to Japan.
Before anything else, I should mention something important.
A huge part of my experience in Japan had nothing to do with places, food, or technology.
It was the people.
I met some truly incredible individuals during my time there, and many of my strongest memories are tied to them.
In particular, I want to thank Taishi and his Father for their warm welcome in Tokyo, for a friendship that continued long after I left and the memorable nights we spent together. Arriving in a new country alone on the other side of the world is not always easy, and the people you meet define everything.
I should also say this clearly: I was not overwhelmed by Japan. Quite the opposite.
I felt at home in a way I did not expect.
There is much more to Tokyo and Japan than what I describe here. This is simply my experience — the places I personally lived in, walked through, and connected with.
Living in Tokyo
Tokyo is not a single city. It feels like dozens of worlds layered together, each with its own rhythm.
Aobadai
Aobadai is where I lived.
It was where daily life happened: morning walks, quiet streets, convenience stores, and the simple feeling of belonging somewhere rather than passing through.
When I think of Japan, Aobadai is the closest thing I have to home there.
Akasaka
A balance of business and nightlife, always connected and convenient, never far from anything.
Asakusa
Traditional Tokyo at its best — a place where history still feels alive. You can't miss this location!
Daikanyama
One of Tokyo’s most elegant neighbourhoods, home to Daikanyama T-Site, often considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
I have mentioned Daikanyama's convience store in another post on this website How to avoid jet-lag? My first memorable sunrise in Japan!
Ebisu
A polished, easygoing neighbourhood where everything feels slightly more relaxed, yet still distinctly Tokyo.
Ginza
A world of precision and luxury, where walking the streets already feels like an experience.
Harajuku
Creative, chaotic, and completely unique.
Kita-Senju
Less known, but one of the places where I saw everyday Tokyo life most clearly.
Nakameguro
Canals, cafés, quiet streets, and a slower rhythm that I immediately connected with.
It was also my dating spot, just a short walk from Aobadai — a place for easy afternoons, coffee, and long evenings without rush.
Omotesando
Wide, architectural, and beautifully designed streets that feel almost cinematic.
Oshiage
Home of Tokyo Skytree, with some of the best panoramic views in the city.
Roppongi
International, social, and always active.
A place where you find English speakers, global nightlife, and people from everywhere. Many Japanese people who want an international scene also end up here.
Consider yourself warned… haha.
Shibuya
No visit to Tokyo is complete without the Shibuya Crossing — one of the most recognisable intersections in the world. As seen in many movies.
For me, Shibuya was more than that.
It was where my gym was: Gold’s Gym.
I trained there twice a day and spent countless hours inside that building. I met people I still remember to this day, including some true legends of the fitness world.
After training, Shibuya often turned into my night out. The energy, the streets, the people — it became one of the places where I experienced Tokyo at its most alive.
Shinjuku
Bright lights, constant movement, and a version of Tokyo that never slows down. As seen in many movies from the 80's and 90's movies.
Tsukiji
A must for food lovers.
I went there early in the morning to see the fish market in full action. I nearly got run over several times by the small trucks moving through the narrow lanes with incredible speed.
It was chaotic, loud, and unforgettable.
A little dangerous? Yes.
Worth it? Absolutely.
Ueno
Culture, parks, museums, and a more relaxed side of the city.
Beyond Tokyo (Cities)
Ibaraki
Home to the giant Ushiku Daibutsu — one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world, and one you can actually walk inside.
Standing at its base is a surreal experience, I was there during tulip season too.
Kawaguchiko
One of the best places to see Mount Fuji in its full presence.
Quiet, open, and unforgettable. Just go!
Kobe
Elegant, calm, and balanced between sea and mountains. A softer contrast to Osaka’s intensity.
Kyoto
The cultural heart of Japan.
A city filled with temples, gardens, and history at every turn. It was Japan’s capital for over 1,000 years before the capital moved to Tokyo in 1868.
And there is a simple observation I always liked:
Tokyo feels like Kyoto with something added at the front.
Kyoto means “capital city.” KYO to
Tokyo means “eastern capital.” to KYO
The names themselves tell a story of transition.
Nara
A place that feels like another time entirely.
Thousands of deer roam freely through the city, bowing in exchange for food.
It is also home to Hōryū-ji, widely considered the oldest surviving wooden building in the world.
Walking through Nara feels like walking through living history.
Osaka
Loud, welcoming, and full of personality.
The famous Glico Running Man sign has become a symbol of the city itself.
Dotonbori at night is pure energy — bright lights, food, movement, and life everywhere.
If Tokyo is precision, Osaka is expression.
Yokohama
Often overlooked, but worth every visit.
I still remember the seafood — some of the freshest I had in Japan. A port city with a completely different atmosphere from Tokyo. One of my favourite days ever.
Looking Back
When I arrived in Japan in 2013, it genuinely felt like I had travelled ten years into the future.
Trains, technology, cleanliness, efficiency — everything operated at a level I had not experienced before.
Certain things felt unfamiliar at first. Others felt impossible to fully explain.
But that is exactly what made it special.
Today, I can only imagine how much further ahead it feels.
If Japan felt like 2023 in 2013, perhaps today it already feels like 2036.
Of all the places I have visited, Japan remains one of the few where I still wonder what life would have been like if I had stayed longer.
Maybe even built a life there.
That thought alone says enough.
Japan was never just a destination. It was a dream that started with a movie, survived cancelled plans, crossed continents, and became real.
And more than a decade later, it is still one of the places that left the deepest mark on me.
If you ever have the chance to go, whether for a week or a year:
Go.
You will never forget it.
Thank you, and ciao for now.
Luca Bonafede