Hitchhiking across Japan [PICS]
During my stays in Japan I have the fortune of experiencing many different aspects of the culture. From business, to food and amazing friendships. For most foreigners their knowledge of Japan go no further then Sushi and Tokyo, but I was sure that there was more to it. After living in Japan for nearly a year, near the end of my stay I decided to hitchhike across Japan.
Yes, you heard me right. I hitch hiked across from. From Tokyo to Sapporo. I wanted to find the real spirit of Japan, I wanted to know what the culture, and the people were like outside of its big cities, I wanted to know more about its dialects, regional foods and personalities.
Hitchhiking across Japan was a difficult task, it was my first time hitchhiking and I over packed, and made plenty of mistakes, but I don’t regret a single thing. The kindness I received from strangers throughout the countryside was amazing! When I came back from my trip, not only did I have a very different outlook on Japan and its people, but also my Japanese had improved by 100 fold. Because most of the people who stopped for me didn’t even speak English!
I’d ridden with sales men, college students, families, a truck driver and two women who have an affinity for cats. I was given more free diners then I can count, given many gifts that remain near and dear to me, including extremely rare coins, on other days I went with very little to eat and no cash in my pocket. I learned that most of Japan outside of three major cities runs on cash.
I loved hitchhiking across Japan and its something I plan on doing again, though I will be a lot more prepared!
December 16th, 2002 at 11:22 pm
I don’t know if you’re familiar with him or not but Alan Booth has written some excellent Japan travelogues. He walked all over Japan and documented the entire experience in two books. BTW, compared to the US, Japan’s banking system is archaic, so it’s no wonder they prefer to keep their savings stashed under a pillow.
Jya, mata
December 21st, 2002 at 4:07 am
Thanks for those, I quite enjoyed them, and it inspires me to try this type of transportation in the near future. I’ve hitchhiked before, ages ago in Europe, but for some reason the thought hasn’t really occurred to me here in Japan. But I can think of no safer country in which to try it. Great views of Matsushima and Hakodate too!
December 22nd, 2002 at 3:37 am
such pretty pics of japan *-*
December 31st, 2002 at 8:42 am
Ejovi,
I learned of you while hearing you interviewed on NPR, bought your book etc. When I read about your relationship with Jun Ito, it struck a cord because I am trying to implement what I put into the US-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation Agenda in the way of a proposal for computer security experts from both countries to do collaborative research to make networks more secure. This has become the policy of both govts but moving it to actual implementation is a real challenge. Do you have any suggestions such as getting Jun Ito and his colleagues involved. And can you send me an English lnge website for Jun Ito. I work for the Institute for Defense Analyses. I got your website from Alondra Nelson of Yale Univ who reviewed your book in the New York Times.
Jim Delaney
February 10th, 2003 at 8:57 pm
good job
February 17th, 2004 at 12:45 pm
Guess what! I am gonna begin my first hitch-hiking the day after! but, I happen to be a female of the age of 21. wish me luck!
p.s.good job.
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