Things I Love About Japan (so Far)

While adjusting to life in Tokyo does present challenges, some things are definitely better here. One is dining out. There are many wonderful restaurants within walking distance of our house that serve delicious food from various cuisines at reasonable prices in small, intimate settings. These restaurants are owned and operated by individuals who haven’t bought into the economics of scale theory – perhaps because in Tokyo there’s not much room for scale. Instead, they seem to believe in the economics of great food and great service, which works out well for us.

Haircuts are also better in Japan. It’s not that the stylists have more training or creative talent, it’s that they include massage as part of the process. You get a good 10 minutes of scalp massage during the shampoo phase, plus a glorious 10 minutes of neck and shoulder massage prior to your blow dry. To top it all off, the whole thing costs about half what I paid back in Orange County. The woman who cut my hair spoke English pretty well. She giggled when I told her that you don’t get a massage with your haircut in the U.S. “Only shampoo?” she asked, as though she couldn’t quite picture how that would work.

Parking garages are better – or at least cooler. In some cases, you drive your car into a large elevator and take a ticket. You go off shopping or whatever, and your car is transported to another level and parked. When you return, you simply put your ticket in a machine and pay the amount due. Somehow, your car gets back in the elevator and when the doors open, you just hop in and drive off. Imagine not having to remember where you parked your car!

People ride bikes everywhere. I love seeing moms on their “housewife bikes” with a sleeping baby slouched over in a carrier ahead of the handle bars, and a chatting toddler in a carrier over the rear wheel. It’s also fun to see professional women in skirts and high heels booking down the hill that extends from our house to the station – holding umbrellas over their heads if it’s raining.

I’m sure I’ll find many more things to love about Japan and will definitely keep you posted.