First, I apologize for the delay in writing my 100th post, which marks a significant milestone. In addition to guiding tourists visiting Japan, I had a two-week charity assignment, where I was on a filming mission to a donor country for the current fiscal year. Though not directly related to Japan, this assignment was a unique opportunity for me to explore different cultures and gain insights that I can share with you in future posts. I just returned to Japan on the 5th to cover the earthquake damage that occurred last November in a remote village deep in the mountains of western Nepal.
This spring marks exactly two years since Japan A to Z began, two years ago, at the height of the Corona crisis, when people worldwide were itching to travel. At the time, if I continued to do this every week for a year, that would be good enough for me, but I have reached a significant milestone of two years and 100 posts. I could have reached the 100th post because of the incredible support I received from every one of you. Your encouragement through comments and other means has been a constant source of inspiration. With them, I made it this far. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your unwavering support and for joining this journey with me.
In this post, instead of providing the usual information for our readers, I would like to share with you what I want to achieve in the future now that I have passed the 100th anniversary of the Japan A to Z magazine. Your feedback and expectations are crucial to me, and I value them greatly. Specifically, I would appreciate your thoughts on the types of content you find most useful, any areas you feel could be improved, and any specific topics or regions you would like to see covered in future posts. Please let me know what you, the readers, expect from Japan A to Z.
For the past two years, the topics I have delivered every week have been random and often based on my feelings when I walked around the city or took guided tours. Therefore, there was a lot of information on cherry blossoms in spring, and in fall, there was a lot of information on autumn leaves. My biggest goal was to continue writing every week until the 100th issue, and my biggest goal was to continue writing every week without taking a break, which was my top priority.
As I approach the new phase of 100 posts, I want to introduce two exciting new elements: more concrete itinerary suggestions, where I will provide detailed travel plans for specific regions in Japan, and interaction with my readers, where I will actively seek your input and engage in discussions about your travel experiences and preferences. I hope these additions will make your experience with Japan A to Z even more enriching and enjoyable.
Itinerary Suggestion
My childhood experience informs my work as a writer and guide for Substack. It was between the ages of three and four. At the time, I was living in Chiba Prefecture, the eastern neighbor of Tokyo, and when my mother and I visited Tokyo from time to time, I used to show a keen interest in the names and order of the train stops. Eventually, I began to recite their order, even though I was not forced to do so by anyone. When I went to elementary school, I would make imaginary trips while looking at railroad timetables for the whole country.
For example, I would draw imaginary route maps on a blank map, wondering what would happen if I took a local train from Tokyo to Osaka or what kind of itinerary I could make if I circled the Tohoku region by train. By the time I reached high school, when I was financially and physically able to travel on my own to some extent, I had an intense yearning for the unknown that would define my life. This yearning eventually led to an exchange program in high school and long-term bicycle trips to Australia and New Zealand in my later life.
Through these experiences, creating an itinerary according to the situation at any given time is manageable. Still, if my knowledge is valuable, I would like to use it to help travelers in Japan. So, in updating my page on Japan A to Z, I'd like to propose an Itinerary that will be useful to readers, even if it may be irregular. In that sense, I will also change my page, so please look forward to it.
Interaction with Readers
While I can suggest itineraries based on my imagination, I need to understand what kind of places and experiences you are looking for to make this site more useful to you. Your input is not just significant; it's essential. I want to have an honest conversation with you, exchange information via the Chat function as we see fit, and make this platform a space where we can all learn and grow together.
Furthermore, although not immediately, I hope this newsletter will be open to more than small travel tips; it will also cover topics becoming social issues for travel in Japan, such as overtourism in Kyoto and Mt. Fuji. These issues are essential to understand for a responsible and sustainable travel experience in Japan. It will be an opportunity to learn about the depths of Japanese society, which cannot be understood simply by taking commemorative photos at tourist attractions.
I look forward to your thoughts and feedback on these topics. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to share them. Your input is invaluable to me and will help shape the future of the Japan A to Z newsletter.
Finally
This is my 100th newsletter; for me, it is a significant milestone. However, if you consider this issue a new step forward, there is still much more to tell you. I plan to provide small pieces of information, such as local customs and etiquette, lesser-known attractions, and tips for navigating public transportation, to make travel to Japan more efficient and comfortable so that many people will want to revisit Japan. One hundred travelers can have 100 different journeys, and finding the perfect answer common to all is complicated. However, I want to respond to such requests and provide information carefully. Thank you for your continued support.
Congratulations on achieving this milestone. You're an inspiration. On a go-forward basis, how about showcasing more off the beaten track spots?
Congratulations! I think it’s nice that you write what you call “random” posts. What strikes your fancy at a given moment is the catalyst for interesting observations!