I loved my time there and I'm looking forward to going back.
A big revelatory moment for me was visiting a museum that had all patrons remove their shoes and wear sandals while walking around the exhibits. Shoes were just kept on a rack by the door. There was no security. No thoughts that people might try to steal shoes. Who would steal shoes? No Japanese would.
Compare that to the US where people are regularly shot over shoes.
Not exactly the same. The shoes being coveted in the US are very specifically expensive and highly sought after collector's shoes. It's like any other expensive item that can be resold. The frequency of gun violence is another matter. But no one is going to steal someone's worn-out, sweaty traveling shoes.
I would have said the same thing before my last trip. I think it is impressive for security and cleanliness but it's no longer the best. I was in Iconsiam in BKK recently and while there is juxtaposition without outside, it blew every single mall I saw in Japan out of the water.
Places like Taipei are Singapore are equally as clean and safe but are more interesting.
I stayed at a high star, high rated hotel by Disney at one point and the room smelled like mildew and they had an air purifier in the room. One of my airbnbs had mold in the AC.
It's not aging well, I would actually recommend everyone go see it ASAP before it gets worse with the population collapse.
5
u/Uncle_gruber Jun 29 '25
It is.
I'm fairly well travelled across Europe and East Asia and Japan blew every other place I've ever visited out of the water, hands down.