During my Erasmus period in Taiwan, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Japan with a friend.
It was only a few days, but enough to get a small taste of this wonderful country. I would definitely like to experience it more deeply, because I have the feeling that the real Japan is discovered above all in the small towns outside the most touristy destinations.
We visited Kyoto and Osaka, two very different cities but both extremely interesting. Kyoto seemed almost suspended in time: temples hidden among the narrow streets, traditional neighbourhoods and a slower, more contemplative atmosphere.
During the day we also visited Mino, a small place immersed in nature, famous for its waterfalls and paths surrounded by maple leaves. It was autumn and the colours of the trees were incredible, with shades of red and orange that made the landscape beautiful.
Osaka, on the other hand, showed us the more vibrant and modern side of Japan: lights, street food, neighbourhoods full of energy and a very lively nightlife. It is a city that never seems to stop, yet at the same time maintains a strong local identity and an incredible culinary culture.
During the trip we stayed through Couchsurfing with a young man of Senegalese origin who had moved to Japan for work. It was a wonderful experience because it allowed us to enter, even if only for a few days, into local daily life. He told us many interesting things about Japanese people and their habits, giving us a different and much more authentic perspective than the tourist one.