I often get a lot of questions about what I do in Japan by people that I talk with online. Many of them assume that I’m going to idol concerts or finding anime-related events and things to regularly visit. Others think that Japan is mostly a historical place with lots of temples and castles. There’s some overlap in expectations, but these tend to be the main things people assume that I do for fun. Most of the time, these come from people focusing on their primary interests in Japan. They tend to focus only on the bigger events and forget about the fact that I live here. It would be rather difficult to keep myself entertained for years by going to see the same castles or visiting the same anime shops over and over. And these pastimes, while decently popular, are limited in scope and options. While they are things that you can do in Japan, they are far from the things that I include in my regular, week-to-week entertainment. If you think about it, it’s fairly obvious that Japan must have more to do than just those few things. But, what exactly is there to do? Depending on your personal interests, you will probably know more about certain aspects of things to do in Japan than others.

People who are more interested in amusement parks would know about Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland, whereas other people might focus on the multiple locations to go skiing or hiking. I, personally, enjoy video games, dancing, and relaxed, cultural activities. As a result, I know mostly about places to go and do these things – particularly in my area. As an example, I know that Nagoya is home to the Little World of Man, which is a large cultural museum, which has both an indoor and outdoor section. The outdoor section displays different cultures around the world at different points in time while the indoor section catalogues the history of Japan’s development, including displays of traditional masks, totems, and tools. I also know about the active Latin dance scene, which has dance clubs and dance studios in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and other places. Yet even these aren’t the focus of my daily activities. I usually visit special art exhibits, hang out to sing karaoke or game with my friends, or do cultural activities with my girlfriend (such as making tie-dye handkerchiefs). If you’re looking to expand your horizons, Japan has a wide variety of activities packed into places that are close by. One city can have all of these things and more within easy travel distance. As long as you come with an open mind, the possibilities are almost limitless!