Josée's 2025 Japan Trip

Some Real Stupid Motherfuckers Out There

For the month of February, one of my goals was to work on planning my trip every day for at least 30 minutes. Which means my trip is so beyond set, LOL. Right now, why I’m working on is improving my Japanese (I use the Mango app, I have cue cards and my old workbook from that one semester I did Japanese at the Japanese Language School.) but also on looking up little lists and stuff with suggestions.

I’m clearly not looking into adding more stops, but things like ‘this place makes a great melon pan’ is what I want.  But I find myself annoyed with them too. Because it’s filled with ‘tips’ like ‘Dress very modestly, no shorts or tank tops if you’re a woman’ Like uhhh if it’s hot as balls, I dress like I want. Like clearly not if I’m going to a temple or shrine because that’s a RELIGIOUS site – but everyday wear?? Fuck off! Like I’m not going to dress like I’m going clubbing but come on!

‘Cover your tattoos’ - I shan’t!! They’re on my fucking forearms!

‘Don’t put soy on white rice, you’ll look like a tourist’ - But I am a tourist?? Lemme eat my fucking rice like I want?? Like I’m fat, white and have red fucking hair and green eyes and don’t speak the language – they KNOW I ain’t local??

Like I totally get the don’t be noisy rules or not sticking your chopsticks in your food – because there’s a difference between being a tourist and being fucking rude.

Like practical advice like ‘don’t roll your luggage on a tatami mat, I’ll break the mat’ is USEFUL! Telling me to dress like a fucking nun ain’t it, chief. Like, I’m clearly not Japanese!

Like I bought a small booklet of basic rules of politeness and stuff for Japan, I’m clearly down to following rules. But some of them are batshit and it’s always ‘This is what a local would do’ – well cool, but I ain’t one? Like don’t blow your nose in public? That’s no issue! I can def do that! But policing how I dress? Naw son. Me and the Gals are about to be BFFS!

But I keep finding that there’s no middle – either a tourist acts like the country is their playground or they go to the extreme of ‘I must make them think I am one of them’. Which is ridiculous since uhhh bitch you white.

I admit I was worried since anybody that knows me in RL knows that my voice is SUPER loud without me trying. And I was terrified of bothering people around me but since I’m traveling alone it’s going to be much easier to keep my voice down. My goal thought was never to appear like I was a local – it was to not be a bother to the locals! And I feel like that it’s the happy medium that ALL tourists should strive for in any country!

Hello!

The site is finished! (for now) - It looks like ass on mobile but she is here! 

FRUSTRATED

Ahhh, I just want to book my JRpass already! Also I want to book my tickets for Universal Studios! But I want to go to Sanji Restaurant and it's a gacha to get those tickets! So I can't even plan what day I do what because I don't even know! Same with the Nintendo museum! All of those are 3 months prior and I stg I will fucking perish!

And do not get me started on how theme collab cafés won't announce shit until a month or two prior!! 

ARGH

Haven't Made a Site in Years

BLEAH

I lowkey hate that the desire to build this site comes from the fact that nobody in RL that I have constant communications with in person seem to want to look at the massive fucking holder I put together for this trip. But people who I don't often see in person, or are online only...are the ones who want to see it.

Whatever, at least it was fun putting this whole site together