A quick word of advice: Breathe

Tokyo can seem really intimidating at first look and there is some validity to it. The number of people, the sprawling landscape, and the language barrier can all make it hard to deal with for any experienced traveler. It can all be a bit much if you are not prepared for it, but I want to tell you it’s OK. Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the show.

Tokyo is a fast-paced city that is always in motion, so it can feel pretty overwhelming if you let it. I mean, just take a look at Shinjuku or another vibrant area at any time of the day and it’s insane. There are so many people and so many moving pieces to the puzzle. However, like I said at the beginning of this blog post, take a deep breath and don’t let it overwhelm you.

Move at your own pace. Yes, the Japanese are fast movers, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Move at a pace that works for you. If you try to keep pace and wear yourself out, then you will have a rough trip. Instead, work on a pace that works for you. Budget and schedule what you can do and see in one day and don’t try to do everything on your bucket list in 24 hours. There’s no reward for walking for a bunch of miles and being exhausted at the end of the day.

Next, don’t let the language barrier hold you back. Yes, it may make it near impossible to order from some places or interact with the locals, but that shouldn’t stop your trip. Try to learn the language, use tools like Google translate or simply ask for an English menu. If you don’t ask/try, you will never know if you have that chance.

Lastly, don’t be too self-conscious when moving about. I often worry about how people perceive me. From how I act, dress, say, etc., I never want to look strange, foolish, or stand out too much in a crowd and I often feel that way while exploring Japan. However, this is foolish because the everyday Japanese person is not too worried about what you look like or what you are doing (as long as you aren’t breaking a law or something awful like that). Live your best life and don’t worry too much about what people think, instead, enjoy your visit to Japan!