I'm an American who visited Tokyo for the first time. Here are the expectations I had that were completely wrong.
- After reading blogs and watching countless YouTube videos, I landed in Japan with some expectations.
- While delicious food and a pristine transit system weren't overhyped, other things were.
- I had expected to see subway pushers on train platforms and vending machines selling odd items.
Japan is a magical place. It's a country where you can roam futuristic neighborhoods one minute and walk down streets that feel like stepping back in time the next.
It's a place filled with delicious cuisines and friendly people.
And it's a place I spent years dreaming of visiting. For the past decade, I've watched videos, read blogs, and eagerly listened to friends' stories from Japan.
When I finally had the chance to visit Tokyo last spring, I had some expectations of what the trip would be like.
Plenty of these expectations were exceeded. The sushi was the freshest I've had, the ramen was better than my wildest dreams, the transit system was always on time, and the cherry blossoms were spectacular.
It was a cherished trip, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a few incorrect expectations. Take a look.