Chapter 10 · Japan

The Last Day

Back in Shinjuku, soaking in every last moment — and why part of me already misses it

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Our last day in Japan.

I can feel home calling.

We’re back in Tokyo, strolling through Shinjuku revisiting streets we walked at the very beginning of our journey — people watching, shopping for souvenirs, and soaking in every last moment before heading home.

What will I miss most about Japan?

The toilets.

The cleanliness — which is still a complete mystery to me considering the lack of public trash cans everywhere.

The smell of clean air in a massive tourist destination, even with so many smokers around.

I swear this place feels magical.

I’ll also miss the smiling, happy people whose kindness seems to simply be a way of life here.

So many of the people we encountered were genuinely kind and helpful at every turn.

One gentleman literally walked us to the restaurant we were searching for after first giving us directions. A few minutes later, he actually found us still wandering around lost and continued helping us until we made it there.

Another woman noticed me awkwardly trying to figure out one of those fancy pour-over coffee stations with the grinder built in. Before even making her own cup, she immediately stepped in to help me — and then helped the next confused person standing beside us too.

That kindness just seems woven into everyday life here.

The culture is organized in ways we haven’t even considered back home, with constant efforts to reduce waste through simplicity and minimalism.

Subways are often quiet places where people nap, scroll on their phones, or simply sit peacefully without loud music or conversations. There are even signs posted asking people to respect the quiet atmosphere.

Japan is also considered one of the safest countries in the world. The risk of being mugged or pickpocketed is extremely low compared to many major tourist destinations.

Believe it or not… I’ll even miss the walking.

We averaged around eight miles a day during this trip. Honestly, with this kind of accidental training head start, I may actually start running again when I get home. Maybe training for that marathon I keep saying I’ll run “one day” won’t seem quite so impossible anymore.

But as much as I’ll miss Japan, home still has its comforts too.

We like our wide open spaces, fluffy pillows, two-ply toilet paper, and familiar American routines.

Hotel rooms in Japan average somewhere around 120–150 square feet. To put that into perspective, many are about the size of our master bathroom back home — and some are barely larger than capsules.

Honestly, I could probably fit seven Japanese hotel rooms inside the old mobile home I used to own — which I’ve always jokingly referred to as the “original tiny home.”

Some of the rooms were barely bigger than the little cat shed Amin and I once had for our cats years ago.

And strangely enough… none of that felt like a complaint.

It was honestly fascinating, because people in Japan don’t seem to spend much time in their hotel rooms anyway. Life happens outside — in the cities, restaurants, parks, stations, shrines, and streets.

What hotels in Japan may lack in size, they absolutely make up for in amenities and hospitality.

Every hotel we stayed in offered far more than what I’m used to seeing elsewhere. Pajamas, slippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, hairbrushes, Q-tips, tea, coffee, and countless thoughtful extras seemed to come standard everywhere we stayed — all in addition to the normal toiletries most hotels provide elsewhere.

Japan truly has been an unforgettable experience.

And somehow, even while standing here ready to go home…

Part of me already misses it.