The same can be said in reverse for Japanese people on how they see the Western world: Do they assume the USA is like Hollywood or the UK being like British Television? They perhaps assume that all Americans live in a large home with a white picket fence depicting a nuclear family as if its 1950.
All they talk about US is California or New York since most movies and TV shows use either as their main setting. Is the US in real life similar to Hollywood (everyone having a nice car, big home & white picket fence)? That’s the kind of response from non-Japanese assuming Japan is like anime.
that was a fantastic read and i agree 100%
never go for the tourist attractions. they’re a scam, put up by travelling agencies to lure people into spending money. it’s not worth it.
human contacts are where it’s at. if you have a friend there, that’s fantastic. i’m also considering going to congresses and events and the likes, just to meet people.
and yes, do learn the language, the culture, the habits, etc; because not learning them is rude, it shows that you have no interest in their culture, and then why do you even go there?
For me it’s basically the only reason. I have travelled probably twice or thrice to places I don’t have friends to visit. Once to predictably see behold the arctopus live, and from my wife’s choice of honeymoon location that was near visiting our families.