The List

Behold, The List.

The items are in alphabetical order under each category. As I cross them off, I’ll write a post about it and link it from here.

Some things I’ve done are not on the list, for that check out ‘Not On The List‘ category.

Also, a lot of the things are in Japanese, so if you don’t know what they are, or if you want more info, you can hover over or click on the number to get the Wikipedia link. Here’s a helpful illustration:

And here are some teensy terms and conditions:

• On a few of them, I’m planning to hit two birds with one stone. For example, one trip to Kyoto to visit a temple and a garden.
• I can complete the list in any order.
• The list is subject to change at any time.
• You’ll notice I have lot’s of food here. What can I say,  I like to eat.

Wish me luck.

Prep

i. Revise Japanese

ii. Collect visa

iii. Purchase Omiyage (gifts)

iv. Prepare for culture shock

v. Survive the airports and flight

Food

1. Anpan (sweet bean filled bread)

2. Asahi beer (famous brand)

3. Bento (Japanese boxed lunch)

4. Dango (dumpling on a stick)

5. Fugu (blowfish)

6. Green Tea

7. Green Tea flavoured stuff

8. Kaiseki (traditional Japanese cuisine)

9. Kobe Beef

10. Miso soup

11. Mochi (rice cake)

12. MOS Burger (Japanese fast food)

13. Nabemono (Steamed one-pot dish)

14. Natto (fermented soybean)

15. Okinomiyaki (savoury pancake)

16. Ramen (noodle dish)

17. Sake (rice wine)

18. Sashimi (fresh raw seafood)

19. Senbei (rice crackers)

20. Shabu-Shabu

21. Soba (buckwheat noodles)

22. Sukiyaki

23. Sushi

24. Takoyaki (battered octopus dumplings)

25. Tempura (battered fried fish/veg)

26. Teriyaki (fish/meat in sweet marinade)

27. Tofu

28. Tsukemono (pickles)

29. Udon (thick wheat-flour noodles)

30. Wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery)

Photography

31. City lights

32. Contradiction

33. Drunk Salaryman

34. Garden

35. Geisha

36. Hashi (bridge)

37. Lake/river

38. Mt. Fuji

39. Pagoda

40. Sakura

41. Statue

42. Tea house

43. Waterfall

44. Zen garden

Purchases

45. Keitai + strappu

46. Japanese novel

47. Shonen Jump merchandise

Language Barrier

48. JLPT Level 2

49. Kanji in Context

50. Read Murakami in Japanese

51. Read a Japanese newspaper

52. Speak only Japanese for a whole day

Awesome Places

53. Akihabara

54. Ginza

55. Harajuku

56. Himeji Castle

57. Hiroshima

58. Hokkaido

59. Iga Ninja museum

60. Kamakura

61. Kanazawa

62. Kobe

63. Koya-san

64. Kyoto

65. Miyajima

66. Nara

67. Okinawa

68. Osaka Aquarium

69. Shibuya

70. Studio Ghibli museum

71. Todaiji

72. Tsukiji Fish Market

73. Ueno Park

74. Universal Studios Japan

Experiences

75. Book shop

76. Calligraphy

77. Climb Mt. Fuji

78. Crammed train

79. Engrish

80. Exceptional customer service

81. Hanabi

82. Hanami

83. Ikebana

84. Karaoke

85. Manga Cafe

86. Matsuri (festival)

87. Noh

88. Nomihoudai (all you can drink)

89. Onsen (hot spring)

90. Pachinko

91. Purikura

92. Sento (Public bathouse)

93. Shiatsu massage

94. Shinkansen

95. Sumo

96. Tabehoudai (all you can eat)

97. Tea Ceremony

98. Ukiyo-e gallery/museum (woodblock painting)

99. Unusual cafe

100. Unusual vending machine

101. Wear a kimono