Guest post - Roni in Japan - part 1

 

My First Trip to Japan and First Real Drunken Night – Osaka Edition
Japan has been my ultimate dream destination for as long as I can remember. I won’t lie—my love affair with this country began with anime. I’ve probably watched over 500 series, and my all-time favorite is one of the longest-running ones: One Piece. But what started with anime quickly turned into a fascination with Japanese culture and tradition. From the Edo period and the samurai era, through the Meiji Restoration, to modern-day Japan—everything about its history and customs captivates me deeply.

So, when the opportunity finally came for me to visit Japan in person, I didn’t hesitate.

The Journey Begins: Anxieties and Airports

As expected, the journey was long and exhausting. My anxiety certainly didn’t help. I must have checked three times whether I had turned everything off in my apartment before leaving. And I constantly double-checked my passport every five minutes. On top of that, I kept obsessively watching the clock to make sure we wouldn’t miss the flight.

In moments like these, I’m incredibly grateful for my boyfriend and his calm demeanor. While I was nervously panicking at the boarding gate, convinced we were going to be late, he just calmly scrolled through his phone and kept saying, “We’ve got time, relax.”

First Impressions of Japan: Kindness and Cleanliness

Now, let’s talk about Japan. The first thing I can confirm is absolutely true—the people are incredibly kind and helpful. Yes, most don’t speak English, but that doesn’t really get in the way. My first encounter with this happened even before our vacation officially began.

We landed in Tokyo and had to catch the Shinkansen to Osaka, where we planned to stay for a few days. As first-timers, we managed to get a bit lost—even with Google Maps. We found the right train station but couldn’t locate the correct platform or figure out how to buy tickets.

And then—right on cue—our savior appeared: an older Japanese woman wearing gloves and holding a bottle of cleaning spray. She spotted us struggling and came over. We showed her on our phones where we were trying to go. She first helped a group of tourists she was already guiding, made sure they got their tickets, and sent them off. Then she turned to us, led us across the station, and helped us purchase our tickets.

She didn’t speak a word of English but communicated with us entirely in Japanese. Thanks to all the anime I’ve watched, I actually understood bits and pieces! She wanted to tell us to go to Platform 3 but didn’t know how, so she simply pointed with her fingers and said, “One, two, san.” San means three in Japanese. After she sorted us out, she went back to her work.

Exploring Osaka: Parks, Temples, and Unexpected Joys

Osaka is a stunning city and absolutely worth visiting—just like the rest of Japan. Of course, we saw the famous Osaka Castle. While the castle itself isn’t the most breathtaking landmark, the park surrounding it is truly beautiful. We even stumbled upon a traditional wedding ceremony there.

I highly recommend visiting the Nagai Botanical Garden. They have a nighttime light show that is both magical and serene. What makes it unique is how the lights are integrated with the plants and trees—colors and shapes dance across the foliage, accompanied by soothing music. It's a peaceful haven, especially for fans of meditation. The crowd control is also great—they let people in groups at intervals, so it never feels crowded.

We visited countless other spots—from parks like Ryokuchi-koen to sacred temples like Shitennoji. One morning, we aimlessly wandered around and stumbled upon a gorgeous street filled with old temples and traditional wooden buildings. Pure magic.

Dotombori Nights: My First Real Drunken Experience

We stayed in the Dotombori area, which gave us the perfect opportunity to enjoy Osaka’s nightlife. And it’s here that I experienced something new: my first real night of drinking.

Now, here’s a bit of personal context—I suffer from anxiety and a condition called paruresis (a.k.a. shy bladder syndrome). That means I often can’t pee if I know someone’s waiting on me or is nearby. It doesn’t matter if it's in public restrooms, at friends’ houses, or sometimes even at home. It can get so bad that I’m in pain, bouncing around the bathroom, and still unable to relax enough to go. Nothing works—not jumping, not pressing on my bladder.

Enter the miracle of Japanese bathrooms.

First of all, they’re everywhere and super easy to find. That alone makes a massive difference, because I don’t have to ask anyone where the bathroom is (which, in my head, signals to everyone that I’m going to pee and that they’re mentally “waiting”). Second, they’re spotless. Even public restrooms in parks are sparkling clean. Third—and this is the cherry on top—they come equipped with features like sound machines, auto-flush, and bidets. And most importantly? No one knocks. Not even once. People respect your space. If someone’s in the stall, they just wait. If someone knocked, it would be game over for me.

So what happened that night?

For the first time in my life, I could actually drink, have fun, and not worry about having to cut the night short because of my bladder condition. That may sound silly to some, but it was liberating. Normally, I’d stop drinking halfway through the evening, excuse myself when it got too bad, and head home in discomfort. Not this time. I drank. I danced. I laughed. I even threw up—and I was still proud. Because I finally got to enjoy myself without anxiety holding me back.

Next Stop: Kyoto

The next day, we boarded a train to Kyoto. That journey—and everything we experienced there—is a story for another time.