Wednesday, July 9th, Tokyo, Japan

This morning marked a surprisingly symbolic moment: for the first time in six months, I threw my toilet paper into the toilet instead of a trash can beside it. Why? Because I've just arrived in Japan. After a string of long layovers, I landed in Tokyo early this morning. I'm now waiting for my connecting flight to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, where I'll spend the next few weeks adventuring around. This is my second time in Japan — I first came here about a year and a half ago with my friend Zach, marking my first ever trip to Asia. **From Chaos to Cleanliness** Coming straight from half a year in the wild, raw, beautiful chaos of Southeast Asia, returning to Japan feels like stepping through a portal into an entirely different world. On my first escalator ride, I instinctively stood wherever I wanted — then quickly realized I needed to shift to the left-hand side, as custom dictates here. That tiny correction reminded me of something I liked the first time around: the order, the structure, the collective respect for shared space. But this time, after being immersed in the lawlessness and lively unpredictability of Southeast Asia, Japan's quiet obedience and pristine efficiency feel even more surreal. Everything here is clean. Quiet. Calm. Nobody's speaking loudly. Nobody's making a scene. And while I appreciate the discipline and precision, it's hard not to notice how socially isolated people are. Everyone keeps to themselves. The technology is designed to serve you efficiently, with as little human interaction as possible. **The Cultural Contrast** What stands out most, though, is the stark cultural contrast between where I've been and where I've landed. In Southeast Asia — whether in Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim-majority countries — religion is the backbone of everyday life. Thousands of years of tradition shape not just the rituals, but the values, the street life, even the architecture. In Japan, it's different. While Shinto shrines and ancient Buddhist temples dot the landscape, religion doesn't seem to inform daily life in any overt way. Instead, modern Japan feels like a culture shaped more by technology and systems than by spirituality. Walk around any city and you'll see Pokémon ads, cashless checkouts, futuristic vending machines, and automated everything. It's a sleek, sanitized, new kind of culture. **Two Worlds, One Journey** Being back in Japan — now with Southeast Asia in my rearview mirror — makes the contrast even more vivid. I find myself asking: What kind of world do I want to live in? One that's spiritual, raw, messy, and deeply human? Or one that's organized, safe, clean, and efficient? Maybe the best part is getting to bounce between both.