Things I didn't do early on: Seek out omiyage

One thing I was slow to take up (but am now hugely on board with) is all things omiyage. To start out, I thought maybe omiyage was more geared towards tourists rather than people living here, but oh, how wrong I was.

I love that no matter where you go, there's some kind of yummy snack to grab at a roadside rest area, train station, airport, and so on. It's super easy to grab a few bits and pieces for yourself, for neighbors, friends, coworkers, etc., and the prices aren't bad for what you get IMO!

I love that omiyage serves as a little window into the food and drink culture of an area, too. Every region of the country has something fun or different to try...for instance, out here in Niigata you might find packets of hegi soba, local sake, or snacks made with local koshihikari rice. In Hokkaido, I've tried yummy melon snacks and local dairy products, in Tokyo I can't resist grabbing some Tokyo Bananas, and in Shizuoka there have been a multitude of teas and tea-related sweets that I've enjoyed.

You can journey through Japan through your tastebuds, and to me that's such a fun way to explore!