I have visited Japan 5 times and I loved it so much each time. I have not been for more than 15 years so I would like to visit it again one day. I visted Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Hiroshima. I did not love to see the Whaleshark in the Osaka aquarium, hopefully that is no longer there! I loved visiting the old Nintendo company and got to keep one of the first playing cards (replica) as Nintendo started out as a card game. The food is usually good and feels healthy but I'll never eat chicken on a stick from 7-11 as I got food poisioning very badly. I love that Japan is still Japan, and hasn't been changed too much over the years - when I visit a country I want to see THAT country not the same stuff in each country. Resist the Westernisation! I also enjoy the Japanese drama shows which sometimes can be found online, the stories are often simple, quiet and usually no violence or crude speech. And I think we all love Takeshi's Castle - or the spin offs from that show, hilarious fun. I learned Japanese at school but that was a very long time ago and I barely remember anything.

For me Japan means chilhood, I grew up watching many Japanese anime which I considerer special, fool of positive feelings and values. I like that it is a technological but at the same time traditional country, proud of its traditions. I love images of cherry trees in bloom, they con very joy and melancholy at the same time. I hope to visit Japan one day, it's one of my dreams.

Thank you so much for your comments so far! 😊
I really appreciate all of your thoughts and stories about Japan.
Feel free to keep the comments coming—don’t worry, they don’t have to be serious! Just share anything fun or random that comes to mind. 😉

I’ll be replying to each comment individually on X (formerly Twitter) after the signup deadline, so stay tuned for that! 🎉

'Japan'- leads me to wishing I could visit Kyoto one day. Of course it would be wonderful to be in the country during cherry blossom season, as well as for the foliage colours in autumn. I would love to visit Shinto shrines and to spend some time in an ancient hotel that has been in the hands of one family for 500 years. I would love to visit established paper makers, and creators of artisan ink, as well as watch a sari being made from start to finish. I often take something 'Japan' as a starting point in writing micros or short stories, one of which was inspired by the Aokigahara Forest

I meant 'kimono' not 'sari'

Hi Joe: Please help me understand...do participants share their comments with their partner and also send them to you (either here or by sending a message)? So we send the same comments on what comes to mind when we hear "Japan" to both our partner and you? Thanks for clarifying.

Hi janiepin: Thanks for your question! You can share your comment about Japan either here or by sending me a message directly—it’s up to you! You don’t need to send anything to your partner right now. Once partners are assigned after the sign-up period, just send them a rating of 5 and a heart. That’s all you need to do! Hope this helps, and feel free to ask if you have any more questions!

Questions:
- Do Japanese people still like Gackt?
- What do Japanese people think of ninjas and samurai?
- For Japanese stationery lovers: Japanese stationery or Korean stationery?
- Which is cooler: karate, judo, or kendo?
- (serious question) Do Japanese people know what happened in the past in Korea?

Love Japan. I lived there for a year in 2008. Visited again a few times. People are SO polite. I didn't want to come home lol. I hope to visit many times again.

One more question: What do most Japanese people think of the cosplayers and crazy fashion in Harakuku?

You can post these kinds of things in the forum, too!
https://www.swap-bot.com/forums/category/20

Thanks for the suggestion! 😊 Are you recommending I use the forum to promote my swap, or to discuss these kinds of questions with others? I just want to be sure I understand your advice!

I have visited Japan twice more than 15 years ago. Both times were in Tokyo. I wish I could be there more often but now I have 3 dogs I have adopted under my care. I cannot leave them more than 3 days because I will miss them. Japan is always the first country I think of when I wish to travel. Besides very nice stationery, when I think of Japan, the words that come to my mind are "cute", "clean", and "neat". These show in the surroundings. There was one time during my visit I asked the way to a place I wanted to go from a Japanese student who walked by. She understood me but cannot speak English. What she did was walking me to the place which is quite far. That impressed me a lot and I always think of that event even it was a long time ago. ...I love Sashimi with a lot of wasabi. It is very effective to clear my nose when I have a cold. I also love how they decorate their bento. ...I really want to visit Japan again and again and Kobe is one of my dream destinations. Since I received a Postcrossing postcard from a lady living in Kobe. I have never forgotten about how she described about the places around Kobe that they are beautiful but not so famous as other cities. So yes, Kobe is always in my bucket list.

Japan always makes me think of my brother who is learning to speak Japanese. I love seeing the joy learning the language brings him and how excited he is to share the new words he is learning.

One question about japan is how popular anime actually is. Most of my interactions with Japanese culture has been through anime so I would love to know how much of it is true and weather anime is actually popular there like it is in north america.

I have been to Japan once and am panning on visiting again this year :D! When I think about It what comes to mind is the beautiful landscapes I saw in Nara when I got to see the bowing deer. I did get lightly head-butt by one which always makes me chuckle to think about. I also think about all the arcades and how I actually had to buy a second suitcase to take home all my winnings XD. The food quality is also amazing and in my time there I have never had a bad bite of food! My favorite being tonkatsu and I typically don't really like pork but the quality of the meat and cooking standards were so good I never had a bite that tasted bad.

Hi there!

I am from the United States. I have never visited Japan but I would like to some day. Many of my impressions are informed by manga, but I read a lot of memoir manga so hopefully that gives me a slightly better idea!

My impressions are that cities seem cozier than those in America. Even if they are crowded and expensive they seem cleaner, safer, and the buildings more beautiful than in America. I love the woods and colors common in Japanese styles--bright reds and navy blues. Japan seems very calm overall, is this true?

Are there lots of stray cats in Japan? I think stray cats are often shown in anime and manga.

Is it true that many office workers stay lots of extra hours every day? I could never stay at the office for 12 hours a day! What percent of workers are office workers?

I do have perhaps a strange question--are Japanese people understanding of allergies? I am sadly allergic to sesame and all types of nuts, which are common in Japanese food. I'd love to visit but I would have to ask for foods without sesame or nuts, and I want to be sure chefs would not be offended!

Thank you!

i LOVE japan, it's a dream of mine to visit one day. when i think of japan, its rich and fascinating culture comes to mind! first i think of their pop culture like anime/manga, jpop, fashion, etc. some of my favs are jjk, haikyuu, kamisama kiss, noragami, fujii kaze, miku/vocaloid, and gyaru. i also think about the delicious foods like ramen, sushi, taikayi, dango, etc. i think about more traditional things as well like the temples, shrines, kimonos, tea ceremonies, festivals, etc. lastly i think about fun places they have that i would love to experience like don quijote, onsen, konbini, mount fuji, and many more.

When I think of Japan, I think about lovely matcha, ninjas, video games, anime, and kimono. I also like sushi and eat sushi a lot. I also think of Japan as Taiwan's best friend. I grew up wanting to be a ninja and was very big on that one. ;)

Japan makes me think of beautifully designed stationery, unique traditions, and a harmonious blend of old and new! I start every morning with my daily calendar from Paper Message, which brings a little touch of Japanese charm to my routine. It’s such a peaceful way to begin the day. Last night, I made Japanese curry for dinner—it’s one of my go-to comfort meals, and my family loves it!

One thing I’ve always been curious about is how Japanese people celebrate small, everyday joys—like having seasonal snacks or incorporating art into daily life. It feels like Japan finds beauty in the little things, and that’s something I really admire. 🌸

I immediately think of Hello Kitty and anime as I have two daughters. My younger daughter loves to dress up for events (she's 37 but looks like she's 14 because she's so small). I also think of geishas and cherry blossoms and elegance and small feet. And Animal Crossings! I LOVE Animal Crossings and have been playing it since "back in the day" starting with Gamecubes then WII and now on three different Switches in our household. Japan is creative and awesome!

When i think of Japan, i think of wonderful experiences, Anime, cute fashions, friendly people, safe environment, beautiful country, History. My daughter learned Japanese by watching Anime and Minored in Japanese in college. She went over to Japan and was there for 7 years teaching English. I always felt she was safe over there - not much crime and the transportation system is excellent. She didn't need a car here in the US she drives too fast.Those trains are on time to the exact second. The cities were always so clean. It was wonderful to go over and visit. She has been all over Japan and enjoyed all of the Festivals and Temples. She made so many friends that she still keeps in touch with today. Even though my daughter is 5'10 and has red hair (at the train stations it was like wheres Waldo, she always stuck out,,and you could see her towering over all of the dark haired people) but they accepted her without issues. Japan is someplace everyone should expeience.

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your participation, comments, and messages!
I’ve been reading every single one of them with care (´-`)✨

Today is the deadline, but since it’s still Sunday morning in the USA and Sunday evening in Japan, there’s a little extra time left to join!
Feel free to share your thoughts, impressions, or questions about Japan in the comment section!

If you feel a bit shy about commenting publicly, you’re more than welcome to send me a direct message instead.

There’s just a little time left until the deadline!
If you’ve forgotten to share something or if you’re joining for the first time, you’re more than welcome.
Don’t hesitate to join in! 🌸

Hi, I've never been to Japan but would like to someday! What an interesting swap!
When I think of Japan I think of cherry blossoms. We have one tree in our garden and it blooms every year beautifully!
For us Japan is also japanese food. We love japanese food, also our children love it! I've also received beautiful stamps from Japan!
I watched the original shogun series or show in the 80s and now the new one. I loved both! Fascinating to watch such a different culture to us and so polite. Would be interesting to know how it has changed to now. Shogun took place very long time ago.

Hello! I love the culture and aesthetic of Japan! I'd really love to visit someday! I think of cherry blossoms and anime when I think of Japan! I also think about fashion! :)

Hello everyone,
The partners have now been assigned! 🎉

Just a quick reminder:
Please make sure to give your partner a 5 rating and a heart within the deadline, regardless of who they are. This ensures everyone has a fun and positive experience!

Originally, I was planning to share the responses and answers on X, but… it turns out I have zero followers! 😂
So instead, I’m thinking about creating a PDF and emailing it to everyone. 🤔💭

Would you prefer receiving the Q&A via email? Let me know what you think!

Thank you again for your participation and cooperation!
Let’s make this swap a great success! 🌸

It's fine for me to receive the pdf in the mail. Thanks you for this swap. 👘🌸

I think the Q and A by email would be good 👍🏻

I would rather receive the Q & A via e-mail. It also makes me able to keep instead of on another site.

Email would be great! Thank you :)

Email would be great also did SweetD respond to you. I need to rate her but don't see a response here

＞Denrenn Hi Denrenn, SweetD hasn’t sent their response yet, but that’s completely fine! As mentioned before, please give your partner a 5 rating and a heart, regardless of whether they’ve responded. 😊 Thank you so much for checking and for your cooperation! 🌸

Hello everyone, Thank you so much for your feedback! 🌸

I’ve decided to send the Q&A as a PDF via email to make it easier for everyone to access and keep. Please keep an eye on your inbox—I’ll send it out as soon as it’s ready! 📩

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to let me know. Thank you again for your participation and support! Let’s make this swap a success! 🎉

Is Japan where Jackie Chan is from? I love any movies with him in it! I love to see the cherry blossoms when they are in bloom. I have to see these in photos, as I have never been to Japan. My father was stationed there when in the military and he would send me beautiful dolls from there.

Since I like fountain pen inks pilot makes great ones. I currently have shi kai a blue black. I think of mortal Kombat nice exotic foods drinks fruits too. I would like the bibet what a good thing to keep clean. I would like to use the various vendors of machine.

I'll never forget the taxis in Japan, especially in Tokyo. The drivers are so proud of their culture, and it's really lovely to see. I love the white, cozy curtains and how clean the taxis are. But what's stayed with me the most are the games from Japan. I'm a huge Zelda fan. My childhood would have been so dull without Nintendo. And then, of course, there's manga and anime, which I loved as a teenager and still love today. And of course, you can't forget the geishas and the rich folklore. The temples and the forests are so magical, and just irreplaceable. I also love how introverted and respectful the people are there, although not everyone is like that. The dynamic is just pure perfection in my opinion.

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to give you all a quick update! 🌸

Right now, I’m writing responses to each of your comments one by one. However, as some of you may have noticed… I tend to write a lot (haha) 😆, so it’s taking longer than I originally expected!

To make sure you don’t have to wait too long, I’ve decided to split the responses into multiple parts and send them out as PDFs in batches to your emails. This way, you can start reading while I continue working on the rest!

🎉 About the Lucky Draw! 🎉
I know many of you are excited about the giveaway, so here’s the plan!
The winners will be announced soon! 🎊
I will let you know the exact date shortly, so stay tuned! The results will be shared along with one of the Q&A PDF batches, so you won’t have to wait too long!

P.S. I must admit… I’m still not even halfway done 😭💦 I feel so sorry for making you wait!
Also, there are some other swaps I’d love to join, so I’ll do my best to finish this as soon as possible!
Thank you again for your patience and support! 💕

When I think of Japan, I first think about pop culture. When I was in 5th grade, I first learned about anime, and I fell in love with it. By 6th or 7th grade, I had taught myself to read hiragana and katakana, although I couldn't form a sentence.

Now that I'm out of high school, I don't watch anime so much, but the culture, customs, and language of Japan still fascinate me. I took several Japanese classes when I was getting my associate's degree at my community college, so now when I think of Japan, I also think of my Japanese teacher, Maruoka-sensei. My younger brother is now taking her class. They celebrated Setsubun today by folding origami baskets and playing "kanji bingo". I got to do this in class, too, and it's fun to see my brother experience some of the things I did, and to see him grow such a passion for another language. He says he'd be interested in teaching English in Japan someday, and I think it would be so fun to travel there with him. So thinking of Japan, I think of my Japanese class, my wonderful teacher and classmates, and all the fun I had learning. I think of the hopes and dreams that I, my brother, and my former classmates have in learning the Japanese language and in traveling to Japan. Although I haven't been able to study as much recently, as I'm going for my bachelor's in Spanish, I hope to return to studying Japanese again soon.

When I think of Japan, I think about wanting to travel there someday and eating all the food. I love Japanese food, but I wonder if what I eat here in the US is authentic, or an Americanized version. I grew up in Los Angeles so I had access to all types of food, but sushi has always been a favorite! My son does not like sushi, but he will eat 3 orders of tempura shrimp and follow that up with some pork or chicken katsu. I think we would really enjoy visiting your country. Maybe someday…