This article first appeared on Twenty-Something Travel
The first word in Japanese that I learned was maybe the most useful:
Kawaii (Ka-why-ee)- Cute
You need only to spend a day in Japan to see how prevalent this word is. I overheard it uttered about a dozen times a day, which makes sense: everything in Japan is Kawaii. There seems to be a national commitment to spreading adorableness in every venue possible.
A few things in Japan that are kawaii:
Socks
Traffic Cones
Dog Costumes
Hello Kitty
Religious Statues
Umbrellas
Children
Manga Shops
Manhole Covers
Rats
Posters
Warning Signs
Dinosaurs
In the end I was pretty sad to leave Japan. The kind people, clean cities and beautiful sights made it such a pleasurable place to visit. Not to mention their delicious sweets and hardcore commitment to adorableness. I really feel like I only scratched the surface of this county, and I can’t wait to come back and explore in more depth someday.