Insider's reporter arrived in Japan and was surprised to discover subway pushers and unique vending machines weren't as popular as she had heard.Monica Humphries/Insider
- I landed in Japan, and after reading blogs and watching vlogs, I had some expectations.
- While the food and transit systems weren't overhyped, other things were.
Japan is a magical place. It's a country where you can roam futuristic neighborhoods one minute and walk down streets that feel like stepping back in time the next.
It's a place filled with delicious cuisines and friendly people.
And it's a place I spent years dreaming of visiting. For the past decade, I've watched videos, read blogs, and eagerly listened to friends' stories from Japan.
When I finally had the chance to visit Tokyo earlier this year, I had some expectations of what the trip would be like.
Plenty of these expectations were exceeded. The sushi was the freshest I've ever had, the ramen was better than my wildest dreams, the transit system was always on time, and the cherry blossoms were spectacular.
It was a cherished trip, but that doesn't mean I didn't have a few incorrect expectations. Take a look.