Deinfluencing: planning a trip to a hyped destination

In 2020, I was going to Japan. I remember on New Year’s Eve of 2019, about to welcome 2020 stating this to my friends and family. How I had booked to go to one of my dream destinations. At the time, most people I knew reacted with interest. Only five years ago, Japan wasn’t the trendy destination it was about to become post-COVID.

Of course, my trip was cancelled. Flights refunded, as everything else I had booked, thankfully. Japan would take about two years to reopen. The forbidden fruit became desirable… as well as the weak Yen. So many people I hear have gone to Japan since then, but not me. Life got in the way, and when I had a chance to travel long-term, I decided to go to Southeast Asia instead… so I have been patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity, and now that it’s so near, I can barely sustain the excitement. I actually can’t recall the last time I was this excited for a trip – perhaps when I went to Mexico, which was a dream destination for me as well.

There is just so much about Japan that I’m looking forward to – the food, the temples and shrines, the gardens, the shopping… the culture. I grew up watching anime, and that’s where it started. Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Doraemon, Dragonball, Digimon, Shin-Chan…Studio Ghibli!

But there is a huge difference in planning this trip now, in 2025, vs at the start of 2020. Japan became not just trendy, but viral. It’s everywhere on social media, and everyone seems to have unique advice to give you. How do you plan a trip to your dream destination when there is so much to it? So I thought I would put my thoughts down in this little corner of the Internet.

Filtering the noise

I am ignoring so much of what I am seeing about Japan and travel in Japan, unless it comes from trusted media sources, or from people I have been following for years (Abroad in Japan, Sharla in Japan), who I feel I can trust to provide advice and information about the country. The noise was making me anxious – creating what is called the fear of missing out (FOMO). The must-dos, the “ignore Kyoto and go here instead”, the how to avoid the crowds, where shall I shop, etc, etc… planning a trip to Japan, without this noise, is already overwhelming enough. I’m keeping my focus on the things that I’ve always wanted to do and see, regardless. Of cours,e this doesn’t mean I’m ignoring advice, I’m still researching. I’m just filtering out what is simply “noise”.

Ignore the fearmongering

Hearing about the crowds and how Japan has been implementing strict measures to respond to what can only be called disgusting behaviour from tourists has been a source for creators to imply Japan isn’t welcoming and Japanese people don’t want you there. That you’ll encounter rudeness and discrimination – and whilst I know there is a lot of racism in Japan, as well as xenophobia, I’m inclined to believe the issue are those tourists treating the country as their personal theme park, behaving disrespectfully and bothering the locals with shameful behavior. Can you blame the locals for starting to be suspicious or foreigners? I would react the same way.

On the other hand, there is lot of advice on how to avoid the crowds. And whilst I personally find these articles interesting to read, I’m still in favour of visiting a lot of what will be crowded. The reality is many places are famous and busy for a reason – and as much as I dislike crowds, I’m humble enough to understand I’m not alone in this world, and there is no place or experience that is meant to be unique to me.

Anchoring myself in history and tradition

This seems to be missed in so much content created lately about Japan. One of the things that I find most fascinating are their spirituality, their traditions, their history, their ways of living. I’m reading a lot about it, to understand the context of the country I’m visiting. Once again. I’m the guest, not the main character. I travel to learn, to grow, to widen my mind. Not for Instagram posts.

Photography Angle

As someone who has always loved photography, Japan is a dream. Travelling gives me a chance to explore my own creativity and expression, to narrate my experience in different mediums – one of them being writing, which I do here, but also photography. This time I’m also taking my mum’s old film camera, and can’t wait to see the results of that. So part of my research is also to understand what the best spots for night photography are for instance, as I’m particularly interested in exploring that side of my photography when I’m there. I suppose my advice here is to always anchor yourself and your research in your own personal passions and interests.

Consumerist Joy….

Yes. I’m not usually a shopper when travelling, but I know I’ll be in Japan. From traditional ceramics, to character streets, stationery, unique Japanese snacks, gachapons and even some Sanrio/Ghibli plushies… and of course the skincare. Also wanting to collect the stamps – not just those from train stations, but also from the temples, known as Goshuin. I’m a collector at heart and Japan seems to suit me too well.

But I think most importantly, I want to have my own experience – not one designed by social media, and what’s trendy right now, or the must dos. Perhaps it ends up being a blend of everything – a flavour, a scent, created just for me, by me. At the end of the day, I’m going to finally be visiting Japan, and I am sure I’ll have a great time no matter what I decide to do. That is also the joy of solo travelling.

I suppose that my biggest piece of advice: plan the trip you want, not what you want you are being told or influenced to take.

Love, Nic