Why I no longer find Japan so special

When I first came to Japan, everything was new, exciting and different. I was fascinated by the culture, the food, the language - simply everything. But over time, my enthusiasm has changed. I've got used to a lot of things, and some of the things that used to excite me I now see with different eyes.

1. the housing situation in Tokyo - expensive, small, uncomfortable

Tokyo is a huge metropolis, but when it comes to housing, it feels more like a cramped box. The flats are tiny, expensive and often poorly insulated - you freeze in winter and sweat in summer. You pay huge sums for a small room in which you barely have any space for yourself. That lost its appeal for me at some point.

2. I love nature - Tokyo is too crowded and hectic for me

I used to find the colourful, vibrant life in Tokyo exciting. Today I realise that I much prefer being in nature. The crowds, the constant noise and the sensory overload stress me out. I miss big, green forests, quiet lakes and the feeling of simply being able to take a deep breath.

3. superficial friendships and loneliness

It's not easy to make deep friendships in Japan. Many contacts remain superficial, and real emotional closeness is rare. You meet up and share some laughs, but often the feeling remains that there isn't really a close connection. This can be quite lonely, especially if you don't have a close circle of friends.

Conclusion - Japan is no longer my dream country

Japan still has beautiful aspects, and I will always enjoy returning, but that ‘wow’ feeling from back then is no longer there. I have realised that my priorities have changed: I need more nature, more space and deeper relationships. And that's exactly what I'm more likely to find elsewhere than in Tokyo.