5 Things We Have Learned This Week… #8

Our final week in Japan took us to Fukuoka, a city that quickly became one of our favorites. And from there, we made the jump to South Korea where the reality of travel hit us harder than expected. Here’s what we’ve learned on the final week of Chapter I of Fuji to Fiji!

1. It’s Fu-ku-oka, Not Fu-ku-aH-ka

Before arriving, we were confidently pronouncing it “Fu-ku-AH-ka.” We have no idea where the ‘AH’ came from, so unsurprisingly it turns out, we were completely wrong. It’s actually “Foo-koo-OH-ka” (ふくおか). Not a huge deal, but it was one of those small things that made us hyper-aware of how much we still had to learn, even after two months in Japan.

The funny thing was, it wasn’t until we told people we were going to Hakata that they understood we meant Fukuoka. Hakata, which was once a separate city, merged with Fukuoka in 1889, but the name still holds strong, especially for the area around the main train station. People would nod in recognition and then gently correct our pronunciation. With an additional little help from Google, we finally got it right. Fortunately, the people in Fukuoka, like everywhere else in Japan, were far too polite to call us out on it too harshly.

2. Ramen Is a Science, and We’re Still Learning

Ramen is everywhere in Japan, but it’s not just one dish it’s a constantly evolving art form with deep regional roots. It originally came from China but took on a life of its own, with each area perfecting its own unique take. We have now eaten Tokyo’s soy-based shoyu ramen, Sapporo’s miso-heavy bowls, and Fukuoka’s rich tonkotsu (pork bone) broth and these are just a few of the famous styles.

Fukuoka is the home of tonkotsu ramen, a creamy, collagen-rich broth that’s ridiculously addictive. But what stood out more than the broth was the noodles. Unlike the curly ones we’d had elsewhere, Hakata-style ramen uses straight, thin noodles that you can order at different firmness levels (barikata means super firm, if you’re into that). You can even get extra noodles (kaedama) if you run out before finishing your soup, something we definitely took advantage of.

Beyond ramen, Japan has other iconic noodle dishes like udon (thick, chewy noodles, often served in a mild broth) and soba (thin buckwheat noodles, great hot or cold). Each has its own regional variations and dedicated fans. Ramen might be Japan’s most famous noodle dish internationally, but udon and soba have been a staple in Japanese cuisine for centuries. After weeks of sampling different styles across Japan, we still have no idea what our favourite is. But what we do know is this: you can never go wrong with a steaming bowl of noodles, especially after a long day of exploring.

3. Sushi for the Uninitiated (i.e., Us)

We love sushi, but it’s never been our go-to. That said, we couldn’t leave Japan without experiencing a proper conveyor belt sushi restaurant. We sat down, watched plates glide past us, and realised… we had no idea what half of them were.

For anyone unfamiliar with sushi beyond the standard salmon (sake) or tuna (maguro), here are a few essentials:

Nigiri – A slice of fish atop a small bed of rice. Simple but perfect.

Maki – Rolled sushi, often wrapped in seaweed. What most people outside Japan think of as sushi.

Gunkan – “Battleship” sushi, usually filled with things like fish roe or sea urchin.

Temari – Cute little sushi balls, perfect for beginners.

Neta – The topping or fish itself (so when you hear someone talk about “high-quality neta,” they’re talking about the good stuff).

We walked away feeling like we’d barely scratched the surface of the sushi world but at least we left Japan having tried the full experience.

4. The Kindness of Strangers (And a Tiny Origami Gift)

Japan is known for its politeness, but what stuck with us was the unexpected kindness from strangers. One moment this week, in particular, stood out.

As the sun slowly set over Miyajima and its famous torri gate, an older man struck up a conversation with us. Despite the language barrier, he smiled warmly and, after a few minutes, pulled a small square of paper from his pocket. With practiced precision, he folded it into an intricate little crane and handed it to us with a bow.

Origami, the art of paper folding, has been practiced in Japan for centuries. It began as a ceremonial tradition in the Edo period, where folded paper shapes were used in religious rituals and as formal gifts. Over time, it evolved into a beloved pastime, with the crane (orizuru) becoming one of the most iconic figures. The act of folding a thousand cranes is even considered a symbol of peace and good fortune.

It was such a simple gesture, but it summed up Japan perfectly: patient, welcoming, and always ready to share a piece of its culture with you.

5. Japan Was Easy. South Korea? Not So Much.

Japan really spoiled us. Everything was smooth, trains ran on time, Google & Apple Maps worked flawlessly, contactless payments accepted pretty much everywhere. And then we landed in Busan.

Suddenly, our usual maps app wasn’t as reliable, contactless payments were hit-or-miss, and the language barrier felt much more pronounced. We’d expected this kind of challenge when travelling, but after two months in Japan’s ultra-efficient system, the contrast was jarring.

That said, we’re already loving South Korea, and this adjustment period is part of what makes travel exciting. We just need to unlearn some of the habits we picked up in Japan, maybe finally take out some serious cash and perhaps download a few more map apps.

That’s A Wrap!

Well, Japan has officially wrapped up, and we’re now fully immersed in our next adventure. Let’s see what South Korea has to teach us. Choosing just 5 Things from South Korea will be a challenge!