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Ladies, you will love Japan and you will go there and return back home and miss it terribly. I know I caught the Japan bug and am already planning my next visit and the next one after. Heck, I’m probably going to end up living there one day at the rate that I’m going…

So anyways, I’ve done 10 food-related things you’ll miss from Japan and 10 things you’ll miss from Japan winter, so here’s my third part of the four-part series… Enjoy (and start missing Japan badly)!

1. Harajuku fashion along Takeshita-dori

Harajuku is, without a doubt, my favourite part of Tokyo – and Japan as a whole. If I grew up in Japan, I’d be a Harajuku girl through and through, no doubt about that.

Takeshita-dori is a fashion paradise, I mean, just stand there for half an hour and wait for the street fashion show to happen (figuratively, of course).

2. Shopping, shopping, shopping

Yes, Japan is not the cheapest place in Asia to shop. But you can still get bargain deals if you search for it. And you can find any style, from the sophisticated high-end Omotesando brands to the fast fashion of GU and Forever21.

Whether you want to hit the big stores or the quaint little boutiques in the middle of a hipster suburb, Japan has you covered.

3. Affordable & good drug store skincare & hair products

If you’re into skincare or make up, I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about Korean products. Cheap and good. Well, Japan also has some really good equivalent, which are cheap enough if you buy them there. I am now a proud owner of some really good exfoliation gel, cleansing oil, sunscreen, and mascara. Oh and those Japanese foam hair dyes? Magical.

I think I might need to write more on this one, so just wait for a post dedicated to my favourite drug store skincare & hair product finds in Japan!

4. Women in traditional clothing

It’s a known fact that hetero men look at women, hetero women look at men… and women. So for me, one of my highlights of walking around in Japan is to catch a glimpse of Japanese women (and kids) wearing traditional clothing. Whether it be a yukata or a kimono, I love looking at how beautiful and elegant they look in them. And usually, they would also do their hair up and have their make up done. So it’s the full package of awesomeness.

I miss following (no, not stalking) these women from afar and admiring their traditional outfits…

5. Pretty cafes & restaurant for your girls day out

In Tokyo itself, there are so many pretty cafes and restaurants for you to visit. I’ve been to a couple myself and I love their attention to details.

Take, for example, the Aoyama Flower Market near Harajuku (or the Akasaka chain, which I visited)… As soon as you walk in, you’ll feel like you’re in a flower garden instead of a cafe. Everything feels so homely and yet professionally done. The food is great (best french toast ever!) and any picture you take in there will be a work of art.

And then there are themed restaurants geared towards the female clientele. Like the numerous Alice in Wonderland chain restaurants. Ah, I’ll be back.

6. Sweets, sweets and more sweets

If you’ve got a sweet tooth like I do, then I think you should just pack your bags and move to Japan now. I love Japanese food, and I love how much they love their sweets. Candy shops pop up here and there, cake shops and French patisseries, and…

To top it all off, Sweets Paradise! It’s basically a buffet restaurant chain for all the sweet lovers. Yup, all-you-can-eat cakes and ice cream for less than ¥2000! I was in sweets paradise indeed.

7. Free ladies pack in hotels & tissues on the road

When I brought back a pack of Shiseido goods for my mum, she was like WOW! And I was like casually: “Yeah, they gave us free Shiseido ladies pack at the hotels. Most hotels had Shiseido toiletries and stuff”. Yup, free ladies pack at most hotels (sub $100 ones too). Some would even give facial mask sheets, others Biore face wash and what-nots. Pampered much?

And if that’s not enough, you don’t ever need to buy tissues in Japan! Because just walk near Shinjuku (or one of the main) train stations and you will see people giving out free tissues with promotional stuff on it!

8. Ikemen paradise (i.e. cute boys alert)

Japan might be known more for its cute girls (think AKB48 and the likes), but they don’t have a shortage of cute boys either! Yes, the key word here is “cute”. And personally, I’m fine with that. Living in Australia, the popular men are those who are cool and suave… But in Asian countries, being “cute” is not necessarily a bad thing! ;)

And, if you’re a fan of Japanese pop idols, then having Arashi & SMAP on your TV screen almost nightly is a good enough reason for you to be in Japan right now.

9. Kawaii everything

If you’re a lover of all things cute, you will love Japan. If you’re not, well, why not visit Japan and have your mind changed! Because seriously, cute is beautiful.

10. Be yourself

Yep, I just have to add this to my list. This might not apply to everyone… But as a girl who loves kawaii culture and wearing cute outfits that look ultra odd when you’re walking along the streets of Melbourne, being in Japan makes me feel like I can be myself! :) And being confident in what you wear is always a bonus for any girl!

There are also other awesome reasons why as a woman you would love Japan, like the fact that it’s so safe, most people just leave their belongings on the food court table as they walk to purchase their food. So yup, what are you waiting for, ladies? Book your flights to Japan to experience everything in this list and more!