After visiting Japan, I came to appreciate life in Shanghai even more

Welcome to the 5th episode of Pixie's World View: Japan. I am Pixie, here to help you find your ideal life. After traveling through Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo, I'll share my experiences from a tourist's perspective. Let's start with the good parts: 📍Osaka: The "Northeast" of Japan 🚗 Two-day itinerary: Shinsaibashi-Dotonbori-Tsutenkaku-Universal Studios Osakans are indeed warm-hearted, and two unexpected details illustrate this: 1. While walking, a young lady caught up with me because she had picked up a coin I dropped on the ground, and she returned it to me while bowing. 2. After buying a lens and noticing I was hesitant to buy a protective filter, the cashier gave it to me as a gift, worth 300+ 📍Kyoto: The place "closest to spirits and humans" as described by Yasunari Kawabata. ⛩️ Lazy person's one-day itinerary: Fushimi Inari Taisha (the filming location for 'Memoirs of a Geisha') - Stroll along the Kamo River Other attractions: Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Kifune Shrine Kyoto has more natural scenery, and the alleys you stumble upon look just like scenes from Japanese anime. The people are not as enthusiastic as in Osaka, but rather a bit distant, suitable for introverts, with a more relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a slow city walk. 📍Tokyo: Bustling metropolis Shopping and gourmet hotspot: Ginza Anime and manga checkpoint: Akihabara Popular observation deck: Shibuya Sky World's busiest intersection: Shibuya, with the Hachiko statue nearby The subway is extensive, and the business districts are intricately connected, with service attitudes falling between the two aforementioned cities. However, after several days of exhaustive walking, I ended up sleeping in the hotel for a whole day and night 🌟Other: 1. High level of automation in facilities, such as smart toilets in public restrooms 2. Introvert-friendly, many restaurants have machines at the entrance where you select your meal, pay, and then just hand over the ticket when seated to wait for your food. Some places even have individual booths where the meal is served in front of you, and the chef will pull the curtain for you after you're seated, so you're not disturbed. ⚠️So why do I appreciate life in Shanghai even more? 1. High transportation costs, not suitable for those who rely on taxis. A 1.5 km ride in Osaka can cost over 200 in traffic, and a taxi to Narita Airport can easily cost thousands. After midnight, there are no subways, so many Japanese people who work late prefer to stay in capsule hotels rather than take a taxi home. 2. Subway/bus fares start at 10 yuan per stop, and the routes are very complex. Often an hour on the road, half of it is spent looking for subway transfers and studying routes... This greatly reduces the travel experience, especially during rush hours, it's like starting a new job. 3. Severe aging population, hence high labor costs. You can often see elderly people working in food stores. Delivery fees for takeout are twenty to thirty, a meal costs two hundred. Instant noodles 15+, a cup of milk tea 40+, convenience store bento 35+ 4. Generally small living spaces, a hotel in Osaka costing 600+ is less than 14 square meters, not even enough space to lay out a suitcase, which can be depressing over time... For the same price, you could even stay in a five-star hotel in downtown Shanghai. What do you think?