Personally, I'm rather pleased that I'm kinda, sorta over the "this kind of fascination" that you describe.
What I mean by that is that the way I perceive and think about Japan (and the things I see, or that happen to me there) has changed. And I'm glad about that. The "exoticism" and "attraction of the other" works like a filter - it makes Japan into a caricature of itself.

Put it it another way; there's a reason many folks prefer dogs and cats to actual people. Not being able to hold a conversation with the animals gives you a cuddly blank page on which to project your desires and expectations.

For me, it's like I'm beginning discussions with Japan. My vocabulary and comprehension is still pitiful and the experience is frustrating (to put it mildly) but there's been progress, and that progress continues.

When it comes to my relationship with Japan, I now see myself as a toddler interacting with a varied range of grown ups.

But I get the attraction of feeling like an adult in a cat and dog petting parlour. However, I wouldn't go back to that, even if I could.

The other benefit of getting to better grips with Japan is a deeper understanding of my own (European) cultures. So yes, I'm still fascinated with Japan and I have a love/hate relationship with it, just like I do with the two countries I'm a citizen of.