Safely home now after a very long and tiring journey.
Japan was a wonderful country but most memorable for its litter free streets, the respect of its people, its mountains and trees.
Truly moving to see Mount Fuji in all its glory, the cherry blossom and some wonderful shrines. Had some great nights out with the group and who can ever forget the beer dispensing machine which filled from the bottom.
I won’t necessarily miss having to take my shoes off all the time and sitting without chairs, not the getting down there so much as getting back up! We had some interesting meals but still not sure about tofu and miso. The Japanese diet must be doing something good as the Japanese are number two in the longest living table. It might also have something to do with them not being big drinkers, although that might have something to do with the difficulty in getting a drink after 8pm!!
I strangely liked the skyscraper cities of Tokyo and Osaka but they weren’t oppressive at all because of their wide roads and pavements. Hiroshima was very moving making the devastation of the A bomb a reality.
All in all a great holiday.
Monday 17 April
Drove out of Osaka this morning to the town of Nara. We passed Osaka Castle on the way
Our destination was Todaiji, one of Japan’s most famous temples and the largest wooden structure in the world. Nara was an ancient capital of Japan but was moved because of the power of the temple. It holds a huge statue of Buddha and other very large statues.
The grounds are very pretty and the sacred deer roamed freely.
A modern day ninja?
Back to Osaka and the designer shops, including the puppy shop
The canal in Osaka
Sunday 16 April
Fair bit of driving today to reach our final destination of Osaka. We had a lunch stop, Japanese style, in Himeji
We then walked up to Himeji Castle a masterpiece in traditional Japanese wooden architecture. It is built on a hill and is one of Japan’s grandest remaining castles.
The first fortifications of this UNESCO World Heritage site were completed in the 1400’s. I managed to walk up to the 7th floor on stairs that got increasingly narrower and steeper.
Then walked around the gardens with a wonderful display of peonies
On the journey we passed Kobe and then drove into Osaka which seems like another vibrant modern city like Tokyo.
Everywhere is so clean with no litter on the streets, no graffiti and surprisingly, other than service stations, there are no rubbish bins anywhere
Some views of Osaka fron the bus
Last hotel on the tour, the Hotel Nikko Osaka and not a bad view from my bedroom window. Looking down at the shops I can see Dior, Van Kleef and Arpels, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes to name but a few
The night time view
Saturday 15 April
We left a rainy Hiroshima and in fact it rained all the way to our first stop today the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama, another of Japan’s top three gardens. It was completed in 1700 and is divided into different areas, bamboo, plum, cherry, tea bushes and beautiful azaleas and acers.
We then went onto Kurashiki, where we stay for just one night. We had lunch and a walk around the old town. This is an Edo period mercantile town, its name means “storehouse village” and the narrow canals are lined with willow trees.
We checked into our hotel, another big room and swanky bathroom
In the evening we walked back to the old town and had a meal in Ivy Square
Friday 14 April
Took the ferry across to Miyajuma Island famous for its giant torii gate and the Itsukushima shrine
Later walked up the hill to the Daisho-in temple which was so peaceful. Very much liked the beanie hatted Buddhas
Had a walk to Hiroshima Castle, the original of which was destroyed by the A bomb, but it has been faithfully restored
The museum of art had a Picasso exhibition, so saw that together with some Impressionists and Japanese art
Thursday 13 April
Left the hotel for our trip to Hiroshima on the Bullet train. As you would expect everything very punctual and organised.
Visited the Memorial peace Garden, atomic bomb dome, children’s memorial and museum where we were given a talk by a 92 year old survivor.
Hiroshima at night
In the evening we learnt how to make okonomiyaki, a type of pancake/omelette, which was good fun
Wednesday 12 April
Today we head out of the city to the Fushima Inari shrine, famous for its tunnels of more than 10,000 closely spaced torii gates.
We had a free afternoon so walked along to the temple next to our hotel
Tuesday 11 April
Still in Kyoto, today is a day of temples – the first being Kinkaku-Ji temple otherwise known as the golden temple. Work started on this around 1358 and was built by the shogun Ashikaga.
The second temple of the day was Ryoan-ji temple founded in 1450, it is famous for its rock garden composed of white gravel and 15 stones, the ultimate expression of Zen Buddhism.
We had lunch in the Gion District of Kyoto, the geisha area. Whilst many of the geisha houses are now cafes and restaurants there are still geisha living there.
Our third and final temple was Kiyomizu- Dera temple, founded AD 778. The temple’s most famous feature is the verandah standing some 13 metres from the ground
Time for tea and we watched a tea master performing a traditional tea ceremony. We then got chance to have cake and matcha tea.
In the evening we enjoyed a Japanese barbecue at a local restaurant. The entertainment being the beer dispensing machine which filled from the bottom.
Monday 10 April
Today we took the express train to from Kanazawa to Kyoto. Kyoto was the capital of Imperial Japan for over 1000 years and is now the cultural capital. We head straight to Arashiyama and its famous bamboo Grove.
Sadly today is the day when we lose our Japanese guide, Sachico, which means happy girl in Japanese and she certainly was.
This is Kanazawa Station, very smart and a very clever clock made up of water droplets
The bamboo Grove
Booked into our hotel the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
In the evening we went to a local restaurant for a traditional Japanese meal, a kaiseki , where we were joined by a maiko, an apprentice geisha who performed two dances and answered many questions
The restaurant had a beautiful floodlit garden
Sunday 9 April
Visited the beautiful gardens at Kenroku-en, one of the top three gardens in Japan. Established in the mid 17th century.
Kanazawa is famous for its gold leaf which it has produced since 1593 and supplies over 98% of Japan’s needs. We went to a local shop to learn about gold leaf production and to decorate our own chopsticks
Walked around the Higashi Chaya area, a neighbourhood of preserved geisha houses and even had a gold leaf ice-cream
Had free time in the afternoon and walked around the town and the outside of the Museum of modern art
Saturday 8 April
Today we visited Shirakawa-go which until the 1960’s was mostly cut off from the outside world. The village is amidst the mountains and famous for its gassho-zukuri houses, meaning praying hands.
We continued to Kanazawa and walked through the Omicho market, full of wonderful seafood.
Final stop was to the Nomura Samurai house
Friday 7 April
The rain is pouring so doing a walking tour of Takayama. First stop Takayama Jinya which was the government office built in 1615 for the town’s lord. It consists of meeting rooms, living quarters and courts where they used to torture prisoners.
Next stop was the Floats Festival museum. The Takayama festival takes place twice a year and involves the procession of 11 tall, lavishly decorated floats
Also on the site is a gallery of scale models of Nikko Tosho-gu shrines
On the way back had a sake tasting
In the evening enjoyed a dinner of Hida beef, a variety of wagyu beef. It got a bit smokey with all those individual barbecues!
Thursday 6 April
Leaving Mount Fuji today but we have been very lucky to see her at all, as the cloud is now falling
Our first stop today is to Matsumoto Castle, the oldest existing castle in Japan from 1593.
We had a lunch stop in the town and I had an interesting conversation with this young man, I think his name was Robert.
A little further along our journey we stopped at a miso factory, learnt how it is made and its health benefits.
Wednesday 5 April
Some more beautiful views of Mount Fuji and we took the coach to Kubota Icchiku Art Museum to see some spectacular silk kimonos created using a special tie die method
Then onto Fujisan World Heritage Centre to learn more about Fuji
It was make your own lunch today and we were shown how to make buckwheat noodles, they looked a bit grey but tasted okay.
Another lovely meal in the hotel tonight
Tuesday 4 April
Today we leave bustling Tokyo for Fuji-Hakone-Ize national park known for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji. We stopped at Lake Ashi for a short cruise across the lake and our first views of Fuji.
We then travelled by cable car into the Owakudani Valley which is still active with many sulphur vents and hot springs. It last erupted over 3,000 years ago. It smelt awful!!!
Settled into what became our favourite hotel, the Fuji Marriott, Lake Yamanaka and enjoyed a very nice meal together
Friday 31 March 2023
Started out early this morning and arrived with lots of time to spare at Manchester. Just enjoying breakfast and my holiday reading
Settled on my Cathay Pacific flight, 12.5 hours. A glass of champagne and just deciding what to eat!
Just seem to be eating all through the flight
Saturday 1 April
This was as much as I saw of Hong Kong before the flight to Tokyo
Three nights at the Keio Plaza, in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, full of skyscrapers
Went for a walk to a nearby park, full of the locals having picnics and drinks under the trees
Sunday 2 April
First visit of the day was to Senso-ji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, dating back centuries and a survivor of the 1923 earthquake which devastated the city. Pagoda, gates, statues, incense burners and gardens
The locals go to the Temples for good luck when they are just married, have a new baby or just got engaged. They can even take their cars to be blessed so that they don’t have accidents.
Some of the street food being served
Then onto our sushi demonstration – in Japanese sushi means vinegar rice.
Then my own efforts which was lunch!
Last stop of the day was to the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto temple, set in a beautiful wooded setting. There was a wedding on when we visited and the bride and guests looked wonderful.
Our Japanese guide advised us that most Japanese people were both Buddhist and Shinto. They also really like celebrating Christmas!!
Some pictures of the temple and woods.
On the way back to the hotel our driver passed the Shibuya Crossing, otherwise known as Scramble Crossing which is a series of pedestrian crossings which are set to let everyone across at the same time. Quite a sight to be seen, up to 2,500 people cross every couple of minutes. It was like watching ants.
Monday 3 April
First stop today was to Ueno Park. Tokyo has many lovely parks and this one was no exception. The blossom is now falling so feel very glad to have seen it at all.
Within the park was Toshogu Shrine, a very pretty small shrine with a giant camphor tree and many stone lanterns donated by the shotguns. The lattice work around the walls was very intricate with animals and birds.
Climbed the Tokyo Tower for a great view of the city
In the evening we sailed down the Sumida River and had dinner
