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We've finally found a spare hour to update our blog, given that it's now a couple of weeks behind, so our profound apologies to those who have been waiting in anticipation for our next instalment!
We flew to Tokyo from Beijing on the 1st April and returned to Shanghai on the 9th April, hence we had a very short time to try and see as much of Japan as possible! It was a challenge but I think we managed it!
We started out with a night in Tokyo, heading out to see the Shibuya Crossing, which epitomises Tokyo's nature and was pretty incredible. We also ventured out to see Central Tokyo, including the North and South Towers which dominate the city's skyline. Against the huge skyscrapers and array of bustling pedestrians. I was surprised to see many quaint lanes with cherry blossom trees in full bloom, providing a glimpse of an older Japan which would see more of in the days to come.
The next morning we got the superfast Shinkansen to Kyoto for another day packed with sights. We managed to pack in the Kyoto Tower which can be seen from most places around the city, the To-Ji Temple, the Nishiki food market where we sampled some of the local fish, the Imperial Gardens and the Gion District to catch a glimpse of a Geisha before heading for a communal bath and a good night's sleep on our tatami mats in our traditional ryokan lodgings.
In true whistlestop tour fashion, we were up early again the next morning to board the Shinkansen again for a morning at Himeji Castle. The queues were insane but it was definitely worth it for a glimpse of ancient Japanese culture and to see one of the most beautiful Japanese Castles.
From Himeji, we headed down to Hiroshima where we were to spend 2 days. This was our favourite place on the trip by far and after the 2 days we didn't want to move on! We were touched by the poingancy of the Hiroshima A-Bomb Memorial Hall and Dome, as well as by the Museum showing the city before, during and after the A-bomb. This is a city which really believes in fighting for peace and the total abolition of nuclear weapons, so much so it would inspire any visitor.
We also spent a day on Miyajima island, which is easily reached from Hiroshima by ferry. Here you can see the floating Torii Gate, which is apparently one of the most photographed images in the world. We also saw the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine and Five Storied Pagoda, before embarking on a 2 hour climb of Mt Misen for stunning views of both Miyajima and Hiroshima.
One of the highlights of Hiroshima, I must confess, was our meal on the first night when we both ordered traditional Okonomiyakis which were absolutely delicious! A must for anyone travelling that way!
After Hiroshimja, we headed to Osaka for one night, and ventured up the futuristic Umeda Sky Building to get a bird's eye view over the whole city. The next day, we headed on to Nara, a beautiful, old Japanese city which centres around Nara-Koen. It was a glorious, suny day so we walked around Nara-Koen for most of the day, taking in the sights and culture of the many shrines and temples, as well as getting aquainted with the local wild deer!
In Nara, again we sampled some of the local cuisine, however, we didn't memorise the name of this dish so I will do my best to explain! It was rice, covered in an omelette, topped with a hamburger and finished off with curry sauce! Sounds extremely bizarre but totally amazing!
After Nara, we took a VERY long journey to Lake Kawaguchi-ko, which is one of the five lakes around Mount Fuji and is the closest one to see the summit. It poured incessantly the first day we arrived so we escaped to a traditional onsen in the afternoon. We left feeling liberated after soaking ourselves, completely starkers in a roasting hot bath in the pouring rain!
Thankfully, the sun decided to show it's face the next day so we climbed Mount Tenjo to the observatory deck to get a glimpse of Mount Fuji for ourselves. It was stunning and quite a surreal experience to actually be there and see something like that. We stayed there for about an hour, waiting for the right moment when the clouds had parted to get the best photograph!
Lastly, we headed back to Tokyo for a day and ventured downtown to see the Tsukiji fish market which was absolutely huge and posed the question as to whether there was a need for so many fish to be pulled from the seas every day?! In true Japanese style, we also headed for sushi and sake which was great fun and had us guessing as to what we were eating with every dish!
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed Japan and we would recommend a visit there if your itinerary permits. Be warned though: accommodation, food and transport is extemely expensive so be prepared to fork out much more than you would in the rest of Asia. We invested in a Japanese Rail Pass which was well worth the money and saves you a whack on the bullet trains. All of the hostels and guesthouses were clean and nice though with extremely helpful staff, despite the language difficulties.
The Japanese people are also much different to those which we'd experienced in China. They're very polite and reserved and will go out of their way with any request for help. Everything is very clean and well-preserved and I won't tell you about the toilets but let you experience their amazingness for yourself! Enjoy!
Craig and Nikki
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