Our trip on the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto began with a sighting of some sumo wrestlers! Dressed is airy summer yukata they waited for a train on the other side of our platform! As always when travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto make sure to sit in seats D & E to try and get … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 8 Kyoto- Kinkakuji and Gion
As part of our sunrise tour we stayed overnight in a Western style hotel with onsen. I had one tattoo at that point in time and knew they were not permitted in the onsen. So, naughtily, we woke up super early and went an enjoyed the onsen before anyone else was up, to avoid offending … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 7; Hakone & Odawara
Our first foray outside of Tokyo was a prebooked tour to Mount Fuji and Hakone national park. We picked a tour with an overnight stay and a shinkansen return ticket. The tour was leaving from Hamamatsucho bus station, a place which, apparently nobody has any clue where it is. Hopelessly lost and almost late we … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 6; Mount Fuji & Hakone
For those of you that became interested in Japan thanks to the visually, and emotionally, stunning Ghibli/Miyazaki films that going to the Ghibli museum is a must-do! Please remember to book your tickets before you leave your home country, and in advance to. There is no photography allowed in the building, and I don't want … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 5; Ghibli Museum
Looking back through these old memories it seems like our plan was just to do a tour of Tokyo's park! As the day after exploring Ueno park we headed to Yoyogi park, next to the famous Meiji Jingu. Now, exploring Tokyo's parks is actually a great way to experience Tokyo, as they all have a … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 4; Yoyogi Park & Meiji Jingu
For our second (full) day in Japan, our third since arriving, we headed to the local large city of Ueno. Ueno has a long history, the park itself was first opened in 1876, so it has been open for over 140 years! Sadly, a lot of Ueno was damaged or destroyed due to the bombings … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 3; Exploring Ueno park
So we awoke in our tiny "double" bed in Asakusa feeling fresh thanks to a good nights sleep after 40 hours of travelling. We decided that we wanted to explore the area around our hotel a little, we had both been to Japan before, separately, but Asakusa Senso-ji is always a good place to start … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 2; Asakusa in the rain
My Japan trip in 2010 was for graduating my undergraduate degree (yay!). Myself and my university, who I studied Japanese with, headed off for a trip of a lifetime. We flew into Tokyo Narita airport and took the NEX into Tokyo, where we were staying at Asakusa Chisun Inn (which is now sadly closed). … Continue reading Japan 2010: Day 1 Arriving in Japan
My Nihon 