On our last day in Tokyo we activated our 7 day JR Rail Pass- such a bargain! To start our trips outside of Tokyo we headed to Matsumoto to visit Matsumoto castle all the way up in Nagano prefecture. There is no direct train to Matsumoto so we took the shinkansen to Nagano station and … Continue reading Japan 2017: Day 3 – Matsumoto
As a summary of our trip in 2013 here is our day to day summary Day 1: Tokyo- Land at 9:30am Narita airport- head to Jimbo-cho to check in and then visit Ueno park, explore Jimbo-cho in the evening Day 2: Tokyo- Asakusa Senso-ji temple, Skytree, Yasukuni shrine in the evening Day 3: Tokyo- Ghibli … Continue reading Japan 2013- Itinerary
For our three day stay in Tokyo we had chosen the popular area of Ueno as our base. From Ueno you have easy access from Narita airport, to shinkansen lines and to some major metro lines too. Plus the park and shopping area offers lots to do and see. We stayed at the Hotel Mystays … Continue reading Japan 2017: Day 1 – Tokyo
Kawaguchi-ko is the most developed and popular of all the Fuji Five Lakes (and arguably has the best views too). Kawaguchi-ko also sees the most tourists of all the Five Lakes thanks to having the easiest access from Tokyo (see Getting there ) and the most accomodation. That being said many people after planning a trip to … Continue reading Things to do in Kawaguchi-ko
It was another hot day in Tokyo (the heat never let up) and we had itchy feet to get going. On my husbands previous trips he hadn't been to the Asakusa region, and although I have stayed here twice before it always calls me back at the first temple I ever saw in Japan. So … Continue reading Japan 2013: Day 2 – Tokyo
We landed in the depths of summer, at 9:30 on a Wednesday morning to be greeted by 30 degree plus temperatures and insanely high humidity. We had both been to Japan during the summer before but I don't think it is possible to prepare for the heat... or the fact that sweating is just a … Continue reading Japan 2013: Day 1 . Tokyo
My Nihon 