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Published: April 15th 2007
Whilst we would never presume to know much about a country after only having spent three weeks visitng it we wanted to summarise our time in Japan and mention some of the things we've found cool, strange, impressive...
Before we get into it though we have both absolutely loved travelling Japan. There are so many amazing things to see and do and we have had nothing but warm welcomes and friendly and helpful attitudes from local people we have met along the way. We are sad to leave but excited to begin a new cahpter in our journey.
If you are planning to visit Japan then you may not want to read on as it will be more exciting for you to dicsover some of these things for yourself...
In many ways Japan is a country of extremes. Next to traditional temples, shrines and homes are futuristic and ultra-modern skyscrapers; next to geisha and kimono clad ladies are girls in hotpants that leave nothing to the imagination; next to toilets that have heated seats and more buttons (for washing, wiping, drying etc.) than you know what to do with are troughs in the ground; next to drivers so polite that you often see two cars waiting for each other to go first is the lack of anyone moving out of the way when an ambulance blares its siren on the way to an emergency...
In summary -
We liked...
*vending machines which serve cold drinks and hot coffee/tea/cocoa in cans
*the recycling bins - everywhere
*the Y100 shop - like our pound shops but cheaper!
*rice triangles or onigiri, just over Y100 and great for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner...
*Kareoke - enough said!
*Japanese TV shows
*Trains and buses you could set your watch by
*Taxi doors that open on their own
*the aformentioned toilets that can even make you tea (not quite but almost)
*onsen - so relaxing
*The way budget accomodation is very good - and free toiletries and hairdryers
*Being able to drink the tapwater
*Low crime levels - feeling safe everywhere (our only contact with the police was getting directions to the nearest bar!)
*The cleanliness - of everywhere
*The people
*Cherry blossom
We didn"t know...
*How into baseball they are in Japan - its big!
*That streets aren't always numbered in order or named even!
*That sumo has seasons, we missed it
*Just how busy hotels get in blossom season
Our biggest highlights ...
Although everything has been great the things that will stay with us forever from Japan will be ...
*Onsening in Beppu
*seeing Tokyo from the top of the Metropolitan Govt. Building
*Watching 1000s of people cross the road in Shibuya, Tokyo
*Kareokying in Kyoto (with Prue Tiana and others)
*visiting the floating Torii in Miyajima
*Seeing a Geisha show in Kyoto (and going Geisha stalking)
*Going to the Fish Market in Tokyo
We would now like to come back and visit...
*More of Kyushu
*Hokkaido
*Well everywhere we didn't go really! And most of the places we did, again!
We would totally recommend a trip to Japan!
All our love,
Mark and Chrissie
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Primmy and Ped
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Wow!
Thanks for all the wonderful blogs from Japan. The pictures bring it all to life. Are really enjoying hearing all your news. Loads of love Primmy and Ped.