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Published: June 24th 2015
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This was one of a crazy trip around Japan.
Less than 3 weeks and staying almost one night per city. From Tokyo as far as to Nagasaki. Trains, buses and ferries included.
DAY 1
We left Tokyo and visited Kamakura on the first day. Temple visits are compulsory so we visited as many as we could in one day and also had a glimpse at the great Buddha. One of the temples had a very beautiful garden with many Koi fishes where I spent a while. It's amazing how beautiful are some carvings in the wood of the temples. We were also amazed by the trees: TALL and OLD (very old!). Japanese DO take care of them. We found as well very beautiful decorations in front or the shops and restaurants of Kamakura, and asked everywhere if they were traditional, but seems they aren't. Anyway, I love them. After that tiring day we went to see the sunset close to the beach: it was a special one, with Fuji-san included.
DAY 2
From Kamakura to Nagoya with the shinkansen. We wanted to leave our stuff inside the lockers of Nagoya station and take a
look at the castle, but surprise, concert at night so all lockers occupied. We ate sushi and headed to our real destination: ISE
We visited the first temple I visited when I came to Japan for the first time: Ise shrine, probably the most important shinto place, dedicated to Amaterasu, the goddess that created Japan. I love this place. It's quiet and in the middle of the forest. You can really feel something here. I felt it the first time I came, and also this one second time.
We stayed at a very old and beautiful ryokan called Hoshidekan. It was funny to walk around it and hear the crack of the wood. You can't go ninja.
DAY 3
We stayed two nights in a hotel of Kyoto. Visited Kyoto and its temples, ate puff-fish and survived (yes, this isn't a post-mortem will), and walked gion streets by night. Favourite temple: Inari Jinja. Love the concept: foxes and forest.
DAY 4
Nara, beloved Nara. I'm in love with the wood guardians of the Todai-ji. But what happened to the deers? They cut all their horns!
DAY 5
Osaka. As cool as ever.
Funny people, crazy cool streets, good food. We stayed at a very nice hotel.
DAY 6
First step in Shikoku. We took a bus to Tokushima. I was hopping to see the naruto in the sea from the bus but that would had been too easy. So we ate Tokushima ramen and continued our long way until Matsuyama. Very beautiful landscape. Peaceful sights from the train.
DAY 7
Woke up early in the morning to go to the Dogo Onsen, supposed to have inspired the famous movie from Ghibli "Sen to Chihiro". The emperor used to bathe here. They showed me the place where he used to poop. I didn't know what to think about that... I still don't know what to think now.
Matsuyama castle is incredible!! But we had no time... A ferry was waiting for us in Yawatahama.
DAY 8
Hello Beppu and Kyushu! This city is going to burst one of these days. There is onsen everywhere! It's like the city is afire (and the rotten egg smell will follow you forever).
We made it to see one of the 7 famous "hells". Very hot lakes with acids
and stuff.
Bathed at another onsen and ate very delicious meat from Kyushu. Apparently, and that was said from a japanese guy in the ferry, the premium meat of Kobe and Matsusaka is no other than meat from cows that were born and raised in Kyushu. Holy cow!
DAY 9
Wanted to go to Kumamoto first, but we're too tired. Heading to Nagasaki. I fell in love with this city.
DAY 10
Visited Nagasaki. Visited the museum. Very good museum: I was deeply moved. Fat man was supposed to land on the Mitsubishi plant, but the wind pushed it further into the city. No comments on these. Better go and see by yourself.
Nagasaki's bay has a very original and beautiful shape. Everything was rebuilt. But there's something I could feel here: a silence and a pardon. This city has something. I wish it was more cosmopolitan.
Dejima reproduction is a waste of time and money. Better imagine it.
Gunkanjima trip was short and we couldn't get access to many places... Still! if you understand japanese, people that lived in this incredible island will tell you their story and many more.
DAY 11
Fukuoka. Ate Hakata ramen and visited my friend and her cute shiba inu. Couldn't visit anything (extreme tiredness). Just took some pictures at night.
DAY 12
Hiroshima. Beautiful city. But too many tourists and the museum wasn't half as good as Nagasaki's. Ate hiroshima okonomiyaki. (I prefer Osaka's version). The dome was being repaired.
DAY 13
Stopped to see the Himeji Castle. Couldn't go inside but had a glimpse at it before heading to Kobe.
DAY 14
Visited Kobe port, chinatown and ate delicious Kobe beef. Very beautiful by night!
DAY 15
Back to Tokyo. Visited Yokohama and slept in very tall shinjuku hotel. That shit moved a lot! Never again.
DAY 16
Went to see the Fuji-san. We stayed at a japanese-style hotel near Kawaguchiko. There was a very cool onsen with views on the lake. Relaxing time.
DAY 17
Back to Tokyo. Shibuya, Harajuku, etc.
DAY 18
Went and slept near Nikko. The waterfall is nothing special. But the temples are incredible. First time I saw a temple with white decorations on it. Who cares about the famous monkeys when you
have magnificent paintings and sculptures. We stayed at a hotel with beautiful views on a lake. The hotel had an onsen as well. We had a nice dinner and concluded that this was one of the best trips I ever planned. Next day back to asakusa, Tokyo.
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