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Published: March 20th 2006
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Japan - 2nd March 06
OK, I know what you're thinking; send Kate away to Asia for 8 months and all she does is take pictures of bloody trains! I do have a good reason though, we have arrived in Japan and this is one of the famous Shinkansen (bullet train) that whisked us across the country at about 300KPH! Pretty special 😊
Anyway, other than getting excited about fast train travel you might wander what else we've been up to since we arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun. We started in Tokyo, touching down to a city that as far as I can judge is just the way a city should be; clean, efficient, friendly, well organised and with trains that actually run on time! Tokyo is a great city, yes we are now back to Hong Kong territory in the sense that we can't actually afford to be here, but I wouldn't have missed it for all the world. The Japanese people are not only very lovely and super polite but also so very very efficient - which quite a shock after 5 months in China where we are more used to things being done
(or often not being done) on a much more "informal" basis!
We started by staying in a really nice hostel in Asakusa which is a really pretty region in Tokyo and near to Senso-Ji, a popular temple for tourists. This was a nice place to visit with lots of little handicraft shops lining the street. The best part of the experience though was the incense burning out the front where people waft the smoke over themselves and pat it in their clothes under the belief that it bestows good health. I had a go but I didn't feel any great benefit; maybe it takes some time to work.
We took the time to visit Jingu-Bashi where groups of young (and some not so young) Japanese get all decked out in funky outfits and costumes to form the Cos-Play-Zoku, aka the Costume Play Gang. Some of them were pretty cool but I wasn't taking down any fashion tips just yet.. I may however take some from the streets of Tokyo, everone here is so beautiful and well groomed, it is definitely the first place on our travels where Will and I have felt a little under-dressed!
We also
visited the Tsukiji Fish Market, not really something I would have put at the top of my list but it seemed to be recommended across the board so off we went. It was quite an experience, little carts carrying boxes of anything that can be fished out of the sea whizz by you at alarming speeds and there is quite a lot of dodging to be done. This becomes troublesome when you are surrounded by crates of fish (some of which are still moving) and the last thing you want to do is go tumbling into a vat of hungry lobsters!! We then did the only thing we could after visiting the largest fish market in Japan, we had some sushi for breakfast! I'm not a huge fan of raw fish as it goes but at least it was very fresh!!
We also, of course, explored some of the centre of Tokyo and managed to fit in a little (window) shopping and we rode the lift to the top of the government buildings to see Tokyo from above.
After a few days in Tokyo we made our way down to the Fuji Go-Ko region to catch a cloudy
view of the snow-capped Mount Fuji, Japans highest mountain. Inquiries at the station told us that this was not the time of year to be climbing the mountain (maybe next time!) so we consoled ourselves with the spectacular view from our window. Instead we did a little hiking in the woods where we managed to get a little off-track.. at one point we were climbing down the side of a waterfall with the earth giving way beneath our feet. Quite scary really but we made it and managed to head back towards the town which was lucky as I didn't much fancy spending the night amongst the trees.
The next day we took the bullet train to Kyoto (among much excitment!) and after a quick change of hostel (we re-learnt that the cheapest is not always the best option) we started to explore the cobbled streets and quiet temples. Kyoto is a lovely place, pretty, clean, efficient, good food and bars and friendly locals. It's hard to imagine what more you could ask from a city and I have definitely been starting to think that Japan is the place to be.
In the city we visited Nanjen-Ji, a
Godzilla statue..
..yes, we were a little disappointed too! temple with an ace little zen garden. Ninjo Castle with it's hidden doors and nightingale (squeeky) floors to warn of intruders. We also did the night walk which happened to coincide with our visit and it only opens for a week at the beginning of spring. A path is arranged around the east side of the city which is lit by lanterns and the temples are illuminated which are very pretty. We arrived just in time to catch some traditional geisha dances which was cool. We also saw some geishas during our time in Kyoto but unfortunately, even after 7 months in Asia, we were still just a little too British to run up and stick a camera in their faces. Still, Will and I both bought Kimonos so I could recreate the look for anyone who is interested!!
We also took an enjoyable day-trip to the nearby town of Nara, home to the friendliest deers in the world and also the worlds largest wooden building! The best part of which is the post at the back with a hole in the bottom for people to try to wriggle through. It's said that those who can fit through are
Government buildings
It was here we rode the list to the 45th floor for fab views over Tokyo "ensured enlightenment." Pictures of how Will and I fared are below!!
On our second to last night we spent the night in a Ryokan which is a traditional Japanese guesthouse complete with beds/seats on the floor and I had my first ever public bath! They are very popular over here!
So, what can I say about Japan other than it absolutely rocks. What a shame we can't afford to be here any longer on this visit, but am consoling myself with the knowledge that I will most certainly be back..
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