andjulbed

Geo: -16.9254, 145.775For my own reference at a later time (we would certainly be keen to go back) and for anyone that is thinking of going to Japan there a quite a few things that we learned about that are a little unique to the country and that are worth knowing before you travel.ItineraryPlan to visit some rural areas not just cities. The cities are fascinating but can wear you down after a while. The cities themselves are not that attractive but there is alot of beauty there once you start looking for it. Its hidden away though. Even the cities that boast multiple stunning gardens, shrines and temples are not pretty on the surface. Hotel rooms in these cites can sometimes be a little depressing. I lost count of the number of times we walked ... read more

Geo: 35.4973, 138.755 - Kawaguchiko So of course coming to Fuji Five Lakes is all about seeing Mount Fuji. That iconic image we all have. We want to see the real thing for ourselves and see if it really is a perfect as the photos. For me though it was also about the lakes and the forests and being able to chill out and not do all that much before we plunge ourselves into the chaos that is Tokyo and then fly home. Fortunately luck was on our side and the fire goddess was ready and waiting for us when we arrived in Kawaguchiko. I booked a place on the other side of the lake to the main part of town by the waters edge and with views of the mountain should she choose to show ... read more

Geo: 36.15, 137.24 - Takayama For over two weeks we have been travelling mostly to cities large and not so large and are having to search each day for all the beautiful things we are discovering here. Finally we are faced with natural beauty spread out before us and in abundance. After about twenty minutes on the Shinkansen travelling from Kanazawa to Toyama we board a limited express train bound for Takayama in the Japanese Alps. Almost instantly the scene turns to deep green forest and the rolling hills turn to towering peaks. The rivers are wide, shallow and rocky. We immediatlely make the comparison to New Zealand's South Island. As we move closer to the Alps we catch glimpses of majestic peaks still partially covered with snow even though its only days away from the ... read more

Geo: 34.39, 132.44 - Hiroshima After a beautiful, sunny and comparitively relaxed day the rain has returned which significantly limits our sightseeing options. There are worse ways to spend a rainy afternoon however. Our hotel is very close to everything we need and we have a very nice view over the river and the parklands. Yet another mind blowing view. Ground zero is only metres away. We are now based in Hiroshima and there is no subway due to the city being located on a river delta meaning that building underground tunnels is not really an option. So public transport is all above ground. In the inner city that means getting around by tram or bus which means getting wet when its raining. No subterranean shopping zones here like we have found in other large cities. ... read more

Geo: 35.01, 135.75 - Kyoto In our minds Kyoto was the place to see the traditonal side of Japan. With so many heritage listed temples and shrines it seemed like the thing to do. However our first impression of Kyoto was the ultra modern Kyoto station. A steel and glass monolith with a massive main hall featuring exposed steel beams, recognisable from blocks away by its unique design. An absolute antithesis of what we were expecting. For some reason we seem to have spent alot of time in this place. All roads (or rather rail tracks) lead to it and it has everything we need, one way or another. I have been thinking alot about the mindset here. There is an awful lot of forward thinking and thinking outside the box. I guess that's why this ... read more