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Published: August 6th 2007
Japan
Fish Market - Tuna Auction Day 1 - Day 2: Week 1: Clear,sunny day; Departing Perth on the 7th May we flew to Japan (drizzly day) arriving on 8th May 2006. We were met by Richard (Vera's son) and spent a quiet day chatting and planning the next couple of weeks.
Day 3: Cool, overcast: Fortunate for that quiet day as the next morning we were up early to go to the Fish Market to see the tuna auction. There is a viewing area for vistors, though we arrived too late for the auction we could see the tuna being moved and some being sawn up before packing. There was a lot of movement around with fork lifts and motorised trollies whizzing everywhere. The area was quite dangerous with this traffic, wet and slippery floors and lots of people. As the photos show, there was a variety of seafood for sale.
After the markets we wandered aroung town and then down to the Imperial Palace and Public Gardens. Dinner that night was at a restaurant where most of the courses were TOFU, TOFU and TOFU.
The First purchase in Japan on was an umbrella - about the only item I hadn't packed.
Japan 1.2
Fish Market - Tuna Auction Day 4: May 10th. : R a i n i n g: On a Bullet train to Nara and Kyoto - We walked around the beautiful water gardens at the hotel then off to the temples, deer park. Temples in all shapes and sizes.
Day 5 May 11th. Raining then clear and cold: The Golden Pavilion, Buddhist Temple and more temples. We went on a tour up the mountain for a view over Kyoto then a Night Bus Tour which included meal, tea cermony, Koto music, flower arrangement, Binrakei (puppet play), Gagaku, Kyogen (ancient comic play).
Day 6: Clear and warm: Had a lovely English buffet breakfast before a walk through the Shogun Palace. Train to Hakone - up the mountain and stayed at a typical Japanese hotel, with typical Japanese food, communal bath and we slept on the floor on futons.
Day 7: Raining - raining and cold: We decided to go up the mountain by train on the switchback line, then on a Fenicular, then on a Gondola in the hope of seeing Mt. Fuji. It was so wet, windy and cloudy we couldn't see more than about 50 metres ahead let alone acroos the
Japan
Fish Market - Variety of Seafood mountains.
The seats on the Fenicular were heated.
Day 8: Week 2: Sunday 14th. May: Mother's Day: Clear then misty smoggy rain: Met a friend of Vera's and went to the Tokyo Museum then to the Sumo dining room. Aplace where the Sumo wrestlers go to eat. Went up the Tokyo Tower but the view was blocked by mist come smog.
Day 9: Clear then rain: Today we went to the Yokohama seafront and up the tallest building- views were tremendous. wandered through an amazing shopping plaza and onto a Ferris wheel with faulous views of the surrounds. Managed to get a ferry back to Yokohama bus station and made our way home.
Day 10: Clear and afternoon rain: we decided to go to Disneyland (without our coats and brollies). We both enjoy theme parks and had a really fun day on the rides etc. Coming home we were a little edgy as the bus we were on took a different route.
Day 11: Clear then rain: We had a lazy morning before going into town to the KABUKI theatre. By tradition this is an all male cast who play both male and female characters
Japan
Fish Market - Variety of seafood (Deb R).
Day 12: Rain: We went into town to another amazing electrical store where there is a floor for different items i.e computers, games, and phones on one level, vacuum cleaners and irons on another and fridges of every possible size, shape with 1/2 doors, 2 doors, 3 doors, drawers etc. Incredible. If we had been returning to Perth I think we may have needed a container.
We went on the Monorail to Aqua City - very expensive then home for tea.
Day 13: Clear then rain: Japan is SUMO - SUMO is Japan: This afternoon we went to the Sumo wrestling and fortunate to be there on day 13 of 15 day championships. After watching the news each night we were familiar with some of the wrestlers faces - not names. So it was a very interesting and exciting and noisy couple of hours at the Sumo stadium.
The SUMO wrestling was a "must do" while in Japan.
Day 14: Sunny - hot then rain: Went for a walk to the park which turned out to be a marathon on a fairly hot day. It was lovely walking beside the little river and watching families
Japan
Fish Market - Variety of seafood catch tadpoles and Gambuzia, walk around the local shops then catch a bus home. All too soon it was time to pack our bags
Day 15: Week 3: Sunday 21st May: Clear: A walk down to the station, taxi to Tama Place then bus to airport. Time to say goodbye to Richard and Akiko with hugs and thanks for their hospitality, for taking time to show us the charm and beauty of Japan, and for them being such lovely people. It was with tears in our eyes we went into the Departure lounge ready to do ithe holiday on our own.
Finland, here we come.
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Rosie
non-member comment
What a wonderful world
Your holiday looks wonderful and the places that you have visited have been extraordinary. What wonderfu memories you both will have when you are old and gray?? I have loved looking at your photos and reading about all your travels and exploits. Well done both of you for having such a great spirit of adventure and sharing it with the rest of us.