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Published: April 14th 2013
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Yummy soya beans
This is at the sushi restaurant where the shinkensan train brings your food and you oder from a screen. brilliant! I think 3 weeks is not enough time for Japan, I feel as if I have just scratched the surface to this insane country. Trying new food, discovering the beauty and the culture, there is stil so much more to be done...
So we left Kyoto and headed back to Nigel's for a couple of nights, we were all pretty tired and worn out from being on the go, I particularly was not feeling too good, had a cough and cold...I blame the karaoke personally. So the boys headed out on their mountain trek whilst I stayed at home and did all the washing! It was good, it gave me a chance to recover.
Whilst in Fukui we toured round to see the area, we hit up the world's 3rd largest dinosaur museum which was very interesting, went to a sushi train restaurant..amazing! We also just chilled and watched movies as we all caught the same cold 😞
After that we headed onto our next stop which was Kanazawa a small city about 2 hours away. This is a smaller version of Kyoto with lots more temples, shrines and cherry blossoms. For the 2 days we were there
Big Love for the dinosaurs
utside the worlds 3rd largest dinosaur museum we saw the Kanazawa castle that has burnt down and been rebuilt twice, an art museum with some crazy pieces, a ninja temple with lots of trap doors and secret passage ways and tried lots more Japanese food. The hostel we stayed at was similar to a Japanese house, the guy that ran it was slightly OCD about it, the room was half western half Japanese with 2 what we would call normal singles and 2 Japanese style bed - sleeping on the floor! I find this rather comfortable. Kanazawa isn't on most traveller's hit lists so we were pretty lucky to explore it. Also managed to fit in a night of all you can drink and karaoke. It was really good to hit amother town and see a little bit more of this country.
The kids over here are so adorable, everyday I count how many I would want to take home because they are so kawaii (cute) one day I got up to 8! One night out for dinner there were 4 Japanese girls in the toilet, they were practicing a dance routine, all aged between 5-9 years old and they were asking me my name, where
Geisha Dinosaurs
these were the safest dino's there I was from etc they had really good English and were fascinated by me, so cute! I felt as if I was famous!
After Kanazawa we parted ways with Nigel and got the train back to Tokyo. It meant we were nearing the end of our time in Japan, it was sad to say goodbye as Nige had been such a great host and tour guide! When we were back in Tokyo, we took it easy for the firsy day, mooching around the city, I visited the musuem of World Bags and Luggage, now this is my type of museum! It had handbags throughout the ages from all round the world, I loved it!
I took part in a sushi rolling experience, now considering my fear of meat and fish I was very pleased to see more veggie friendly food to roll such as egg, avocado, cucumber etc so I was safe. It was really good fun and very tasty, got to make 3 different roles and choose the fillings. It is a lot moremcomplicsted and i have a new found respect foe the sushi i see in the shoos, especislly if it is all made by hand.
Kanazawa Gardens
We visted more gardens, temples and shrines whilst we were here. I can officially role sushi now!
I am now flying solo in Tokyo as the lads left for home, it was very odd to be on my own and to just think about me as I have gotten so used to them being around all the time, it was a eye opening experience to travel with 3 Irish lads and I miss you very much! My first day without the lads I took a bus down to Mount Fuji to lake Kawaguchi. I booked this the day before, non refundable ticket...we ended up going out the night before as it was our last night together in Japan, so I was a little hungover and it decided to absolutely lash it down. Great! I nearly missed the bus, I had to run and stop it which was quite amusing, in my tired and hungover state I was prepared to give up and head back to bed but I did not. I powered through and am really glad that I got to see Mount Fuji, now when I say 'see' I mean through a mist of clouds and rain, still pretty spectacular. The lake a is fantastic viewing point to see
A Thai Dinner
We went for dinner with some of Nigel's friends and had Thai, sooooo good! this breathtaking mountain surrounded by cherry blossoms and stunning scenery, it was quite overwhelming.
I ♥ that I have been lucky enough to experience so much over here...the temples, sakura, sumo wrestling, capsuling, city life, rural life, Geisha's, karaoke...the list could go on!
My last day in Tokyo was spent taking it easy and preparing for China, I couldn't quite believe I was leaving Japan!
I really did not know what to expect from Japan but I have fallen for this beautiful country, it's crazy weirdness, incredible landscapes, electrifying cities and lovely people. I am really glad that I added this into my trip and I am going to miss this place...but this means another adventure is about to begin...
Boom On Tour in China!!
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Nigel O Mahony
Nigel O Mahony
giving it our all
Haha you gotta love a bit of karaoke!