World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Thursday 14 May 2015
Highlights: Robot Show, Harajuku Takeshita Street, Tsukiji Fish Market, Farewell Dinner.
After a relaxing nights sleep in our traditional ryokan room and a Western style included buffet breakfast it was time to say goodbye to Hakone and Mt Fuji and head to Tokyo which at least for me was a return to were I started.
Wednesday 13 May 2015
Highlights: Mt Fuji, Lake Ashino-Ko, Hakone Gore Park, Kaiseki meal, Karaoke.
We left Kyoto early to a beautiful morning, it seems we have seen the last of the rain. We gain send our main bags onto Tokyo and packed our day bags for one night’s stay.
To get to Hakone we used several forms of transportation, a bullet train, a normal local train and local buses. Our accomandation was at ryokan style, very traditional with bamboo flooring in the room.
With volcanic activity in the area we had to miss the ‘ropeway’ climb / cable car up Mt Owakudani to get a better view of Mt Fuji. Luckily for us Mt Fuji was visible today and not hidden by clouds. (more…)
Tuesday 12 may 2015
Highlights: Tea Ceremony, Ninja Show, Golden Pavilion.
Well the forecasters were right today was rain with more rain. Luckily the hotel provided umbrellas for those that needed it otherwise we would have drowned.
First up was a visit to the Golden Pavilion at Kinkaku-ji, also known as Rokuon-ji, which is a Zen Buddhist temple established in the 1600s. Luckily the rain stayed away for this visit which gave us a chance to enjoy this temple as it shined in the fading light. I also noticed some locals wearing traditional Japanese clothing, something I was to encounter a lot more in Kyoto compared to the rest of Japan. (more…)
Monday 11 May 2015
Highlights: Shrine Gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Sushi train.
An early morning start leaving our hotel in Hiroshima for Kyoto that include two trains, the first was about 1 hour 30 minutes to Osaka and then another 15 minute bullet train to Kyoto. Our hotel (Ibis Kyoto) was right across from the station so a quick bag drop at reception and we were off to see the Shrine Gates. (more…)
Sunday 10 May 2015
Highlights: Shukkeien Garden, Miyajima Island Hike, Okonomiyaki dinner at Atom Restaurant.
About half our group enjoyed the optional activity of a visit to the Shukkeien Garden a short walk from the hotel. The garden was tranquil having a very zen like feel. The fish were not afraid of man and were almost jumping over themselves to be feed by us humans. (more…)
Saturday 9 May 2015
Highlights: Morning Prayers, Burning Ceremony, Monument to the Children, Hiroshima Peace Museum
After a night sleeping on the relatively comfortable thin mattress on the floor it was an early morning wake up to join the monks in their 6.30 am prayers and chanting to welcome the day and acknowledge both the evil and the good Buddha in us all.
Friday 8 May 2015
Highlights: Karukayado Monastery, Konpon Daito Temple, Konkobuji Temple, Oku-no-in Cemetery, Meditation with a monk.
Today we moved to Koyasan, taking a number of trains, buses and a funicular to get to the height of the mountain. Due to the travel style with limited space we had sent our main bags onto Hiroshima while just taking a night bag for today and tonight.
Funiculars are always fun and the train rides highlighted some great sights assuming you aren’t afraid of heights that is and their were many straight drops of the side.
Thursday 7 May 2015
Highlights: Osaka Castle
Today begins my next G Adventure tour, Japan Expess: Osaka to Tokyo. So this meant checking out of my single room and into a twin that I will later be sharing with fellow G Adventure traveller Alexander Taplin for the next 8 nights. (more…)
Wednesday 6 May 2015
Highlights: Shinkansen Bullet train to Osaka
Tuesday 5 May 2015
Highlights: Traditional Japanese Lunch experience, Great Buddha, Hasedera Temple, Old Japanese Houses
Another day tour with Sunset Tours meant I had little trouble finding the departure point and at 9.15 am we were off for a big day of discovery. Luckily the weather today was perfect, 21 and a little overcast, just right for walking around in big crowds. The 90 minute drive to Kamakura gave me a real chance to see something other than the urban sights I’d seen so far.
