Tag: Japan
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Nikko … at Tosho-gu … a shogun’s resting place
I think Japan saved the best until the last. I had intended to visit Nikko, another UNESCO site but seemed a little thwarted. The train line there was complicated even by Japanese standards and getting a ticket was like an intelligence test which I almost failed but managed in the end. It was worth it.…
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Kabuki-za … a trip to the theatre
One of the things I wanted to do on this trip was to visit Kabuki performance and I was lucky enough to book a show here at the Kabuki-za in Ginza. It’s traditional theatre developed in the Edo period and the three plays I saw today were written in 1719. The first was the first…
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Tokyo National Museum… a rainy day
Yesterday ended well. Marci, (an American) had her birthday so Roxanne (Dutch) and I went out to a great restaurant to celebrate with her. The restaurant was on the seventh floor of a building in Shibuya. I’m always surprised by what goes on in these high rises; this one had several restaurants, a theatre, cinema,…
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First day in Tokyo … the epitome of Japan?
Up with the lark I decided to get going and sample the delights of Tokyo. I saw the sunrise and that inspired me. I decided to visit the studenty, boho type area at Shimokitazawa. I walked which was interesting as much of the way was through pleasant residential streets. I was s bit disappointed… lots…
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Arriving in Shibuya, Tokyo
After a fairly good journey on which I took the train in the wrong direction!(first idiocy in a month) I arrived in Shibuya for my Tokyo adventure. Shibuya is apparently the party capital and near the fashionista capital of Japan so I’m looking forward to exploring tomorrow. Shimokitazawa looks very bougie and a good place…
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36 Views of Mount Fuji … well almost
Hokusai, the celebrated Japanese woodcut artist, published a series called 36 Views of Mount Fuji. The most famous is “The Great Wave”. I haven’t really the space for 36 but these may suffice. After arriving in cold snd murky conditions yesterday with the Mountain shrouded in cloud I was a little concerned I would be…
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Shirakawa-go
This was a really interesting visit. The village houses date from the 17th century and are pretty unique. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO the houses are built in a traditional style called gassho. The area is famed for its woodworking skills and the houses are built without nails using ropes to secure the…
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At the Tokugawa museum and vintage shopping
This museum seemed like a great place so I walked to visit. I had called in at the Nagoya art museum first. It was good and had a good exhibition in the folk art tradition celebrating the beauty of everyday objects; Mingei. Very much like our Arts and Crafts movement in the UK and obviously…
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Takayama… a quiet but interesting day.
I arrived three days too late to watch this world famous parade of massive shrines though I don’t think I would have been able to book in anywhere as it attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the event. It has been celebrated for hundreds of years and many of the huge shrines, which are…
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Stunning beauty at Kamikochi
Today being fine and tomorrow forecasting rain I decided to take the bus to Kamakochi in the true mountains of Japan. A two hour trip climbing upward on narrow roads sculpted into the mountainside following hairpin bends through steep river valleys. There is so little level land that every tiny plot is taken up by…
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The Philosopher’s Path 哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi
Where to begin? Kyoto on this autumn day was quite wonderful. The leaves are beginning to turn and the weather is perfect for this five hour walk. But first a catch up on yesterday evening. The Gion area where I’m based is in a conservation area and retains much of old Kyoto; narrow lanes with…
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Back in Kyoto for some proper sightseeing and a Shunga exhibition
I left a sunny Okoyama and caught the train to Kyoto. Arriving before I could check in I dumped my bags at the hostel (very comfortable) and set off for an initial stroll. I’m in the rather nice Gion district and the hostel is surrounded by antique shops selling beautiful work as well as craft…
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Hiroshima in the rain… a sombre day
It’s difficult to know what to say about this without being trite. Today I took a walk to the Peace Memorial Park which is where the bomb was detonated about 600m above the area which completely devastated an ancient part of the city. The dome was one of few buildings to survive the blast and…
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A ferry trip to the island of Miyajima … stunning
I intended to visit the island tomorrow but rain was forecast so I decided to make an early start today instead. A dull start turned into a fine, warm day. The trip was well worth it; a 45 minute journey from Hiroshima Peace Park. Today being Sunday is was quite busy by the harbour with…
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A day in Kyoto
I was woken at 5.45 by a fellow dorm mate who could not open the dorm electronic lock! Never mind … I wanted to enjoy this full day in Kyoto so had booked an early tour of the shogun’s palace at Nojo Castle and the Imperial palace. As Kyoto was the capital of Japan until…
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Walking Yamanobe-no-michi
Today I decided to walk in the mountains outside Nara. It was 30 degrees but I still managed 11 miles. It was a magical experience. Yamanobe-no-michi is the oldest road in Japan and linked Nara to Edo (Tokyo). A train ride of 15 minutes took me to Tenri where i picked up the trail. It…
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A morning of deer, temples and shrines in Nara
Todai-ji This is a vast temple complex in the hills a short distance from the city. The complex passes through various gates until you reach the great hall containing a giant statue of Buddha… its quite magnificent and magical despite the number of people many of whom came to worship. It’s quite a stunning place…
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A day in Himeji
After a good sleep I awoke to humidity and heat but decided to catch the train to Himeji which is about an hour from Osaka. The train journey took me past rows of high rise apartments and small houses. Land is at a premium and there were few open spaces or gardens as I travelled…
Escape to myself 