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JAPAN Exploring the land of the rising sun

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Always fascinated by this amazing country, I spent 17 days visiting castles ,temples , shrines and more...Especially Kyoto is a perfect destination if you want to experience the ancient Japanese culture. Japan offers so many different experiences that attract tourists from all corners of the world.
July 2016 - 17 days
Nikkō Tōshō-gū

What's In This Article

When you’re visiting Japan you will quickly find out that their behavior is completely different to western countries. People in japan have the attitude to bother the people in their environment as little as possible. You will notice it as soon as you enter the train because it is amazing how silent it is in the train! Everyone is as respectful as possible and also incredibly helpful. If you have a question or seem to be confused about something you will always find someone who can help you! It is difficult to describe a feeling like this with words so you should definitely experience on your own!
The best time to visit Japan is March to May and September to November: This is a country of extremes in terms of its weather, so these months are the best to avoid the high temperatures and humidity of Japanese summers or its chilly winters.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Language: The official language is Japanese.

Currency: The yen is the official currency of Japan.

Credit Cards and ATMs: Japan is still largely a cash-based economy, and not all shops can accept credit cards.

Plugs: For Japan there are two associated plug types, A and B. Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and plug type B is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Japan operates on a 100V supply voltage and 50/60Hz.

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Kinosakionsen

3 DAYS Tokyo & Nikko

The first thing to do when you organize a trip in Japan is to book the Japan Rail Pass, also called the JR Pass, a rail pass valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan, with a few exception (check here which one you should buy and how many time in advance). 

I spent the first 3 days in Tokyo , a big bustling city. There is a lot to see and do in Tokyo, from traditional Japanese temples to modern entertainment districts, to can’t miss foodie spots. If you’ll only have 2 days in Tokyo don’t worry! It’s still entirely possible to experience the best of this metropolis in that time. Otherwise check the entire plan in the Reserved Area!

In the following video, you will see the Shibuya Crossing – one of the most famous street crossings in the world on your first day in Tokyo. Located right outside of Shibuya Station, this busy crossing is a bucket list experience for most visitors, especially for a first-timer to Tokyo.

When the light turns green, the scramble begins! Businessmen, students, shoppers, foreigners… everyone is going everywhere. Welcome to Tokyo!

Hachiko Square, Shibuya

Hachiko statue


A statue outside of Shibuya station commemorates the most well-known dog in Japan: Hachiko. The story goes that this Akita dog would come to Shibuya Station every day to meet his master, a professor, on his way home from work.

After his master passed away, Hachiko still came to the station every day in search of his former owner…

Odaiba

Odaiba


Odaiba is easily reached by train and is accessed via the Yurikamone Line monorail which starts from Shimbashi Station. I recommend buying a metro card during your time in Tokyo. It saves both time and money!

The Yurikamone Line monorail is a scenic ride: the train crosses the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba and the view of the Tokyo skyline is beautiful!

There are few things to do in Odaiba, here some of them:

1) Statue of Liberty 

Odaiba’s Statue of Liberty brings a little piece of NYC to Tokyo! The statue was originally sent from France in 1998 in tribute to the relationship between France and Japan. It arrived in Odaiba in 2000 and now Lady Liberty sits in front of the spectacular backdrop of the Rainbow Bridge. The scene is one of the most popular photo spots in Tokyo.

2) Legoland Discovery Centre

If your travelling with kids who are Lego fans then check out the Legoland Discovery Center. It is the ultimate lego playground! There are over 3 million Lego blocks, 2 rides and 10 play zones, Lego classes and a 4D cinema.

3) Gundam Robot

A 20 meter tall Unicorn Gundam Robot stands next to the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza Mall in Odaiba. With accompanying sound and light, it transforms from Unicorn mode to battle ready Destroy mode several times a day. In the evening, Anime clips are projected and Gundam music is blasted through speakers. It’s an awesome photo stop when your in the area and much loved by anime fans.

4) Oedo-Onsen Monogatari

Japan is famous for its plentiful hot springs, known as onsen, and Odaiba is home to one of the largest in Japan. The Oedo-Onsen Monogatari is a great place to experience an onsen for the first time. There are 13 different types of hot spring baths, pools which offer fish therapy and foot baths to revive tired feet.

5) Tokyo Joypolis

Tokyo Joypolis is a indoor arcade by SEGA and has arcade games together with 3D and virtual reality attractions. There’s a rollercoaster, a haunted house, a Transformers themed ride and a virtual snowboard halfpipe to try out!

Asakusa Sensoji Temple

Sensō-ji


Sensoji in Asakusa is the oldest temple in Tokyo.

This temple is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy: the main entrance is the Kaminarimon “Thunder Gate” which with its enormous red and black chochin lantern has become a popular symbol of Asakusa. This is the outer gate of the temple and it enshrines two statues of the gods of the wind and thunder.

After passing through the Kaminarimon, visitors enter the Nakamise shopping street.

On the left and right side of the gate are two wooden Nio statues, fierce looking guardian spirits who protect Buddhist values. In the past the gate was called the Niomon after these statues, before being renamed the Hozomon. Three large chochin lanterns also hang inside the gate. After passing through the Hozomon Gate, visitors enter the main part of the temple complex with the Main Hall in front of them and the five-storied pagoda on the left.

After visiting Sensoji Temple, a short walk to the east will take you to nearby Asakusa Jinja Shrine, which is much smaller and quieter than Sensoji, but full of interesting details. The shrine is actually dedicated to the two brothers and their chief who established Sensoji 1,400 years ago.

Nikko


Nikko is located in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture.

HOW TO REACH NIKKO? Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo or Ueno Station) to Utsunomiya Station and transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes.

As it used to be the sacred land of mountain worship, many people visit the place for its distinctive mystical atmosphere. Here go to visit the famous Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine: there are 55 buildings including eight national treasures and 34 important cultural properties. In 1999, the entire complex was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site as Temples and Shrines of Nikko. Yomeimon Gate has a luxurious atmosphere and the engravings on it are gorgeously colored by skillful artisans. The carvings of the three wise monkeys and Nemuri-neko (sleeping cat) are everywhere.

The Three Sacred Storehouses and The Three Wise Monkeys
Toshogu Shrine Temple , Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Day 4 Takayama

I had such an enjoyable 2 days in Takayama in this Mountain Town (few hours by train from Tokyo).

Things To Do in Takayama


Takayama Town is small which is what I liked most, no public transport is needed to get around the town centre as everything is very walkable / bicycle and easy to see in just one day in Takayama.

Sanmachi Street is the Takayama Old Town and definitely the most popular place to visit thanks to the street being lined with Traditional Wooden Buildings that have been very well-preserved. The best time to visit Sanmachi Street is in the morning when it is quieter, in the morning you can really take in the beauty of the buildings. Many of the shops and cafes are closed early in the morning not seeming to open until about 10:00 am and seeing these open, tasting the food they have to offer and seeing the buzz of Sanmachi Street, later on, is also very good. If you want to do some shopping in Takayama for local and traditional Japanese products, this is where to go.

There are 2 main markets – Jinya-Mae Morning Market which is a small market in front of the Takayama Jinya building (which you can pay to go inside) and Miyagawa Morning Market in Takayama which runs alongside the Miyagawa River and is bigger.

Both markets in Takayama are open every day from 8:00-12:00 from November to March and 7:00-12:00 April to October so there’s no need to get up that early.

If you have more time you can also visit museums/attractions , here the list:

Fujii Folk Museum

Takayama City Archives Museum

Takayama Museum of History and Arts

Hida Archaeology Museum

Hirata Folk Museum

Takayama Showa Hall

Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall

Takayama Jinya

Higashiyama Temple Walk is a lovely little walk and has to be part of your Takayama Sightseeing. I did the walk after going up Shiroyama Park which worked well as it’s at the base of the hill. The walk is essentially a footpath between 12 Buddhist Temples and Shrines. It doesn’t take much time as they are very close together but it felt so special up here as it’s away from the town in a residential area of Takayama and at the base of the Forest.

Soyuji Temple is at one end and Eikyoin Temple is at the other so start at one end and walk to the other end. The two main Shrines- Higashiyama Hakusan Jinja Shrine and Higashiyama Shinmei Jinja Shrine are up footpaths into the Forest and it’s beautiful once you get to them as you’re surrounded by forest.

Do not miss: the street food of Takayama is mainly along Sanmachi Street and there are quite a few things on offer from Ice Cream, Mochi, Dango, Rice Crackers, Buns, Sushi, Sushi with Hida Beef (Hida Beef is one of the famous types of Beef in Japan along with the likes of Kobe Beef).

 

Day 5 Kinosakionsen

Morizuya Inn

I spent 1 night in Morizuya Inn , a charming traditional Japanese place in Kinosaki Onsen (guests can wear colourful yukata robes at the property) 🙂 . Rooms come with futon bedding on tatami (woven mat) flooring.

The first thing to do is entering the Sacred Waters of Kinosaki Onsen: in ancient times, when the onsen in Kinosaki were first discovered, they were considered gifts from the guardian deity. This made the waters sacred. Before you could enter the waters you had to hike the mountain to Onsenji Temple. Here you would pray to the onsen guardian for them to allow you to enter the sacred waters and be healed by them. Then you would have received a “yu-shaku”, a type of ladle, that would act as proof that you had visited the temple and would be used as a ticket to enter the onsen. Back then, anyone who did not have this ladle was denied entry to the onsen. 

There are several other hot spring towns in Japan, but very few have so many public bathhouses of varying style in such close proximity. All 7 of the onsen bathhouses can be walked to from the other. If you have the time, are up to the challenge and want to feel the cleanest and most relaxed you have ever felt in your life, try Kinosaki’s “Onsen Meguri”. Meguri is a Japanese term meaning pilgrimage, in this case you walk around to and soak in all 7 onsen bathhouses.

Kinosaki Onsen

Day 6 Himeji

Himeji Castle is a national treasure and UNESCO world heritage site. This castle is one of Japan’s most beautiful castles, with its original architecture well preserved. It is one of the few castles that was never destroyed by war, fire, or earthquakes.

Next to the castle there are nine gardens: the area use to house the former lord’s residence and other samurai houses in the Edo period. Within the gardens is a traditional Japanese tea house where you can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony with a beautiful view of the castle and surrounding gardens.

Himeji, Hyogo

Day 7 Miyajima

When you arrive in Miyajimaguchi, take the ferry for Miyajima, an island in the western part of the Inland Sea of Japan, located in the northwest of Hiroshima Bay.

It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems seems to float on the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan’s three best views. It’s also a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island’s ryokan (I spent 1 night here)  There are also wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.

Top attractions in Miyajima are:

– Mount Misen the island’s highest mountain: on clear days, it affords spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and as far as Hiroshima City. There are also a number of Buddhist structures near the peak. There are three hiking trails leading up Misen: the Momijidani Course, the Daisho-in Course and the Omoto Course. Of the three, the Daisho-in Course offers the nicest views and is not as steep as the other two. The Momijidani Course, while the shortest, is also the steepest, leading mostly through the forest. Using any course, it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit from town.

– Daisho-in Temple a variety of buildings, statues and other religious objects. These include the Kannon-do Hall, the Maniden Hall, a sand mandala made by visiting monks from Tibet, a tea room and a cave filled with 88 icons representing the temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

– Last but not least, the Itsukushima Shrine and the famous shrine with floating torii gate. The shrine complex consists of multiple buildings, including a prayer hall, a main hall and a noh theater stage, which are connected by boardwalks and supported by pillars above the sea.

The torii gate at low tide

Day 9 HIROSHIMA

Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims

A visit to Hiroshima naturally focuses on memorials to the atomic bombing of 1945, but that’s not the end of the story.

In and Around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

At the north end of an island formed by two of Hiroshima’s rivers (the Ota River and the Motoyasu River), the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a pleasant green park containing the major memorials to the 1945 atomic bombing. I arrived by crossing the Motoyasu-bashi Bridge, which brings you quickly to the reflecting pool and the Cenotaph for A-Bomb Victims.  At south you will find the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (click here for details) – if you’re traveling with children, think carefully about whether or not they are mature enough to visit this museum.

Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims

This monument was built with the desire to reconstruct Hiroshima as a city of peace. It was designed by Kenzo Tange, a professor at the University of Tokyo. It resembles an ancient arch-shaped house, in part because of the desire to shelter the souls of the victims from the elements. The monument is inscribed with the words, “Let all the souls here rest in peace; For we shall not repeat the evil.” The stone chest in the center holds the registry of the names of persons who died from the bombing, regardless of nationality.

Atomic Bomb Dome

I had seen hundreds of photos of this building as a kind of visual icon of Hiroshima. The building is the remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which was located near the hypocenter of the bomb. Most of the building miraculously survived the bombing and has been left standing as a striking memorial to the bombing. It’s located across the river from the Peace Memorial Park, on the east bank of the Motoyasu-gawa River.

Atomic Bomb Dome

Children’s Peace Monument


For me that was the most touching monument in the Peace Park. The memorial consists of a statue of a child with her arms outstretched to the sky, with a crane above her. The monument is based on the story of a girl, Sasaki Sadako, who was stricken with radiation sickness after the bombing. She attempted to fold 1,000 origami cranes in hopes of getting well (it is believed in Japan that if one successfully folds 1,000 origami cranes, their wish will come true). Sadly, she passed away and in memory of her, people from around the world have folded strings of origami cranes and they are offered all around this monument.

Day 9/14 Kyoto

Tenryu-ji Temple

Kyoto will offer you a lot of emotions place to visit and to discover. I started my tour from the main street of Arashiyama near Keifuku Arashiyama Station. Walk north (away from the river). You will soon see the main entrance to Tenryu-ji Temple on the left. Enter through this entrance (if you missed the main entrance, there is another entrance just a bit further along. They both go to the same place).

Walk toward the temple (in the direction of the mountains). You will soon come to a sign for the temple and the ticket booth. Continue straight toward the temple. The next sign indicates the choice between visiting the garden and visiting the main hall of the temple. I recommend visiting the garden only as is one of the best in Kyoto , so take your time to enjoy it before continuing.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Walk uphill through the famous “Bamboo Alley.” I woke up really early as generally there are too many people and it’s impossible to take a good picture!

When you reach the top of the slope, look to the right and you will see entrance to Okochi-Sanso Villa diagonally across from you. This superb villa and garden is well worth a visit. Be sure to hold onto your ticket as it will get you a cup of matcha tea and a sweet after you explore the garden 🙂 

When you have finished your tea break, exit the villa the way you came in. Take a right at the bottom of the slope and walk south (toward the open park area). This will bring you to the entrance to Kameyama-koen Park: keep walking until you reach the summit of the park where there is a viewing area at the summit of the park that affords excellent views of the Arashiyama Mountains and down to the Hozu-gawa River.

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine



It’s the most important shrine in the entire city, an entire world of shrines and shrine gates spread across an entire mountain in Southeast Kyoto.

If you’re looking for an easy hike in the hills around Kyoto, and don’t want to spend too much energy or time getting there, then this Fushimi-Inari pilgrimage hike is a great choice. It starts at Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station or JR Inari Station, both of which are only a few minutes south of central Kyoto by train. The hike involves a bit of stair climbing, but if you take it slow, it’s not too hard. For much of the hike, you’ll be passing through hypnotic arcades of vermillion torii (Shinto shrine gates).

Inner Shrine: behind and to the right of the main hall of the inner shrine, you will see two stone lanterns holding round rocks. These rocks are the Omokaru Ishi. There is often a line in front of each rock. These rocks are an unusual way of making a wish. People make a wish and then try to lift one of the rocks. If the rock is lighter than you expect, your wish will come true. On the opposite side of the main hall, the walk to the upper shrine starts (through yet another arcade of torii). Go this way to reach the upper shrine. At the top of the steps, you will reach Shin-ike Pond.

At one point, you’ll be treated to an incredible view across all of southern Kyoto.

Just be warned: Fushimi-Inari-Taisha is one of the most popular sights in Kyoto, this means that the area around the main hall and the lower trails can be very crowded. If you’re averse to crowds, go early on a weekday morning.

Daibutsu Todaiji Temple.Nara

Things to do in Nara


I spent one day in Nara visiting the famous Daibtsu ( Great Buddha – 16 meter high Buddha) in the Todaiji Temple. Be sure to check out the Nandai-mon Gate, that lies a few hundred meters east of the Daibutsu-den, and once inside the Daibutsu-den, be sure to circle around the back and check out the pillar with the hole in the middle.

Don’t forget to relax in the best garden in Nara ‘ the Isui-en Garden‘  with a pond and plenty of blooming flowers and trees.  I recommend ordering a cup of matcha (powdered green tea) and a sweet (Y500), which you can enjoy while gazing over the garden.

Kasuga-Taisha Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine in Nara, a mysterious world of forest, pathways, lanterns and wandering deer. After visiting Isui-en Garden and Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga-Taisha is next up to complete any visit to the Nara-koen Park area.

Nara-koen Park  is lined with pleasant pathways and dotted with ponds. The most interesting feature of the park, especially for children, is the large population of semi-wild deer that roam the park. You can buy a pack of deer crackers (shika sembei) to feed them (but note that the deer can be very aggressive in trying to get them out of your hands – so do not give the crackers to very small children).

Nara Park

last 3 days tokyo

Hakone-machi Ashigarashimo-gun

If you want to eat the famous Black Eggs ,you can choose  one of the few tours but I think that the best one is 1Day Mt Fuji, Hakone & Owakudani.

OWAKUDANI (the great boiling valley) is located in the mountain town of Hakone. One can take an aerial tram up to the hot springs, or walk up the 1 km path. On clear days either route delivers spectacular views of the Mt. Fuji. Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one’s life : however, some say that eating more than two is not recommended. Once the springs are reached, kuro-tamago, or black eggs, can be purchased five at a time. The eggs are ordinary chicken eggs but the shell turns black due to being boiled in the hot sulfur spring.

Mount Fuji view from Lake Ashi

I’m going to provide you with some ideas on what to see in Tokyo for other 3 days (on top of the 3days at the beginning of my journey) : best bet is picking up one of the 72-hour Tokyo metro tickets.

Asakusa


Take the tube to Asakusa station and drop into the tourist information centre if you want to have a look around there first. Not only are the staff here super friendly and helpful, but you can also head up to the 8th floor to enjoy an amazing (and free!) view.

Nakamise Shopping Street


Heading north, the first thing you’ll see is the Kaminarimon Gate (Thunder Gate). The traditional gate has a massive lantern in the middle and two guardian statues on either side. Take a walk up Nakamise Shopping Street. This outdoor market is full of vendors selling traditional snacks as well as souvenirs. If you wanted to pick up a kimono or some ningyo yaki – a sweet cake filled with red bean paste – this is the place to do it.

Akihabara


After taking in a bit of traditional Tokyo, it’s time to check out the modern side of the city. The perfect place to do that is Akihabara, which is just a short walk or train ride from Ueno Park.

This area was named after Akiba, a deity that can control fires. After a fire destroyed the area in the 1800s, the people here built a shrine dedicated to Akiba in hopes of preventing future fires.

Skyscrapers at Akihabara

Imperial Palace


Just a short walk from Tokyo Station you’ll find the Imperial Palace. It’s located at the former site of the Edo Castle and remains home to the imperial family (check in advance this website if you want to do the tour of palace). The imperial gardens are stunning and definitely one of the best things to see in Tokyo!

Ginza


Ginza is the premier shopping district for the Japanese capital and is home to countless luxury stores, cafes, and restaurants. During the warmer months (April-September), the central Chuo Dori street is shut down to traffic and becomes a bustling pedestrian zone. Other cool things to do in Ginza include seeing a kabuki show at the Kabukiza Theatre or visiting the Nissan and Sony showrooms at Ginza Place.

If you didn’t make it to the new fish market on day two, you can swing by the old one today. The Tsukiji Fish Market isn’t home to the auctions anymore, but it’s still open and there are plenty of places to munch on fresh sushi here.

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