Before arriving in Japan i decided to buy the Japan Rail Pass for 14 days and i arranged based on this short period my itinerary to "save" money on transportation (but if i should go back now i will definitely hitchhike all the way)
- Tokyo:
Capital and biggest city of Japan was my first step in the Samurai's country.
I flew from Melbourne to Narita airport for something like 250$ AUD, i guess i was lucky and i found a really good deal when i booked the flight.
Tokyo is somehow impressive, i had the feel was really different compared to other big city i have been before, because it looks like is made from many district really different to each others.
One night i had a clear example of this while i was walking on the streets of Tokyo, i was in a district called Omotesando, a really fancy place where you can find high fashion brand like Dior, Luis Vuitton, Prada, and where many buildings have an interesting architecture layout because designed by famous designer/architect, when suddenly after i crossed one street, it seemed to me to be in a completely different place, and actually was like this, i entered in Shibuya district and everything looked different, so actually one street cut down 2 different worlds of this interesting capital.
So many districts, everyone with a particular style and focus, just to mention some Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Roppongi, Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza and many others everyone to explore and discover.
Famous spot in Shibuya
- Nikko:
Nikko was a day trip during my stay in the capital. Nikko is a small city north of Tokyo, and in the 1999 the shrines and the temples of this area became part of the Unesco Heritage sites. A really interesting place, rich of history and tradition, suggested for who likes visit ancient temples.
The famous three monkeys's temple in Nikko
- Kawaguchiko:
Kawaguchiko is a small city east to Tokyo. Many people use this place as base to climb Mt. Fuji in the summer season ( the only season recommended to climb the mountain where most of the service on the way to climb will be available).
I went there not to climb, (didn't have the gear) but to smell the air around the holy mountain, called Fuji-san (2013 Unesco World Heritage Site) as sign of respect, and see something i that i saw only on television since i was a kid.
There is a Kawaguchi lake and you can walk or biking around this site, where you will feel really nice atmosphere around, the place is also famous for the onsen (hot springs).
Fujisan showing its shape in a cloudy day in Kawaguchiko
- Hiroshima:
Hiroshima sited at very east of the main island of Japan, and theatre of the tragedy of the Atomic Bomb dropped in the Second World War.
Really nice atmosphere, delicious food, (there is a whole building dedicated to a dish called Okonomiyaki, and there i had the best Okonomiyaki in a whole Japan) and nice people i met on the way, made this place a positive surprise.
Here you can visit The Atomic Bomb Dome ( 1996 Unesco World Heritage Site), the Peace Memorial Park and the Museum correlated to the same theme, really worth to visit, (small tip, have a walk during the sunset around the Dome).
Atomic Bomb Dome on the sunset in Hiroshima
- Miyajima:
Miyajima is a small island sited near by Hiroshima, reached by ferry (the ticket is under JR, so if you have the JR pass you don't need to pay any fare).
I had a day trip here, and if you visit Hiroshima, you must visit this place.
It's an interesting island where the deers walking around you looking for some food, is a place to hike Mt Misen ( you can take the rope way if you're lazy) to have a nice view of the landscape around, and is a place where is sited one of the top three scenic spots of Japan, the floating O-Torii (1996 Unesco World Heritage Site), visit this place in the morning and around the sunset and you will surprise from what the nature can create.
O-Torii in the morning...
...O-Torii on the sunset in Miyajima
- Kyoto:
Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, and maybe the most beautiful and reach of history city of the country.
I can continue to talk about Kyoto for hours, i always think that the place is not important but the people who surround you with you're sharing your time, but if you mix awesome people and awesome location you will just have amazing memories.
There are so many places to visit in Kyoto and this are just few of them : Nijo Castle, Tenryu-ji, Bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Gion District (where if you're lucky you can meet a real Geisha), Ginkaku-ji (Silver temple), Kyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji (Golden temple), Ryoan-ji (peaceful Zen garden) in the city, Fushimi Inari (the thousands gates), and Uji (also famous for the green tea) little bit outside (1994 many Unesco World Heritage Sites around the old capital).
Of course i recommend Kyoto to everyone, you will enjoy a fantastic atmosphere into a beautiful city.
Bamboo forest in Arashiyama,Kyoto
Fushimi Inari in Kyoto
- Nara :
Nara was another of my daily trip, i went there using the train (JR) from Kyoto.
Also here like in Miyajima, there are deers everywhere walking on the streets looking for tourist food.
Nara have another nice and historic scenery with many temples nominated Unesco World Heritage (1998).
Visiting Todai-ji, (where the huge Buddha sit) don't forget giving yourself a try to pass through a hole in one of the 4 pillar of the temple, legend say who can pass through it will be blessed with enlightenment in their next life ( i obviously went through, so expect to meet me as monk in our next life).
Around Nara with friends
Earning my future enlightenment in Todai-ji
- Osaka:Osaka is also known as the "kitchen" of Japan, or the Yakuza's city, it's a mix from old and new as you can experience visiting the Osaka's castle where the great Toyotomi use to stay, and the new and busiest part of the city Dotonbori.
I spent only few days here, and i decided to try the beef from Kobe, if you can go to Kobe, otherwise Osaka is also a valuable place where "experience", the best beef i ever had in my life.
Osaka will always be important for me because there it started my passion with photography, buying a second hand DSLR Nikon.
Dotonbori and the famous Glico's advertisement in Osaka
Me at Osaka's castle
- Okinawa:
From Japan main island to Okinawa, i flew from Osaka to Naha with Peach (a cheap Japanese company). I still think Okinawa is not really Japan, but has been attached after the Japanese conquered the islands defeating the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Also in Okinawa main island you can find Unesco World Heritage Sites, but you can also enjoy the aquarium (one of the biggest in the world) where i've seen for the first time a real Whale Shark (and i suddenly decided that i want dive with one of these huge animals), enjoying the party atmosphere of the island, and finding snorkelling places or beaches where relax (the only issue with Okinawa main island was the expensive, slow and not reliable transportation).
The symbol and protector of Okinawa
- Zamami island:
Zamami island was what i really was expecting from Okinawa, is a beautiful and peaceful place where snorkelling and diving, crystal water and withe beaches surroundings the island and i guess also the others small islands around the main one should be visited, so i suggest to spend less time as possible on the big island and have a tour around the small ones.
Diving in the blue ocean of Zamami
And here a sweet meeting while snorkelling
Hope this could be useful for someone, or just enjoyable to read.
See you next time.
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