Life in Tokyo, and beyond
The research says that you don't really want to read about our vacation (see here), but its too late to stop now. Yesterday, we visited the Zōzō-ji temple.... And today, our last full day in Japan, we checked out the Tsukiji Fish Market, through which all things marine must go before arriving on Tokyo tables.
OK folks... Here's what you've been waiting for: Heidi's take on Japan. ------------ I love Japan! It’s clean and safe, the trains and subways run like clockwork, the people are friendly and the food is delicious! We’ve been here for almost 2 weeks and have seen 2 homeless people. The trains and subways are wonderful. [...]
Things got a bit wobbly in Kyoto last night. Magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 10:30, resulted in some mild shaking in our hotel room at 10:30. More here. We got back to Tokyo in time to watch the sun set on Tokyo from the Sky View observation deck. I know, I know... a sunset does not [...]
Our last day in Kyoto and we split up again. Heidi and I spent half the day at Fushimi-Inara Taisha, where thousands of orange/red torii (gates) line the paths up the mountain. It was crazy busy at the base, but like most tourist spots became more peaceful and pleasant the farther up the hill you [...]
Yesterday was Xmas and we bulleted to Hiroshima for the day. Did you know that 2014 is the 50th anniversary of Shinkansen service in Japan. Fiftieth! Puts all other rapid transit systems, or (for Toronto) dreams thereof, to shame Our time in Hiroshima was largely taken up visiting the memorials, there are many, for those [...]
We took a day trip from Kyōto to Nara on Christmas Eve. The main attraction was the very impressive gallery of national treasures with a 1000 armed deity (must have been poetic license as it looked to be no more than 50). Oh and a gigantic (15m high) Buddha statue from the 8th Century, housed [...]
What happens at the ryokan, stays at the ryokan. Today visiting temples in Kyoto
Kyōto is cold. Colder than Tōkyō. That's why December in Japan is known as shimotsuki, the frosty month. We started with breakfast in the ryokan; in our room on the low table again. Then we took in some of the sights in Arashiyama: Tenryū-ji (Zen temple and garden)... ...the bamboo forest... ...and Okōchi Sansō (gardens [...]
You really shouldn't laugh at translation mistakes, but this sign at the Arashiyama train station, in Kyōto, made us smile.
Today we relocated from Tokyo to Kyoto, via Shinkansen. In the a.m. we visited the Hama Rikyu Garden tea house for a cuppa. Then we hopped onto the Shinkansen for a trip to Kyoto, at 250+ km.p.h. We arrived at the ryokan (guest house / inn) near dusk, but had enough time to visit the [...]
AWB and CSB did their own things today, so Heidi and I decided to explore the Yanaka neighbourhood - which has avoided earthquake, fire and war damage, and is home to an active artistic community. Think Kensington Market, Tokyo-style. We started in the Yanaka Ginza, and I got shouted at for taking a picture at [...]
Yesterday was full-on tourist day. Shuttled around the Mt. Fuji / Hakone area by motor coach, being let out every hour or so, just long enough to snap some pictures, or go for a cable car or boat ride, or get some lunch, or go to the bathroom. Still, it was a good way to [...]
Dinner last night was at "En", an izakaya style restaurant on the 42nd floor of the tower next to our hotel. This morning, we started our day like most Tokyo residents, on the subway. Near the Omate-Sando station we discovered the Nezu Museum, and its lovely garden. And we ended the afternoon at Kabukiza, for one act [...]
It was a long day, 22 hours in transit actually, and we got just a little sleep on the plane. Andrew arrived at the hotel in Tokyo shortly after Heidi and I had turned in for the night. But, of course, we were thrilled when he woke us up and had a brief chance to [...]
Turned out that ours was the first Air Canada flight via Boeing 787 from YVR to NRT. We got a cheesy pin to celebrate. New plane, same indifferent service.
We're in the air, on our way to Japan for two weeks to meet up with Andrew. Pretty sure I still have this somewhere in the basement....
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