It was nearly time to bid Japan farewell but we had two nights to discover more in Tokyo. On this, our second visit, were better prepared for the overwhelming nature of this metropolis. This time Inside Japan housed us in a totally different area, the incredibly bustling, extremely youth-oriented Shinjuku. The Groove Hotel was actually home to a massive entertainment center on the lower levels which we may have enjoyed just for kicks, but we had another agenda. It was…
Our train ride to Hakone was the longest, with two connections and 4.5 hours of scenery that included a lot of tunnels. Then suddenly….out of the clear, blue sky…Mt. Fuji! Originally I thought we were leaving the best for last. IJ supplied us with a 3-day pass to visit the most outstanding points of interest. This was misleading as we ended up with only one day to “do it all”. The train ride to Hakone was exceptional when Mt Fuji…
Takamatsu is the gateway to the Inland Sea and Naoshima, the Art Island, which was our real interest. We didn’t expect much from the large industrial city, but we had a great high-rise hotel as base and Ritsurin Gardens by day and night might have been our favourite Japanese garden of all. Our late morning train arrival precluded our ability to check in, but we are accustomed to that by now. We took a walk to have lunch in a…
With the unique experience of a hiking pilgrimage complete, the following morning a ‘local’ train took us from the Kii Peninsula to the concrete jungle of Osaka, purportedly a paradise for foodies. Our hotel in the Dotonbori area is the beating heart of the food scene and action so we went out for a sampling from street vendors. Takoyaki (octopus) is all the rage and there were scads of queues for many of the little holes-in-the-wall, especially being a sunny…
One of the many highlights of our month in Japan was a 3-day hike along a part of the ancient Kumano Kodo route which stretches across the mountainous Kii peninsula. For over 1000 years people have made this arduous pilgrimage. Walking even a small part of it is an immersive Japanese experience which includes three exceptional sacred sites of worship, the Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha. We left Kyoto by train and transferred…
If there was ever a city we wanted to visit, Kyoto was it. Our expectations were very high. We had four nights and three days to cram it all in, but this isn’t our travel style anymore, so we chose carefully. Although the city really covers a lot of real estate, the skyline is not too tall and doesn’t feel as overwhelming as Tokyo. From the train station we taxied to the Gate Hotel in Pontocho, one of the five…
We traveled by “highway” bus to Takayama with a pit stop in Shirakawago, a quaint UNESCO village that was on our must-see list, but our IJ planner neglected to make this a longer stop. When we realized this, it was too late to incorporate it into our itinerary. We tried again to change the plan on the day we traveled but the bus company wouldn’t play. The narrow streets of Takayama’s historic district are lined with wooden merchant’s houses dating…
After a ferry back to mainland Japan and two bullet trains we arrived in Kanazawa, home to Kenrokuen Gardens, one of the top three gardens in the country by some standards. We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Hotel adjacent to the train station. I was skeptical of an international chain which normally we would avoid but it turned out to be a beautiful place to spend three nights. Our ample room had some luxe features that we haven’t seen elsewhere,…
Sado Island lies 20mi/32km off the west coast of Japan. With the shape of a slanted figure “S” it has a coastline of 163mi/267km and a population of around 55,000. With its dramatic mountains, lush forests and temperate climate, Sado Island is an enticing retreat. In medieval times it was a place of exile for those who fell out of favour, notably aristocrats and artists, with the rulers of the day. Today the eclectic population and cultural riches are attributed…
Beginning in Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, it felt overwhelming from day one. I didn’t know where to start so this is where IJ came to the rescue, organizing our first day with an English-speaking Japanese man who began our day by giving us a primer in the subways and trains. After this we felt we could conquer the train system anywhere. Not quite true, but still invaluable (n.b. it gets easier when you aren’t in…