Japan
There are [0] photos and [13] stories about Japan
Sunday, 4 May 2008 | Views [1670] | Comments [2]
Ahh, Tokyo. Back in the big city, back
in our Sakura Hotel. This time, however, we got a “twin room”
instead of a “double room” as the latter were all booked. Good
news actually, as the room was much bigger ... Read more >
Friday, 2 May 2008 | Views [2938] | Comments [1]
After Nikko we're back in Tokyo. Only
briefly this time, for a change of trains to get to Kamakura. But
the station is unmistakeable in its Tokyo-ness.
Again the crowds are dominated by the
conservative grays ... Read more >
Friday, 2 May 2008 | Views [1513] | Comments [1]
I am old. I did my best to run away,
but turned 30 nonetheless. Although, when exactly I turned 30 is a
little bit of a mystery, what with timezones and datelines and what
not. We decided that this meant I got to ... Read more >
Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 | Views [1976] | Comments [1]
After such an early start for the
Buddhist ceremony, and walking around Koya-san, and then the trip to
Nara, we were dead on our feet when we got there. The tourist
information desk booked us into a nearby hotel. After about
two-weeks in ... Read more >
Saturday, 26 Apr 2008 | Views [1552] | Comments [6]
Koya-san is a remote little town high
up in the hills south of the conjoined metropolises of Kyoto and
Osaka. It's home to a Japanese School of Buddism, and houses many
monasteries ... Read more >
Friday, 25 Apr 2008 | Views [5465] | Comments [5]
Sunday.
As in, a weekend.
At one of Japan's most popular tourist
spots for Japanese tourists.
Oops.
OK, so Kyoto is probably more popular,
but is also spread out. This is ONE place. ... Read more >
Saturday, 19 Apr 2008 | Views [1410] | Comments [6]
Kyoto has a very different feel than
Tokyo. The city is much less intimidating. At first this might be
attributed to the extra facility to to the tourist. The
accomodations made for non-Japanese speakers exceed ... Read more >
Friday, 18 Apr 2008 | Views [1128] | Comments [5]
Yesterday, the 16th, was a travel day. We left our amazing, romantic onsen in the north with many bows from the friendly staff. Then by taxi, bus, and train to Kyoto, the historical imperial capital and crown jewel of the Japan tourist industry. These ... Read more >
Wednesday, 16 Apr 2008 | Views [2511] | Comments [6]
The initial view of The Lamp was stunning, and the place did not disappoint after that. We had a huge two-room tatami suite with a balcony over the ocean and a private wooden hot-spring fed bath. The hotel is set in a rocky cove with serious cliffs on ... Read more >
Monday, 14 Apr 2008 | Views [1097]
The next morning, we grab a quick
breakfast and get to the bus station early so we can double check our
directions. Three days ago, in Tokyo, we decided to go to this
“little out of the way Onsen” that was mentioned ... Read more >
Sunday, 13 Apr 2008 | Views [1045]
We rose early and went for a walk aroudn Takayama before our train north. We've been rising early since getting here, the better to take advantage of the daylight. Our train wasnt til 11, and check-out at 10, not that anyone would care. In Japan you ... Read more >
Saturday, 12 Apr 2008 | Views [1196] | Comments [1]
My brother-in-law has a T-shirt that puns, "Come to Ithica it's Gorges", or take the train to Takayama. Indeed the guidebook's bad pun was not off the mark. While the ride from Tokyo to Nagoya was interesting, you never really leave urban ... Read more >
Saturday, 12 Apr 2008 | Views [1058]
Friday we spent a couple of hours over breakfast at the hostel. Susan was working the logistics for the next few days while I wrote the blog. To a Japanese the word “vacation” is almost synonymous with “Onsen”. An onsen is a natural hot-spring and ... Read more >
