Japan 2019

March 2019

A 23-day adventure by Florian Read more

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Traveler Japan 2019
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- Mar 15, 2019
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Japan Tokyo Shinjuku Shiba-Shiodome 35.66764, 139.7636435°40’4” N 139°45’49” E
Day 12
Arriving in Tokyo
March 15, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Super fast morning train from Hakone to Tokyo where we meet with the rest of the gang: Steffi, Han Wei and his fiancée Soon-jin.
We are staying in Ginza, near Tokyo station: it is surprisingly peaceful and quiet for such a busy area! Nice to walk around.
We went in the suburbs for a very good umagi lunch, then just walked around Ginza in the afternoon before stopping at a traditional tea place where we had delicious sweet and savoury treats along with tea and sake. Then cocktail bar and Japanese curry at Sisheido. Already so much good food for the first day!Read more
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- Mar 16, 2019, 11:49pm
- ⛅ 9 °C
- Altitude: 52 m
- Japan Tokyo Shinjuku Kabukicho 35.69424, 139.7028735°41’39” N 139°42’10” E
Day 13
Tokyo Day 1
March 16, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
CF session with Ben in the morning to make sure we would be hungry later (!).
We all (+ Ed who arrived only that day) meet for traditional soba in the Harajuku / Omotesando area.
Afternoon walk in Omotesando, Cat St etc. up to close to Shibuya, and coffee break at traditional Hato house.
Memorable dinner (at least for me!) at sushi master Tanaka. Always a unique experience.
Later evening was gyoza supper, then Golden Gai drinks, and unbelievable Nangi ramen to finish the night... We pushed it!Read more
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- Mar 17, 2019
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitude: 53 m
- Japan Tokyo Chiyoda Nibanchō Kōjimachi Eki 35.68508, 139.7360335°41’6” N 139°44’10” E
Day 14
Tokyo Day 2
March 17, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Started the day with a super nice run around the Imperial Palace to try sweat out the previous night.. unfortunately that wouldn't be enough.
Unexpected lunch for Japan but very good pizza at Pizza Studio PST.
Walk around the Toranomon area in the afternoon to check out the pot gallery. Then very good snack at Bricolage but really not feeling great, not hungry at all.
Pre-dinner cocktails at a great bar but I am feeling really unwell from everything from the day before... so sparkling water for me!
Dinner was exceptional at Tatsuaki Kasamoto, a traditional tempura place.Read more
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- Mar 18, 2019, 10:55pm
- 🌙 13 °C
- Altitude: 30 m
- Japan Tokyo Shinjuku Shiba-Shiodome 35.66716, 139.764135°40’2” N 139°45’51” E
Day 15
Tokyo Day 3
March 18, 2019 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Morning gym session to still try to recover from the previous days. Feeling much better after it!
Luckily light fish and rice lunch in the Marunouchi area. Then walk around Gynza again.
Dinner was the highly expected and anticipated Satoshi at Chiune! Delicious, creative, unique and unforgettable. All well accompanied with 30 y/o moutai (surprisingly good!) and great wine.
We then had to go for super as dinner was light and early and finally made it to the mapo tofu place - amazingly good and very fun time!
Great way to finish this crazy food tour of Tokyo with everyone and to say goodbye before next time!Read more
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- Mar 19, 2019
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 35 m
- Japan Kyoto Kyōto Giommachi Gionshijō-eki 35.00279, 135.7714435°0’10” N 135°46’17” E
Day 16
Kyoto Day 1
March 19, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Another super fast train from Tokyo to Kyoto in the morning.
Spent the all day walking around the Eastern side of Kyoto until dusk - it felt so good and I am really found of the city! So quiet, peaceful, with a great sense of history and majesty.
First visit was the Sanjusangen-do: impressive with its 1000 Buddha statues, even I struggle a bit to relate. Then, Kiyomizu-dera: beautiful views on the city and nice garden but so crowded with hords of tourists! Nice walk in the Sannen and Ninen-zaka streets and around. Lots of little stalls and shop give it a traditional touch. Then, Heian-jingu with a walk through the other temples area on the way. Finally, took the philosopher's path up to Ginkaku-ji which was closed by the time I got there.
Walked all the way back to the hotel by passing through Shinbashi and Gion: so cool at night with all the lights on!
Dinner at food court of the Takoyamashi store: so many good little things!Read more
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- Mar 20, 2019
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 31 m
- Japan Kyoto Kyōto Giommachi Sanjō-eki 35.00878, 135.771535°0’32” N 135°46’17” E
Day 17
Kyoto Day 2
March 20, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Early morning walk first around the Imperial Palace, with a stop for an absolutely delicious matcha at the Ippodo shop. Then visit of the shogun residence Nijo-jo which has beautiful rooms and gilded screen paintings inside and a gorgeous garden. Finally, walk around Nishiki market and then back to the museum area on the East side for a great bento lunch at Rokusei.
After that, went back to visit the Ginkaku-ji temple and its quiet and so well arranged Japanese garden. Peaceful sanctuary on the way there.
I walked all the way back to the hotel to then run to CrossFit Kyoto: great session and super nice owner Russel who was very welcoming!
Dinner at Mame-Cha was really really good and authentic. Super of curry udon at Okura was less exciting.Read more
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- Mar 21, 2019
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 99 m
- Japan Nara Higashikiderachō Koofukuji 34.68243, 135.8356934°40’57” N 135°50’8” E
2
Day 18
Day in Nara
March 21, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Morning train to Nara to visit the different temples in the Nara-koen on the East side of the city. This is overall a beautiful and enchanting area, with the deers wandering around and the forest. The Kofuku-fi was definitely missable (no need to get in really), but then really cool to walk up to Todai-ji (one worth visiting), and then to Nigatsu-do, a really enchanting sanctuary in the middle of the forest.
Lunch at Hiyory for good local vegetables and beef.
Train back to Kyoto and good gym session before dinner. Tried hisago which was unfortunately already closed so ended up at the food court again!Read more
Traveler Ça a l'air délicieux mais.. que de plastique !!
4/10/19Reply
Traveler Oui tu verras j'ai trouvé que c'était l'un des drames du Japon... Tout doit être tellement parfait, très bien présenté, en utilisant uniquement les meilleurs/plus beaux produits etc. que cela entraîne une quantité de déchets hallucinante. Ça tourne à l'absurde ! Après ils sont au taquet sur le tri sélectif mais je ne sais pas si cela compense vraiment
4/10/19Reply
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Traveler Japan 2019
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- Mar 22, 2019
- 🌬 12 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Japan Ōsaka Osaka-shi Dōjima Kitashinchi-eki 34.69871, 135.498434°41’55” N 135°29’54” E
Day 19
Osaka
March 22, 2019 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
Morning: early train from Kyoto and go to the hotel to leave my luggage. Visit of the area around the station with the impressive Sky Garden building and its stunning views at the top. Train to the castle area where I give up on the visit given the amount of tourists
Lunch: walk around Kuromon market for some Takoyaki and delicious fatty tuna and sea orchin sushi at Kuromon Sanpei
Afternoon: the TV tower and Tsurakunen tower and walk around the neighborhood around the zoo. Long coffee break at Brooklyn Roasting. Session at CrossFit Osaka
Dinner: udon at Imai Honten (rec by Ed) and Okonomiyaki at Hozenji Sanpei.Read more
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- Mar 23, 2019
- ⛅ 8 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- Japan Hiroshima Hiroshima Ōsukachō Futaba-yama 34.39868, 132.4680634°23’55” N 132°28’5” E
Day 20
Hiroshima
March 23, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Morning: train from Osaka early to be in Hiroshima before 9am. Visit of the Prefectural museum of art and municipal museum of contemporary art which were both disappointing...
Lunch: delicious okonomiyaki at Hassei, authentic and away from tourists
Afternoon: memorial museum of the A-bomb and area around. Run around the castle
Dinner: tsukemen at Bakudan and seafood at SuishinRead more
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- Mar 24, 2019
- ⛅ 10 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- Japan Aichi Marunochi 35.179, 136.9018335°10’44” N 136°54’7” E
Day 21
Nagoya
March 24, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Morning: early train from Hiroshima to arrive before noon. The station is crazy busy and hard to walk around! Visit of the area around the station with stunning buildings, the science museum and TV tower. A really beautiful, modern and busy city.
Lunch: ended up at Ippudo, a ramen spot that has become a chain. Not bad
Afternoon: went to the castle and walked around. Coffee break at a nice traditional house
Dinner: chicken sashimi at Kururu. Okaydon at Torishimuzu (Ben recommended). Nishimen noodles at the small station shop, absolutely delicious.
Late train back to Tokyo, in my beloved Ginza!Read more
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