Our final post: rapid fire best list

We have completely unpacked and are now in the process of working out where our souvenirs are going to live. So whilst our trip is fresh in our minds, Michael and I sat down and jotted down some rapid fire questions on all our favourite elements of our trip to see where we aligned and where we differed.

The figure 8 loop planning I did worked extremely well. We basically had no logistical issues or challenges whatsoever when it came to the itinerary itself. In that regard the trip was a raging success.

SO without further adieu, here is our final post to close out a great holiday that we will treasure forever.

The Overall Contenders

Favourite City
Michael: Tokyo
Shalee: Nagasaki

Favourite Meal
Michael: Izakaya in Kanazawa
Shalee: Izakaya in Kanazawa

Favourite Beverage
Michael: Peach Suntory Soda.
Shalee: Ginger Ale. It hits so different in Japan and was my constant go to and a reliable staple absolutely everywhere. Was reminded of this on the plane home.

Favourite Comfort Food
Michael: Egg Salad Sandwich from convenience stores.
Shalee: The beef and potato croquettes from convenience stores.

Favourite Theme Park
Michael: Donkey Kong Country, Universal Studios.
Shalee: Universal Studios. No contest.

Top 3 Scores from a secondhand score
Michael: 3. Donkey Kong Country on Gameboy Colour. 2. The charcoal spring coat. 1. The Nikon Coolpix Cameras
Shalee: 3. My large brown coat from the Shitakitazawa flea market. 2. My Serena figurine. 1. The XZY music CD/DVD collection set with the Pokemon Card that made me a mutzah and paid off every souvenir I purchased. Honorable mentions: my Fennekin plushie that I slept with every night, and my brown handbag that I used nearly every day and will be my staple handbag in Australia moving forward.

Top 3 Favourite Souvenirs (new)
Michael: 3. The three Splatoon keyring and carabinas set. 2. Uniball Zento Signature Pen. 1. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong jumpers
Shalee: 3. My lingerie sets. 2. My capybara keychain plushie. 1. The couples photoshoot experience and full collection of images.

Favourite Temple
Michael: Tie between Senko-Ji Temple grounds in Arishimaya, Kyoto, and Senkoji Temple built into the cliffside in Onomichi.
Shalee: Asakusa Temple at night.

Favourite Castle
Michael: Osaka Castle
Shalee: Karatsu Castle.

Favourite Accommodation
Michael: Our traditional homestay in Onomichi
Shalee: Our traditional homestay in Onomichi

Most Magical Moment
Michael: Witnessing the Weeping Plum Festival at Jonan-Gu, Kyoto
Shalee: Watching Michael meet Donkey Kong.

Best Dressed City
Michael: Tokyo.
Shalee: Onomichi.

Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: The plum garden in Jonan-Gu, Kyoto
Shalee: The plum garden in Jonan-Gu, very closely followed by wandering around Gokayama in the snow.

Best Garden Complex
Michael: Moss gardens at Senko-Ji in Kyoto
Shalee: Kenrokuen Park in Kanazawa

Highlights by place

TOKYO round 1

Coolest district
Michael: Shinjuku
Shalee: Kichijoji

Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: Hinagi Park
Shalee: Hinagi Park

Best Meal
Michael: Gyukatsu in Asakusa
Shalee: The Ramen near the Creative Tokyo Museum

Best Day of activities
Michael: Saturday: Plum Blossom festival, flea market Shimokitazawa, Shibuya Crossing, Asakusa Temple.
Shalee: Friday: Studio Ghibli day in Kichijoji

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Loved wandering the silent streets of Honjo Azumbashi in the evenings. The salt bread from the bakery near our apartment was heavenly. The Sinbad ride at DisneySea was the shining star of both parks. The train system gets easier with time and practice.

NAGANO
Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: Mt Togakushi
Shalee: Snow Monkey Park

Best Meal
Michael: The Soba we had in the mountains
Shalee: The Soba we had in the mountains

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Shalee: A much larger city than expected. Seeing the snow was amazing and magical. Dai was a fantastic guide and well worth the money. Nagano had a quiet magic to it, and will hold a piece of my heart forever.

KANAZAWA
Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: The snow in Gokayama
Shalee: Driving through the mountainsides between Gokayama and Shirakawa-Go.

Best Meal
Michael: the Izakaya
Shalee: the Izakaya

Best Day
Michael: Stationary shopping, Old Samurai Town and Museum, Anime and Tech shopping, amazing Izakaya for dinner
Shalee: The tour day through Inami/Gokayama/Shirakawa Go

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Loved the interactions we had with oldies in this city. It was an easy, walkable city that had fantastic secondhand stores, food, gardens and vibes.

KYOTO
Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: Jonan-Gu Weeping Plum Festival,
Shalee: Jonan-Gu Weeping Plum Festival, but the Senko-Ji temple grounds was also divine.

Best Meal
Michael: Pizza from the tiny Italian place
Shalee: The Indian we had for dinner after Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Best Day
Michael: Plum Festival/Nintendo Museum/Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Shalee: Plum Festival/Nintendo Museum/Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Shalee: The only city that didn't really feel like a city. It had great sites to visit, but as a city and a vibe, I wouldn't feel the need to return, as many of the traditional elements in Kyoto that attract people we experienced in Nagano and Kanazawa. The worst city in terms of food (still good but a lot pricier)

NAGASAKI
Favourite Landmark/Activity
Michael: The Million Dollar View at night on Mt Inasa.
Shalee: The Million Dollar View at night on Mt Inasa.

Best Meal
Michael: Turkish Rice
Shalee: Breakfast Sweet treats on the way to Glover Gardens

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
I wish we had more time here. This city had immense vibe. Loved the tram system, the city essence, the quiet pockets, and wandering around the city at night. It had some of the quirkiest and coolest shops. The Ghibli shop and the children's book museum and shop being highlights.

HUIS TEN BOSCH
Favourite Moment
Michael: The mirror maze labyrinth.
Shalee: Witnessing the incredible night illuminations.

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
So worth travelling out to. What made this park great was that it wasn't just pretty on the surface. There were actual things to do and explore.

FUKUOKA
Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: Views of the ocean around Karatsu.
Shalee: Ohari Park.

Best Meal
Michael: The Set meals in Kawabata Shopping Arcade.
Shalee: Every meal here slapped, but the best one for taste was the ramen and rice set I had, and the coolest dining experience was the yatai.

Best Day
Michael: Fukuoka City Day
Shalee: The Karatsu Day trip

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
A very youthful city that most reminded me of the best parts of Melbourne mixed in with the best parts of city life in Japan. Good energy, easy public transport, walkable, with an excellent food and night culture.

ONOMICHI
Favourite Natural Wonder
Michael: the views from the top of the cablecar
Shalee: Sakura by the seaside

Tastiest food item
Michael: the beef stew at the izakaya
Shalee: the beef stew at the izakaya

Best Moment
Michael: the cat cafe.
Shalee: it's a tie between drinking green tea and reading in the evening in our accommodations with the amazing view, and the entertainment and relaxation of the cat cafe.

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
A gorgeous place to visit with a great vibe, awesome views, and a deep sense of peace and calm. People were the most expressive in their dressing here, making it the most interesting and fashionable to me.

OSAKA
Coolest Area
Michael: Dontobori
Shalee: Nipponbashi

Best Meal
Michael: The Black Wagyu Experience
Shalee: The Black Wagyu Experience

Best Day
Michael: Universal Studios
Shalee: Universal Studios

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Much cooler and more enjoyable than anticipated. Super easy to navigate public transport. In saying that, everything closes way earlier than I anticipated.

TOKYO ROUND 2

Best Meal
Michael: HotPot
Shalee: Middle Eastern

Best Moment
Michael: Shalee flipping her Pokemon card
Shalee: Japanese Karaoke

Best Bargain Buy
Michael: Netbook Laptop for $20 (doesn't turn on but a good project to tinker with)
Shalee: My DVD set with the golden ticket Pokemon card

Shalee's Final Comments/Observations
Ueno is a great central location to stay during our final days in Japan, but it's super touristy, so it was ideal as a base but not to get a true vibe of the city. Yet this part of the trip will always have a magic and a place in my heart and I ventured out on my own and explored the city.

The final question that must be established.

Would we wish to return to Japan for another holiday in the future?
Michael: Absolutely.
Shalee: Ten thousand times yes.

Shalee's bonus thoughts.

What does Japan do better than Australia, and what will you miss?

1. Bidets, and incredible public toilets across the board. Privacy music is a lifchanger. As is the bidet elements themselves. I immediately felt sad back on an Australian toilet, knowing i didn't have a hands free cleaner at my disposal anymore. Also, most public bathrooms include coat rack attachments to the doors and walls. Which is ingenious. I used them constantly to hang up my coat and bags instead of dumping them on the floor.
2. Japanese Showers/bathrooms. The Japanese seperate their shower/baths into a room instead of attaching them to the bathroom where the sink and toilet are. They are fabulous. I had a baby weep showering today in my terrible signature Aussie corner box shower. Making it a room gives you so much space.
3. Ramen. So many types. Basically, no two bowls taste the same.
4. BookOffs. Loved how their secondhand stores felt like a mix of the salvos and a cash converters.
5. Taxi's that have automated doors. You don't ever have to open or close a taxi door in Japanm it's so nice.
6. Convenience stores that slap because they have so much good hot food. The 7/11s, familyMarts, Lawsons... Fami chickens and yummy croquettes... And Curry bread. Most of all, we will miss curry bread!

Things that Australia does better and Japan could look to us for inspiration.

1. Milk/dairy. The plain milk in Japan is ick. They do milky drinks just fine, but trying to get a bottle of milk for hot drinks... A headache. Aussie milk is so good in comparison. Also their vanilla ice cream is blaaaand.
2. Automated rubbish bins. There are like, hardly any bins in public places in Japan. It's such a headache. They should utilise tech to bring in bins.
3. Hand towels or hand dryers in bathrooms. They aren't in, like, 95% of bathrooms. I have no idea why. But they need them hahaha.
4. Potato chips. The Japanese could benefit from the introduction of salt and vinegar chips. Czytaj więcej