Japan in May

A 15-day adventure by Our Exploits Read more

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Trip start
May 9, 2016
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Day 1
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 10:44 AM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 553 m
Australia Canberra International Airport -35.30763, 149.1909135°18’27” S 149°11’27” E
A rainy day in Canberra.
May 9, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
We are off! Its wet and overcast and somebody is sure that something is up. Travis very kindly dropped us off in the Lexus - his was allegedly too dirty!
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Day 1
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 6:42 PM
🌙 23 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Australia Alexandra Headland Beach -26.66859, 153.1063726°40’7” S 153°6’23” E
What a contrast.
May 9, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
What a contrast to wet, overcast Canberra. Caught up with our friends Urie and Barbara at Alexandra Heads on the Sunshine Coast.
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Day 2
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 9:23 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Australia Brisbane Airport -27.40349, 153.110427°24’13” S 153°6’37” E
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Departing Brisvegas
May 10, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Our decision to fly out of Brisbane rather than Sydney has been a good one. It allowed us to catch with Rod Chisholm and his daughter Holly last night. Had great night at the Airport Novotel which is 5 mins from the Brisbane International Airport. Only hassle this morning has been an errant combination lock which kept resetting itself! Now cooling our heels in the Qantas Club, Janet is boning up on her Japanese!Read more
This is the same look she gets when Pop scores 83 points on a triple word ;-) xx
5/13/16Reply
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Day 3
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 10:17 PM
🌙 20 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Japan Asakusa 35.71383, 139.7938535°42’50” N 139°47’38” E
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Tokyo in a day
May 11, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
A busy day in Tokyo today. We started off in Narita where we stayed at the Richmond Hotel overnight and then worked our way across to Asakusa by train. We went for a boat trip down the Arakawa River to Odaiba which is a large artificial Island in Tokyo Bay. The weather was very blustery though, so we headed back to the Tokyo Skytree a 645 metre broadcasting, restaurant and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. Tallest communication tower in the world and very impressive. Didn't quite get to the Senso-ji Buddhist temple which is just a stones throw from our hotel. Perhaps tomorrow before we head out of Tokyo.Read more
That is exactly your face from 1983 Japan! Loving the updates and photos, thanks heaps, Aunty Marvs xxx
5/13/16Reply
Is that magic light or is everything yellow ?? nice shot!
5/13/16Reply
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Day 4
Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 8:52 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 376 m
Japan Shimodaki 36.80717, 139.7074236°48’26” N 139°42’27” E
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Exploring Nikko
May 12, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Today we headed north out of Tokyo to Nikko, a mountain region of Japan known for its Shogun heritage. We travelled by train from Asukusa on the Tobu line which took us through outer urban Tokyo and then rural Japan. Lots of rice paddies and vegetables and flowers being grown. The train was interesting, we had to travel in carriages 5 and 6 as they were decoupled from the rest of the train for the final leg into Nikko. We had a brief look at Nikko and then on to Kinugawa where we are staying for two nights. We are intending to check out the Toshogu Shrine and Kegon falls tomorrow. Will update you then.Read more
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Day 5
Friday, May 13, 2016 at 12:28 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,277 m
Japan Kegon Falls 36.73908, 139.4996636°44’21” N 139°29’59” E
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Waterfall with a difference
May 13, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Thought we had seen it all but today we caught a lift down to a waterfall! Also promise of some monkey business but alas none to be found.
Janet HansonBlessed with beautiful weather!!
5/13/16Reply
How'd you go with the wild monkeys in the end ? any snatching or biting ?
5/13/16Reply
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Day 5
Friday, May 13, 2016 at 7:32 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 451 m
Japan Imaichi 36.7353, 139.6531636°44’7” N 139°39’11” E
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Anyone for a few Temples?
May 13, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Spent an interesting couple of hours at the Toshogu Shrine this afternoon. It enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, a Shogun from the 1600s. Must have been a pretty cool dude. They went to a lot of effort to remember him. There are four temples / Shrines together. Off to Sendai in the morning which will be an adventure as we get to ride the Shinkansen!Read more
Janet HansonWalked over 19 kilometres today...thank heavens we had an all day bus pass 😄
5/13/16Reply
it all looks so beautiful!! coloured leaves or cherry blossoms?
5/13/16Reply
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Day 6
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 11:15 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 119 m
Japan Utsunomiya-eki 36.55978, 139.8986536°33’35” N 139°53’55” E
Train spotting anyone?
May 14, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
This morning has been all about relocating ourselves by train to Sendai. We started at our hotel at Kinugawa then walked up to the local station at Kosagoe and caught a Tobu train back to Shimo-imaichi where we transferred to a Tobu-Nikko train to Nikko. We then transferred to the JR line and caught a train to Utsunomiya where we hopped on the Shinkansen to Sendai. A train spotters dream!Read more
The trains look amazing. ML
5/16/16Reply
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Day 6
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:05 PM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 40 m
Japan Teppōmachi 38.26415, 140.8796438°15’51” N 140°52’47” E
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Another first.
May 14, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
In a novel twist, Janet and I had a delicious steak in a "stand up" restaurant today. You had a number of choices - rib eye, sirloin etc which you paid for by the gram. It was then cooked to order over an open flame and served to you standing up at a counter. The steak was tender and well cooked. Who would have thought?Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:25 PM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 40 m
Japan Teppōmachi 38.26416, 140.8796438°15’51” N 140°52’47” E
A Castle, Wedding and a Festival
May 14, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
This afternoon we meandered around Sendai and got more than we bargained for. Visited the Aoba Castle which was built in 1601 and looks out over Sendai. There we ran into a wedding ceremony at the Shrine. As you can see from the photo the gaijin groom and his local bride are decked out in very traditional outfits. When we came back into Sendai we ran into the Aoba Matsuri Festival celebrating the start of spring. Must have been thirty or more community groups enthusiastically dancing the "sparrow dance" through the main mall and streets. Very colourful and a unique experience.Read more
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Day 7
Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Japan Matsushima Eki 38.38013, 141.0672438°22’48” N 141°4’2” E
A great day for a cruise around the Bay
May 15, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
We decided to check out one of the areas affected by the 2011 Tsunami. Matsushima Bay also happens to be one of the iconic sites used to promote Japan. We were there early so managed to beat the crowds! Heading off to the Golden Hall this arvo, supposed to be very impressive but a bit of a cross country hike. Will let you know how we get on.Read more
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Day 7
Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7:08 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 85 m
Japan Koromo Gawa 39.00174, 141.102639°0’6” N 141°6’9” E
Now we are talking!
May 15, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
We thought that the dude in Nikko was doing pretty well in the history stakes but he was out shone today by Kiyohira, the first lord of the Fujiwara clan. He built the Chūson-ji Temple in around 1100 and some of it is still in existence! Most impressive, as were the avenue of cedars that leads up to the Shrine. We could have spent more time there but we're pressed for time having thoroughly tested JR's Hiraizumi rail network and Google's knowledge of it! Despite TripAdvisor's advice that it can be touch and go, we have found Google to be remarkably accurate.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, May 16, 2016 at 10:44 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Japan Yanagimachi 40.82207, 140.7473740°49’19” N 140°44’51” E
Another day, another Shinkansen
May 16, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Today we headed off reasonably early for Aomori via a Hayabusa Shinkansen which moves along at a fair clip of 320 km per hour. If you have never experienced the efficiency of Japanese high speed rail it is a joy to behold. The Shinkansen arrived at 0909hr and departed promptly at 0912hr the scheduled time. We arrived just short of two hours later in Aomori at the scheduled time of 1100hr having travelled 362 km.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, May 16, 2016 at 11:39 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 41 m
Japan Hirosaki Jō Ato 40.60745, 140.4641840°36’27” N 140°27’51” E
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Templed out?
May 16, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
So are we. Given the fine weather in Aomori though we decided to check out Hirosaki Castle. This involved a train and bus journey to Hirosaki and then a short walk to the castle. The original castle was built in 1611 but burnt down in 1627. It was rebuilt in 1810 and is a pretty impressive structure as you can see from the photos.Read more
Janet Hanson Mt Iwaki, in the background here, can even be seen from the west coast
5/17/16Reply
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Day 9
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 2:06 PM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Japan Fukaura Eki 40.64821, 139.9275840°38’54” N 139°55’39” E
The West Coast.
May 17, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
No not the West Coast Eagles! Rather, we decided to head to the west coast of Japan today. Was looking to get on one of the Joyful Trains - the Shirakami Resort train down to Akita but left our run a bit late. However, Janet wasn't keen on being down at the station at 0810 to catch it! In the end we caught a local train down as far as Fukaura and caught the Shirakami Resort train back to Aomori. The train literally hugs the West Coast of Japan in a feat of Japanese engineering ingenuity. Other big surprise was all the apple trees, Steve Jobs would have been impressed. Am sure that you will agree that the scenery made it all worthwhile. Probably the highlight of our trip so far.Read more
Janet HansonSpectacular scenery & amazing weather - even managed to squeeze in an ice-cream by the seaside while waiting for our return train 😊
5/17/16Reply
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Day 10
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 7:04 PM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 308 m
Japan Hakodate-hantō 41.75945, 140.704641°45’34” N 140°42’17” E
Bright crowded lights of Hakodate
May 18, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Well folks we have finally made it to Hokkaido. We caught the Shinkansen from Aomori to Hakodate this morning. This part of the Shinkansen system only opened on the 26 of March this year and involves a 53km trip in the Seikan Tunnel, 20 odd km of which is under the seabed. The trip was uneventful, everything looked brand new and worked flawlessly. The Shinkansen station is a bit out of town but the Hakodate liner synchronises with the Shinkansen arrival and we arrived in Hakodate a bit after the 1100hr. Since then we have checked out Goryōkaku fort and the Hakodate trams - not a pinch on Melbourne's system but don't tell the locals! We ended the day on the top of Mount Hakodate where we had dinner and took in the bright lights along with a couple of thousand other tourists!Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 8:10 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Japan Nishihatchōme-eki 43.05993, 141.3482643°3’36” N 141°20’54” E
Japanese Road Warriors
May 19, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Well it finally had to happen, we have joined the ranks of the Japanese road commuters. Thanks to Janet's Japanese language skills and more than a modicum of patience we managed to successfully hire a Nissan "Wingroad" - think under powered, Japanese rice burner complete with English GPS with churlish attitude. Have also discovered that Japanese drivers have a complete disdain for the 50 km per hour speed limit, we have consistently been overtaken at 20km per hour faster. Have successfully made our way cross country from Hakodate to Sapporo via Lake Toya. Still lots of snow on the ground though melting rapidly.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 9:33 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 31 m
Japan Sapporo 43.05425, 141.3652543°3’15” N 141°21’55” E
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A stroke of luck
May 19, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Tonight we explored Sapporo city. Definitely the pick of all the Japanese cities that we have visited so far. Well laid out and vibrant with lots of folk out and about. In a stroke of luck we discovered two festivals in the centre of town. A wine festival and an international food festival. Janet had a Spanish paella and Gary some very tender New Zealand lamb. Nothing Aussie in sight....will have to drop Steve Ciobo and Barnaby Joyce a line if they get re-elected.Read more
Janet Hanson Enjoyed a cold glass of NZ red with my paella 😊
5/19/16Reply
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Day 12
Friday, May 20, 2016 at 8:47 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 41 m
Japan Otaru 43.19072, 140.9946643°11’27” N 140°59’41” E
The Famous Otaru Canal
May 20, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Today we took in more of Japan's west coast, we headed up as far as Shakotan and then worked our way back to Otaru which is famous for its canal & glass art. Lots of tunnels along the way and still quite a bit of snow on the peaks. Also still very warm, it was 26 degrees mid afternoon. Janet's elusive search for 'special' Japanese socks has also finally been realised. Tomorrow we move location and our accommodation as we are staying in a Ryokan for Janet's birthday. Will update you WiFi permitting tomorrow.Read more
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Day 13
Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 7:29 PM
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 624 m
Japan Kamifurano-chō 43.4738, 142.6427543°28’26” N 142°38’34” E
Traditional Japanese Anyone?
May 21, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Today has been more of traditional Japanese experience. We pointed the trusty Wingroad - well up until the female English GPS operator went on strike, she did eventually return but it took some coaxing - north from Sapporo to Furano and ultimately Biei. Along the way we called in at a lavender farm, a blue lake and a flower farm. Very rural up this way and the farmers are all very busy planting. Weather has been very kind to us - 29 degrees today. We are staying at a flash Japanese style Ryokan tonight for Janet's birthday, where we'll get to experience a traditional Japanese dinner & breakfast. Then off to Chitose in the morning before we fly out to Tokyo on Monday afternoon.Read more
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Day 14
Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 7:23 PM
🌙 15 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Japan Chitose-eki 42.82861, 141.6495942°49’43” N 141°38’59” E
Navigating the Chitose Maze
May 22, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
After navigating our way across country from Sapporo to Furano and Biei we finally got stymied in Chitose when we attempted to return the Wingroad to Mr Nissan this afternoon. After a couple of laps of the New Chitose airport and a few more terse words with our churlish GPS we managed to successfully return our vehicle. Earlier in the day, fuelled with a hearty traditional Japanese breakfast, we took in the very impressive snowcapped mountains around Furano and hectare after hectare of agriculture. Lots of rice, corn and canola being grown. Also came across a Brit chef in a fairly remote town where we'd stopped for lunch. He even offered to help us order, but Janet had the all-Japanese menu deciphered by then. Tomorrow we start to head for Oz, first to New Chitose Airport, then Narita, Brisbane and finally Canberra.Read more
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Day 15
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 6:14 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 52 m
Japan Airport Terminal 2 Station 35.77385, 140.3879835°46’26” N 140°23’17” E
Malcolm all is forgiven, on our way home
May 23, 2016 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Well folks, we have decided to give Malcolm and Bill another chance and are on our way home. It will be a bit of a marathon though, we left New Chitose Airport at 1355 hr on Jetstar Japan and are currently waiting for Alan to let us check in for our flight from Narita to Brisbane. We will fly to Brisbane overnight and then on to Canberra first thing on Tuesday morning. Here are a few photos of our journey so far.Read more
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Day 15
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 8:24 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 43 m
Japan Narita International Airport 35.77584, 140.3918235°46’33” N 140°23’31” E
Our A330 has arrived!
May 23, 2016 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Alan finally got things happening for us at the check-in counter and our Qantas A330 aircraft has arrived to take us home. Janet has made one last foray into the Narita Airport crowds to "get rid" of her remaining yen. It's been a most enjoyable trip. Talk to you all when we are back in the land of the living after our long haul flight.Read more
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Trip end
May 23, 2016