JAPAN | FindPenguins

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Trip start
October 14, 2025
JAPAN
First night in Tokyo
October 8, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌨 77 °F
We started a new trip now that we are off the cruise, even though we have been in Japan for several days. Please see our last trip if you are interested.

Our first night off the cruiseship in Tokyo, we stayed at an APA Hotel. Walked around with our friends, Rhona, Jim, and Michael. The hotel is tiny but has all the amenities and a place to put everything. We had a gorgeous view of the sunset from our hotel room.
Our gang of five from the cruise are all staying at the same hotel. We had a good time getting there from the ship, but we were all tired, so we retired early.Read more
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JAPAN
Sumo practise
October 9, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 72 °F
There were no sumo championships while we were here, so we did the next best thing. We went to watch them practice.
It was very impressive. Watching these guys run into each other, lifting each other, lifting weights and various other exercises. Sumo is not just a bunch of big heavy guys pushing each other around. The wrestlers are real athletes.

(Update) the big white guy in the back is not actually Japanese. He's Ukrainian. Coincidentally, we saw him on tv at the sumo championship in November. He won.Read more
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JAPAN
Tea ceremony
October 9, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 73 °F
After the sumo practice, we walked about a half-hour to a different neighborhood. We stopped by the Senso-ji temple and walked down the Nakamise shopping street before ending up at our tea ceremony location.
The tea ceremony was very educational. I think we all enjoyed it, even though it was not what some were expecting. It was all about the matcha.Read more
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JAPAN
Fukuroi Matsuri festival
October 12, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F
On our way out of Tokyo, we stopped to watch some of the second part of the two part festival that happens in Ikebukuro area of Tokyo. We hadn't been to this area yet, so that.
We couldn't find a place to store our bags so we were dragging our suitcases around with us through all the crowds. It was worth it.
We came out of the station and walked straight into the main stage area of the festival. The dancing was incredible including costume changes while dancing.
We watched for a while then went looking for food. We didn't realize there were additional stages all over the area. Most of the dancing was right on the street.
Afterwards we caught a train to Nagano.Read more
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JAPAN
Togakushi; Chushi & Okusha
October 13, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Looking for a way to stretch our legs out in nature, we took a bus to near the top of Togakushi Mountain. Our great plan was to visit these ancient shrines, starting at the highest point and working our way down. It almost worked, but Anna got a little dingy. :)
It was a great hike through a Japanese forest.
We saw a few shrines, a beautiful lake and an old cemetery, but no bears.Read more
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JAPAN
Zenko-ji temple
October 14, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Located in Nagano is a huge temple complex. Two Buddhist sects worship at this site. Which is unusual. But because of that, the complex spans much more space than normal.
It's also reported to house the oldest Buddha statue on the country.
On the walk to the temple, we passed a tribute to the winter Olympics that were held in Nagano.Read more
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JAPAN
Yahiko shrine and mountain
October 15, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
From Nagano, we caught a bus to Niigita and arrived late in the evening.
The next day, we caught a train to Yahiko. We toured the shrine. We were going to hike up the mountain and take the rope way down. But instead, we took the ropeway up and hiked down.
At the top of the mountain, there was a vernacular that took you a short way down to a viewing tower that lifted you up. However, because the ropeway up was so scary, we decided not to do that. It was also getting late and we needed to start down the mountain. We saw a really cool beehive.
We barely made it off the mountain before dark. Then, it was a brisk walk through town to try and catch the train, however, we missed it by seconds and had to wait an hour for the next one.Read more
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JAPAN
Ogi Port
October 18, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
We got a ferry from Niigita to Sado Island and then a bus across the island to reach Ogi port where we met up with our friends Jamie & Behen on sailing vessel Totem.
The next day, Anna & I walked around the town and found a Taiko concert that was about to start. It worked out great because two days later, we had a druming class. We explored some more of the town and found a shrine.Read more
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JAPAN
Shukenegi
October 18, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 75 °F
Shukunegi is a small, coastal village located on the southern tip of Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Its unique history is deeply tied to the sea and the maritime trade of the Edo period.

We rented e bikes to ride out there only about five kilometers. While touring the city, we were overrun by a bunch of japanese tourists who were out there on a photographic training mission. The foreigners Anna and I suddenly became the subject of their class. We rather felt like royalty as we were being chased around by the paparazzi all throughout the town. They did have a model specifically for taking the pictures, but she soon went by the wayside when they spotted us.
It started pouring down raining just as we wanted to leave. We postponed for a bit and luckily made it back in between the rainstorms.Read more
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JAPAN
Taiko drumming
October 19, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
After watching the drumming demonstration in town, we were even more excited to take the drum lesson practice!
The drum lesson was extremely fun and we learned a little about the history of Taiko.
After the lesson, we drove around and explored the countryside with Behan and Jamie. Including a second visit to Shukunegi. We got lucky and spotted a real Japanese Raccoon Dog. (Yes, I did take that picture:)Read more
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JAPAN
Fukura
October 22, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
We did a stop at Suzu, but I never made it off the boat. It was not a good tie up and we left early in the morning on our way to Fukura.
We were in Fukura for a couple of days, so we wandered up the hill away from the port a couple of times. There was a national park within walking distance with a cave and scenic area. Not a lot of people in the area, but we did see a few cute little creatures, and a historical lighthouse.Read more
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JAPAN
Fukui Techno Port
October 26, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
We stopped in at this unexciting port to avoid a storm and we were stuck there for 3 days.
We actually became trapped at the dock because of the violent surge that rocked the boat back and forth, making us unable to lead the dock.
It was industrial area all around the port for over a mile, but we did make it out a couple of times.
Not much to see within walking distance.Read more
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JAPAN
Echizen
October 29, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We arrived at this port late in the afternoon and left the following morning. While there we did get out and walk through the town a bit. Anna watched the sunset while sitting in an outdoor onsen tub while I got my hair cut, and wandered around viewing a few more of the sites of the city.
The haircut was unlike any I'd ever had. The barber spent some time slapping my head with his hands in what I believe was some sort of a massage... It felt surprisingly good.Read more
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JAPAN
Izumo
October 31, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
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JAPAN
Takachihio (Brian's view)
November 4, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
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JAPAN
Kumamoto Castle
November 5, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
An impressive structure that stood up on a small hill, overlooking the entire Kumoto valley. Unfortunately this castle was being restored, so there was not access to many parts of it.
We also went to a couple of museums in the area. However they were a bit underwhelming.Read more
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JAPAN
Ibusuki
November 8, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
This area is unique because of the geothermal activity that flows down into the ocean here. The ocean water is actually hot to the touch in the area where the hot springs flow. The canals with the water flowing down from the mountains actually have steam rising from them. Along the beach, they have what they call sand baths. Did you ever get buried in the sand when you were young playing at the beach? Well that is literally what they do here. The only difference is this sand is quite warm to the touch, and it feels like you're being covered by a warm weighted blanket. You soak in the warm sand for ten minutes, or as long as you can stand it. Afterwards you wash off, then go inside and soak in the hot onsan.
We ended up staying in this town for four nights. The first 2 were in a fourth floor apartment, right on the beach where we got to watch a beautiful sunrise and beautiful moonrise. It had the hot spring water piped straight into the bathroom. It also came with two bikes which we used to ride all over town chasing down pokemon designed manhole cover lids.
The second two nights we stayed in a ryokan. It also had a private tub big enough for two, with the hot spring water piped directly in.
We tried to walk out to an island that's only accessible at low tide. The first time we got there on a rising tide and didn't want to risk it. The second time the wind was blowing too hard, and they closed the path down. Oh well maybe next time.
On the way to the island crossing we passed a large sports field where they were having gate ball competitions. Gate ball is a cross between croquet and golf.Read more
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JAPAN
Kagoshima reunion tour
November 11, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Our good, cruise ship friends, Jim Rhoana and Michael were on another cruise that had a stop in Kagoshima. Kagoshima is just up the road from Ibusiki, so we planned a little get together while they were in port. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day. It made sightseeing in the area not so pleasant, but we had a great time catching up and playing some cards.
We did visit a famous garden, which was having a chrysanthamom festival.Read more
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JAPAN
Beppu Hells tour
November 13, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
The town of Bepu and the surrounding area has the most hot springs per square mile than anywhere else in Japan. They have what they call the Hell's tour. It features seven main hot springs that are hot hot hot. They're not necessarily clean clear water as you can see from the pictures. We did the self tour and visited all the hot springs and a few others. The last of which was a geyser. There were four foot onsens in the area and a face onsen.Read more
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JAPAN
Outdoor onsen
November 14, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Most onsens or hot springs in japan, are not coed, but Anna found out about this one out of town with no regulations. It required a mile and a half hike into the country, but it was a beautiful day and it turned out to be well worth the trip.
It started out with just the two of us, but by the time we left a single Japanese man arrived and joined us. He was very polite about it, but I have a feeling he was quite happy to find Anna there too.
We did some oversight scene around town on the way back to the hotel.Read more
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JAPAN
Tsuwano
November 16, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
From Shin Yamaguchi, we took a day trip up to Tsuwano. There is a huge shrine there up the mountain with a bunch of torie gates leading the way.
Near the shrine is an old castle ruin that was destroyed in one of its battles. You can hike up to it or you can take the rope-way. In this case, it was a single seater, right up the side of the mountain. If it had been any higher off the ground, it would have been nerve wracking. Being how there was no belt to hold you into the seat.
We enjoy the beautiful fall foilage while touring the castle ruin before descending down the same rope-way.
We had rented bikes near the train station to ride around town and make it out to the shrine and castle. We had a little time to see some sites in town including the samurai holmes, and have some tea and a local dessert.
This town actually has a train turntable.Read more
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JAPAN
Akiyoshido
November 17, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
We took a bus to the largest cave in Japan and walked through it. There is roughly a kilometer open to the public, which is only about a third of the cave. First you continue all the way through the cave. Then, you start back and
a little more than halfway through there is an elevator so you can see the rock formations at the surface. You go up, walk around the formations, or just view them from the observation deck, and then descend back into the cave to finish your walk back to the beginning.Read more
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JAPAN
Iwakuni
November 18, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Iwakuni is famous for its castle and its bridge. The castle looks very similar to others in japan. However the bridge is quite spectacular. Again it was necessary to take a rope-way as they call it or gondola, to the top of the mountain. There were some great views from up high, but it was a very cold windy day.Read more
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JAPAN
Miyajima
November 19, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
On our way to Hiroshima, we stopped at the Miyajima train station, stored our bags and jumped on a ferry over to the island. It turned out to be a great little side trip. We took the rope-way up to the top of the mountain. Actually, it was two ropeways, and we still weren't at the top.
We had to hike for another kilometer or so to get to the top. We hiked past the eternal flame, which was mostly just glowing embers when we passed.
This island is an instagram hit because of the floating torie gate. We got to see it floating when we arrived, and we got to see it with the tide out when we left.Read more
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JAPAN
Hiroshima
November 20, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We stopped in hiroshima to see the sights there. On August 6th 1945 at 8:15 in the morning.
An atomic bomb was detonated 600 m above the ground over the top of Hiroshima. We visited War Memorial Park along with the two museums dedicated to the bombing that are located inside the park. They are both of course, disturbing, but the Children's Memorial is free and much more interesting to visit.
We also went to see the castle. It was, of course rebuilt after the bombing. We tried to arrive at sunset, but missed it by just a smidge.Read more
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