Japan

This was the trip that was conceived by the kids (Dylan and Foop) and promoted by Bort and Foop and attended only by Jen and I. Read more

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Day 10
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:15 AM
☀️ 7 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Japan Eno Shima 35.301132, 139.48051535°18’4” N 139°28’50” E
Enoshima (cont’d)
January 7, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
We walked around the island and ate a rice snack that comprised of a prawn placed on a hot plate and then a ladle of rice flour mixture and then the two are compressed together and heated until the rice flour dries to a thin crepe like consistency. Delicious 😋
We also visited some of the temples on the island as well and our tour guide was Mumi (pronounced Mummy) and she was great company.Read more
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Day 10
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 11:15 AM
☀️ 7 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Japan Eno Shima 35.301133, 139.48051335°18’4” N 139°28’50” E
Enoshima (cont’d)
January 7, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
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Day 10
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 12:57 PM
☀️ 9 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Japan Hishinuma-kaigan 35.312405, 139.42236335°18’45” N 139°25’21” E
Enoshima (cont’d)
January 7, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Ready for the trip back to the mainland after a fascinating day.
Part of the morning was spent walking around the rocky beach on a timber walkway and inspecting all of the small temples.
We were fortunate to have a beautiful day to visit.Read more
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Day 10
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 2:04 PM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 27 m
Japan Sakanoshita 35.312437, 139.53320335°18’45” N 139°31’60” E
Great Buddha of Kamakura
January 7, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Kōtoku-in is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo-shū sect, in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Its mountain name is Taiizan and its common temple name is Shōjōsen-ji.

The temple is renowned for The Great Buddha of Kamakura, a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha, which is one of the most famous icons of Japan. It is also a designated National Treasure, and one of the twenty-two historic sites included in Kamakura's proposal for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.Read more
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Day 11
Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 1:13 PM
⛅ 6 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Japan Hase Eki 35.311303, 139.53604235°18’41” N 139°32’10” E
Tokyo
January 8, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Some more traveling around Tokyo and we ran into some Japanese girls in traditional dress. As I recall it was a special day in Japan that celebrates such things.
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Day 11
Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 1:44 PM
⛅ 6 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Japan Nishiasakusa 35.714017, 139.79400535°42’50” N 139°47’38” E
Small eatery in Tokyo area
January 8, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
We had some amazing Japanese fried chicken here and I was particularly impressed with the art work mural on the wall.
We then caught a train to travel to the world renown sculpture park in Hakone.
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 12:29 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 530 m
Japan Chōkokunomori Eki 35.245092, 139.05201735°14’42” N 139°3’7” E
Hakone Sculpture Park
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Travelling to Hakone Sculpture Park to compare it to Johnny’s Pl Leo estate Park.

Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan's first open-air museum, opened in 1969 in Hakone in Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It has collections of artworks made by Picasso, Henry Moore, Taro Okamoto, Yasuo Mizui, Churyo Sato, and many others, featuring over a thousand sculptures and works of art. The museum is affiliated with the Fujisankei Communications Group media conglomerate.

Hakone Open-Air Museum
The museum houses over 1,000 sculptures and features art by Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, Barbara Hepworth, Rokuzan Ogiwara, and Kōtarō Takamura. The sculptural works in Hakone Open-Air Museum has about 120 on permanent display across the huge sculpture park.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 12:36 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 529 m
Japan Chōkokunomori Eki 35.245158, 139.05226135°14’43” N 139°3’8” E
Hakone Sculpture Park
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
The museum houses over 1,000 sculptures and features art by Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, Barbara Hepworth, Rokuzan Ogiwara, and Kōtarō Takamura. The sculptural works in Hakone Open-Air Museum has about 120 on permanent display across the huge sculpture park.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 12:43 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 523 m
Japan Chōkokunomori Eki 35.24438, 139.052435°14’40” N 139°3’9” E
Hakone Sculpture Park
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
The museum houses over 1,000 sculptures and features art by Henry Moore, Constantin Brâncuși, Barbara Hepworth, Rokuzan Ogiwara, and Kōtarō Takamura. The sculptural works in Hakone Open-Air Museum has about 120 on permanent display across the huge sculpture park.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 12:47 PM
🌧 7 °C
Altitude: 525 m
Japan Su Zawa 35.243963, 139.05229235°14’38” N 139°3’8” E
Hakone Sulpture Park
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Some more amazing sculptures featuring one of my favorites Arnoldo Pomedoro who is responsible for the large brass sphere with the interior exposed.
We also saw a similar one in Italy at the Vatican which he donated. He was heavily influenced by Picasso.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 2:23 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 532 m
Japan Miyanoshita 35.243325, 139.05218635°14’36” N 139°3’8” E
Hakone Sculpture Park
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
The sculptural works in Hakone Open-Air Museum has about 120 on permanent display across the huge sculpture park.
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 2:28 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 526 m
Japan Miyanoshita 35.243073, 139.05264335°14’35” N 139°3’10” E
Hakone Open Air Museum
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
The museum also offers sculptures children can play on and a natural fed hot-spring foot-bath for guests.
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 3:03 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 530 m
Japan Miyanoshita 35.243275, 139.053335°14’36” N 139°3’12” E
Hakone Open Air Museum
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
The museum is split into 5 indoor exhibitions and is best known for the Picasso Pavilion hall, which features around 300 of Picasso's works.
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 3:38 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 738 m
Japan Tōno Hana 35.190053, 139.02536135°11’24” N 139°1’31” E
Lake Village
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
The boat is a replica of an old sailing ship that has been remodeled.
Once on the other side of the lake we disembarked and explored the tourist town and had lunch there.
I also managed to capture probably my best photo of the resplendent Mt Fuji.
Should we revisit Japan it would be good to spend more time actually visiting Mt Fuji.Read more
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 4:56 PM
6 °C
Altitude: 302 m
Japan Kawazuno Taki 35.236483, 139.07717835°14’11” N 139°4’38” E
Woody’s Bar
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 6 °C
This was a quaint little bar near the museum that was fashioned after the animated movie character Woody from toy story.
Great little place to visit before our train trip to the ryokan for the night.
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Day 12
Monday, January 9, 2017 at 5:37 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 139 m
Japan Tōnosawa Eki 35.23313, 139.09352235°13’59” N 139°5’37” E
Traditional Ryokan
January 9, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
Jen organized for us to stay in a traditional ryokan with its own outdoor hot water spa. This was the highlight of the place for me.
We slept of traditional tatami mats which was also an experience and the traditional breakfast was next level.

A ryokan (旅館) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner.
Ryokan have existed since the eighth century A.D. during the Keiun period, which is when the oldest hotel in the world.
We also experienced a traditional Japanese breakfast not one of my favourite things.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10:46 AM
6 °C
Altitude: 544 m
Japan Gōra Eki 35.250557, 139.0483435°15’2” N 139°2’54” E
Trip to Fuji Ashinoko Panoramic Park
January 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 6 °C
This was the bus trip we took to the next part of the trip which was to catch a ship to travel across the lake to a tourist town.
Spent a moment reflecting on how valuable a good backpack is when traveling and this back pack is a very good one.
Also could not resist Jenny’s new walking boots...so her...cute and colour full.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 11:26 AM
5 °C
Altitude: 651 m
Japan Ōhara 35.262211, 139.00340335°15’44” N 139°0’12” E
Sail Across Lake
January 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 5 °C
The weather was relatively pleasant today especially as we travelled to the lake. The lake is quite long and as you travel along it Mt Fuji reveals
itself above the skyline which is quite a majestic sight.
I found it interesting to compare the accommodation along the side of the lake as we sailed down the middle.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 12:14 PM
6 °C
Altitude: 738 m
Japan Tōno Hana 35.190053, 139.02536135°11’24” N 139°1’31” E
Lunch and Sightseeing
January 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 6 °C
The ferry traverses the lake and we disembarked at a small little village that had little to see at the time.
We decided to walk around the shore of the lake to the next village where we had some afternoon tea and relaxed in the sunshine...beautiful.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 1:41 PM
7 °C
Altitude: 748 m
Japan Saino Kawara 35.199817, 139.02975635°11’59” N 139°1’47” E
Returning home for Dinner
January 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 7 °C
Bus trip to rail carriage to reach the top of the mountain which was quite spectacular as you can see.
Quaint caravan on the summit and then down again on the same mechanized train to experience a traditional Japanese meal in town.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 3:28 PM
6 °C
Altitude: 725 m
Japan Kamigōra Eki 35.246958, 139.03721735°14’49” N 139°2’14” E
Enroute to scenic outlook
January 10, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 6 °C
We then travelled by bus to another location where we caught a train/cable car to a lookout to observe some of the very picturesque mountain ranges in the background.
Unsure of where this actually is except that It was a beautiful day and the scenery was breathtaking just like my photos ;)Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 8:44 AM
🌧 3 °C
Altitude: 188 m
Japan Tōnosawa Eki 35.234695, 139.0937235°14’5” N 139°5’37” E
Trasitional Japanese Breakfast
January 11, 2017 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 3 °C
A traditional Japanese breakfast is an experience and not particularly to my liking as it is quite a savory experience with different vegetables and fish and rice...not something many Westerners equate with breakfast.
That being said it was enjoyable to be able to say that I had one.
In Japan, it is common to eat Miso soup, and rice soup (porridge hybrid jook) for breakfast.Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 1:04 PM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Japan Ōsaka Heiya 34.66867, 135.50073334°40’7” N 135°30’3” E
Osaka
January 11, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We visited Osaka for a food and ryokan crawl...with a lovely Japanese guide.
Osaka is renowned for its food and authentic Japanese cuisine.

It is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and among the largest urban areas in the world with more than 20 million inhabitants.Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 1:57 PM
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Japan Ōsaka Heiya 34.669003, 135.50166334°40’8” N 135°30’6” E
Osaka Food Tour
January 11, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Some of the places we visited and the food we ate. The tour was conducted by a Japanese woman who was attractive and living with her parents. She explained that one of the issues with Japanese men is their ridiculous work ethic and the fact that they are immersed in manga comics and sex bots.
She said it was very frustrating being a woman in Japan. While she was talking and almost on cue a couple of drunk male business men came over to chat her up giving us a first hand insight into the problem. It is bad manners for a work colleague to leave before the boss.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 10:38 AM
⛅ 7 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Japan Hatchōbori-eki 34.39368, 132.46339534°23’37” N 132°27’48” E
Hiroshima
January 12, 2017 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Probably one of the most profound tourist experiences I have ever had. These photos are close to ground zero where the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan hastening the end of the Second World War.

It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000).Read more
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