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Kon’nichiwa NihonKon’nichiwa Nihon
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JAPAN BY RAIL with Wendy Wu
This is the ultimate top-toe tour of Japan covering three islands in one trip – Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido whilst travelling on the bullet train! From rural villages to bustling cities, from coastlines to alpine. Read more
  • Janette and John

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  • Japan Japan
  • Australia Australia
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Group travel, Sightseeing, Train
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  • 56footprints
  • 24days
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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Leaving Sydney.
    What a view!HEAPS of room in premium economy.Four kids off on their Japan excursion.

    A day of travel

    March 8, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After counting down for weeks, the day for departure has finally arrived.

    We elected to leave a bit earlier than the tour time so that we could travel in daytime and have a free day tomorrow before the welcome dinner tomorrow evening.

    4.00am - alarm rings.
    4.30am - picked up by Trish and Paul's daughter-in-law, Nikki.
    5.10am - arrive Sydney Airport, check in and head for Qantas lounge for brekky.
    8.30am - took off for Tokyo.
    6.30pm - arrived Tokyo, cleared customs and headed for the domestic terminal.
    6.30pm - put watches back one hour.
    7.30pm - boarded plane to Fukuoka.
    9.30pm - arrived Fukuoka, met by Wendy Wu guide and taken to hotel.
    10.30pm - bed!!!

    That was a l o n g day! Just as well we were in premium economy for the Sydney to Tokyo leg - HEAPS of room!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    We're not really lost - honest.Breakfast at Tokyu Stay Hotel, Fukuoka.

    Our first temple-Joten Ji

    May 9, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Breakfasted after a great sleep and worked out what to do today.

    There is a welcome dinner tonight to meet the rest of our tour group. We did meet a few of them in the hotel lobby as we left to go for a look around Fukuoka.

    We walked a couple of blocks to the railway station as it had been suggested we check out the huge shopping centre there.

    Huge is an understatement! - it is Harvey Norman on steroids.

    Fukuoka is a government and university town. On checking the tourist map, we decided there were a couple of parks with temples that were in 'easy' walking distance.

    As it was now approaching lunchtime, we looked for somewhere to eat on the way. I am embarrassed to say that we had McDonalds and really enjoyed it.

    The parks we were seeking are near the Mikasagawa River which we found. Trish then asked a very obliging young couple for further directions and we set off again. We found the temples and parkland - well worth the effort of getting to them.

    Met as a group at 7.30pm, met our tour guide, Inage, and walked to the Crown Plaza Hotel for our welcome dinner - a very varied and really nice buffet.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Peace statue.
    Our first train.Our first bullet train.Inside the bullet train carriage.Peace bell.Tree of life.1Fountain of peace.Hypocentre of explosion (ground zero).Mother and child memorial.

    Nagasaki - a lesson still not learned.

    May 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Had to assemble in the hotel foyer at 7.50 in order to walk to the railway station to catch the trains to Nagasaki. We think our tour manager / guide, Inage (Nugget), was testing our punctuality by leaving a lot of time (1 hour) to get to the station ten minutes away.

    We thought today would be quite confronting - visiting the site of the dropping of the second atomic bomb…

    We took two trains - an 'ordinary' train and then changed to a bullet train. A coach was waiting to take us to the Peace Park.

    The Peace Park focusses on exactly that, peace. From the giant peace statue on, everything is aimed at promoting peace and goodwill. The peace statue is very symbolic.

     The right hand pointing to the sky reminds us of the danger of nuclear weapons, while the extended left hand symbolizes eternal peace. The statue's face also embodies peace, while its closed eyes represent a prayer for the repose of the victims' souls.

     His folded right leg is in meditation while the extended left leg is rooted to the ground, asking us to stand up and help the world. Take note of serene seated Buddha statues in Japan, and you will see where this posture came from.

    The peace bell has offerings of bottled water at its base. This is in response to the many stories told by survivors of how they had raging thirsts and there was no uncontaminated water.

    The tree of life statue shows how a tree can provide a wooden bowl so people can share water and food.

    The Fountain of Peace signifies the need for water. Its sprays form the shape of wings signifying a dove or a crane. Nagasaki harbour is named after the crane because of its shape.

    The park leads on to ground zero or, as it's called here, the hypocentre. This is the point directly below where the bomb exploded.

     It is marked by a column, in front of which is a stone chamber. This contains a register with the names of everyone who died in the bombing and have died as a result since. It is updated every August 9th.

    Then it was on to the museum…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon

    Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

    May 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    On arrival at the museum, Inage purchased our tickets. He was very emotional and explained that he wouldn't be going in with us - it is too raw for him.

    All Japanese schoolchildren are taught this history and are encouraged to visit the Peace Parks and Museums to learn why this should never be allowed to happen again.

    And yes - it was very confronting.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Nagasaki Harbour from Glover Garden.
    Glover House.H bridge from Glover Garden.

    Glover Park

    May 10, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Glover Garden is a park in Nagasaki, Japan, built for Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant who contributed to the modernization of Japan in shipbuilding, coal mining, and other fields. In it stands the Glover Residence, the oldest Western-style house surviving in Japan and Nagasaki's foremost tourist attraction.

     It is located on the Minamiyamate hillside overlooking Nagasaki harbor. It was built by Hidenoshin Koyama of Amakusa island and completed in 1863. It has been designated as an Important Cultural Asset.

    As the house and its surroundings are reminiscent of Puccini's opera, it is also known as the "Madame Butterfly House”. Statues of Puccini and diva Miura Tamaki, famed for her role as Cio-Cio-san, stand in the park near the house.

    This house was also the venue of Glover's meetings with rebel samurai, particularly from the Chōshū and Satsuma domains.

     Glover Garden is a lovely hillside landscaped garden and open-air museum with a breathtaking view overlooking Nagasaki harbor. The green and lush gardens sit on top of the Minami-Yamate hill and houses the former homes of the European tradesmen and their families who lived in Nagasaki during the city’s Meiji period in the second half of the 19th century. There are lovely views from here over the harbour.

     We took two trains back to Nagasaki. As we wouldn't arrive until 8.00pm, we each received a bento box to eat on the train. They are crammed full of delicious food - another great experience!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Cookery class.Miyajima Island ferry.Inage at the World Cultural Heritage Monument.Hold on to your belongings.One of the courses at lunch.Sake house.

    Miyajima Island

    May 11, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Caught the 9.30 bullet train to Hiroshima. Taken by coach to a hotel for lunch - a magnificent Japanese banquet. After lunch, back on the coach and down to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry to Miyajima.

    Miyajima is a small island just outside Hiroshima.

    It is officially called Itsukushima but is commonly called Miyajima meaning Shrine Island. Itsukushima Shrine (a Shinto Shrine), a giant torii gate, seems to float on water at high tide.

    There was a traditional Shinto wedding being celebrated as we walked around.

    Momiji Manju, a small, maple leaf shaped cake is a local speciality on the island. One type has a red bean jam centre and the other a chocolate centre. This tour group likes to include lots of different experiences - today we made some of these cakes in a kitchen above a shop.

    There are 'wild' deer on the island that are really tame. They walk right up to you and mingle with the crowds. Tourists are warned to keep an eye on their belongings - especially tickets and souvenirs - as the deer might eat them.

    Arrived back in Hiroshima about 5.30 and checked in to the Grand Prince Hotel. This hotel hosted the 2023 G7 Summit.

    Buffet dinner was in the restaurant on the 23rd floor at 7pm.

    Tomorrow - Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    1A bomb survivor - 200 year old ginko.

    Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima.

    May 12, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Shukkeien Garden was begun in 1620. Its name literally means shrink-scenery garden which expresses the idea of collecting and miniaturising many scenic views.

    In the centre is Takuei Pond containing more than ten islets, large and small. Around its circumference, mountains, valleys, bridges, tea cottages and arbors are skilfully arranged, all connected by a path.

    In 1945 the garden was destroyed by the atomic bomb. It has been fully restored.

    A 200 year old ginkgo tree with a height of 21m and a trunk circumference of 3.50m was tilted by the blast. One-third of the trunk is keloid-like due to the atomic bombing, but buds are growing out of it.

    Seeds from this tree have been collected and distributed worldwide…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)
    Lots of school groups - even on a Sunday!The Memorial for Mobilised Students.Miekichi Suzuki, children's writer. Erected 1964 as a symbol of Hiroshima's return to normal life.The Children's Peace Monument.Janette paying her respects.Origami crane chains.Cenotaph, Eternal Flame and Dome.

    Hiroshima Peace Park.

    May 12, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Hiroshima Peace Park is close to the hypocentre of the first atomic bomb.

    The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6th 1945. It has been preserved in the same state since. It was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall.

    Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.

    The Children's Peace Monument is a monument for peace to commemorate Sadako Sasaki and the thousands of child victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Sadako Sasaki, a young girl, died of leukemia caused by radiation.

    Designed by native artists Kazuo Kikuchi and Kiyoshi Ikebe, the monument was built using money derived from a fund-raising campaign by Japanese school children, including Sadako Sasaki's classmates, with the main statue entitled "Atomic Bomb Children". The statue was unveiled on 5 May 1958, the Japanese Children's Day holiday.

    Sadako Sasaki is immortalized at the top of the statue, where she holds a wire crane above her head.

    Shortly before she passed, she had a vision to create a thousand cranes. Japanese tradition says that if one creates a thousand cranes, they are granted one wish. Sadako's wish was to have a world without nuclear weapons.

    Thousands of origami cranes from all over the world are offered around the monument. They serve as a sign that the children who make them and those who visit the statue desire a world without nuclear war.

    By the end of August 1955, Sadako had achieved her 1000-crane goal and continued to fold more cranes. Unfortunately, her wish was not granted and she died of the leukemia on October 25, 1955. Her main cause of death was from the radiation poisoning from the atomic bomb 'Little Boy'.

    There is an eternal flame - 'The flame of anti-nuclear desire' will continue to burn until the abolition of nuclear weapons.

    I fear it may burn for some time yet…

    There is a stone chamber containing a register of all the people who died in the bombing or since as a result of the bombing - >330,000…

    It is updated every August 6th.    Read more

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