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 beforeRead more
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 goRead more
More Fukuoka photos.
May 9, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
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 byRead more
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 thisRead more
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 itRead more
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 toRead more
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 containingRead more
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 bombRead more
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
May 12, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
If we thought Nagasaki was confronting, this was far worse…
Orizuru Tower
May 12, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Okonomiyaki for lunch.
It's a Japanese savoury pancake, layered with noodles, egg, shrimps,pork,cabbage - Japanese comfort food.
Then it was on to Orizuru Tower. From 13 floors up there areRead more
Himeji Castle
May 13, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Another bullet train this morning - this time to Himeji - 250kms in 55 minutes!
At Himeji there is Himeji Castle - it is known as 'White Heron Castle' for its soaring keep and brilliant white plasterRead more
Koko-En gardens, Himeji.
May 13, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Wow! Another beautiful Japanese garden.
Umeda Sky Building, Osaka.
May 14, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The Umeda Sky Building is one of the tallest buildings in Osaka.
It is 173 metres tall and consists of two towers connected by the Floating Garden Observatory at the top.
Today's first experienceRead more
Todaiji Temple
May 14, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Lunch was in Nara. It was the local version of Okonomiyaki. Here they mix all the ingredients together first rather than add them in layers. It was delicious and many people said they will be tryingRead more
Ink stick making and calligraphy.
May 14, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Yet another new experience - ink stick making and calligraphy using Japanese characters.
On arrival we sat with a piece of paper, ink and a brush. Each person's name was written on their paper inRead more
Osaka to Kyoto
May 15, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A one and a half hour coach ride to Kyoto this morning. Inage found a novel way to teach us to say the numbers one to ten:-
1-Itchy 2-Knee 3-Sun 4-She 5-Go
6-Rock 7-Hitch 8-Hutch 9-QueueRead more
Zen meditation and tea ceremony.
May 15, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
After lunch it was off to a restored Japanese wooden townhouse for zen meditation. A buddhist monk explained the buddhist philosophy and the principles of meditation. We then had a go…
Kyoto is theRead more
Ryoanji Temple.
May 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
First today - Ryonaji Temple.
Ryoanji Temple is a Zen Temple renowned for its garden.
It features a dry landscape with large rocks and smooth pebbles.
It is designed as a place ofRead more
Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion).
May 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) is a Buddhist temple and is an excellent example of Japanese garden design.
The thatched, pyramidal roofs of each tier are layered in shingles, and the topmost twoRead more
Marvelling at the marbling.
May 16, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
On the way to lunch today in Ishibashicho, Kyoto, we walked through shopping arcades. After lunch we had a little free time to browse the shops.
Many of our meals have included Waghu beef. WaghuRead more
Kyoto to Kanazawa.
May 17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
It turns out that last night's commuter train ride was good practice for this morning. This was another time where our main suitcases would go on ahead and we would just have one hand luggage eachRead more
Kenrokuen.
May 17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Kenrokuen is one of Japan's 'Three Great Gardens'. It dates back to the early 17th century and is known for its stunning beauty in all seasons.
It was previously the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle,Read more
Nomura Samurai House.
May 17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
On the way out of Kenrokuen we had an ice cream cone with gold leaf and hoped it wouldn't spoil lunch. Lunch was again traditional Japanese - lovely!
Nomura Samurai House is the only samuraiRead more
Kutani Pottery.
May 17, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Next stop, the Kutani Pottery where they produce handmade porcelain. It has been a family pottery for many generations.
Every piece is totally hand made, takes four months to produce and it isRead more





































































































































































































































