A day of travel
8. mars 2024, 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 beforeLes mer
Our first temple-Joten Ji
9. mai 2024, 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 goLes mer
More Fukuoka photos.
9. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Nagasaki - a lesson still not learned.
10. mai 2024, 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 byLes mer
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
10. mai 2024, 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 thisLes mer
Glover Park
10. mai 2024, 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 itLes mer
Miyajima Island
11. mai 2024, 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 toLes mer
Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima.
12. mai 2024, 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 containingLes mer
Hiroshima Peace Park.
12. mai 2024, 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 bombLes mer
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
12. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
If we thought Nagasaki was confronting, this was far worse…
Orizuru Tower
12. mai 2024, 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 areLes mer
Himeji Castle
13. mai 2024, 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 plasterLes mer
Koko-En gardens, Himeji.
13. mai 2024, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Wow! Another beautiful Japanese garden.
Umeda Sky Building, Osaka.
14. mai 2024, 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 experienceLes mer
Todaiji Temple
14. mai 2024, 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 tryingLes mer
Ink stick making and calligraphy.
14. mai 2024, 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 inLes mer
Osaka to Kyoto
15. mai 2024, 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-QueueLes mer
Zen meditation and tea ceremony.
15. mai 2024, 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 theLes mer
Ryoanji Temple.
16. mai 2024, 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 ofLes mer
Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion).
16. mai 2024, 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 twoLes mer
Marvelling at the marbling.
16. mai 2024, 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. WaghuLes mer
Kyoto to Kanazawa.
17. mai 2024, 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 eachLes mer
Kenrokuen.
17. mai 2024, 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,Les mer
Nomura Samurai House.
17. mai 2024, 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 samuraiLes mer
Kutani Pottery.
17. mai 2024, 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 isLes mer





































































































































































































































