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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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Group travel, Sightseeing, Train
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  • 56footprints
  • 24days
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  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Okonomiyaki - Japanese 'comfort food'.
    Orizuru TowerOrigami Crane attempts.It's a hard life!

    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 are magnificent views of Hiroshima.

    On the 12th floor we had an origami lesson making paper Cranes (the bird variety). It's more difficult than it first appears.

    Back to the hotel by 3.45 and a bit of a rest. Met Trish and Paul at the bar for pre dinner drinks. Buffet dinner again - great selection.

    Tomorrow we check out and head for Himeji then on to Osaka.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Himeji Castle.
    First gate.Starting the climb to the base of the tower.View from the tower.Ninja Paul waiting in ambush.Two huge wooden pillars support the tower.Shrine at the top.

    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 plaster walls. The main keep was built in 1601. The only stone structures are its foundations - the castle's main buildings are made mostly of wood, earth and plaster.

    It was designed for defence in warfare, not for living in. The feudal Lord lived in a palace in the castle forecourt. To defend the castle, access for attackers was made as difficult as possible. One of the ways this was done was to make the internal stairs of the tower increasingly steep and difficult to climb.

    We were allowed to go into the tower, but…

    Inage, our tour leader, stressed how increasingly difficult the ascent would be and to think about whether or not to attempt it once at the bottom of the tower. To add to the degree of difficulty, shoes had to be removed, carried in a plastic bag and we then had to complete the climb in socks.

    There is no furniture in the tower. It was a defensive structure only. Each floor is bare except for the top floor which has a shrine.

    It was tough but worth doing.

    Lunch was a traditional Japanese meal at a restaurant across the road - yet another great experience!

    After lunch - the Koko-En gardens…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Umeda Sky Building -Kuchu Teien Observatory.
    Going up and across.The escalators.Going down.

    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 experience involved taking a lift to the 35th floor. The lift goes up inside a 'cage' on the outside between the two towers. We then had to take an escalator to the top - across from one tower to the other!

    The views of Osaka from the top are amazing.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Okonomiyaki lunch.Left palm up grants a wish.Janette - deer whisperer.Right palm out says "don't be afraid'.

    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 trying to make it back in Oz.

    Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794.

    The Todaiji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the Seven Great Temples of Japan. Also, it is the home of the world's largest bronze statue, Daibutsu (giant Buddha).

    The Buddha is depicted with his right arm outstretched and palm out - a gesture that says “don't be afraid”. His left hand is palm faces up to grant a wish…

    It is certainly an awesome sight.

    Outside the temple is parkland (Nara Park) in which there are wild Sika deer. Rice crackers are available to buy to feed to the deer. These are a healthy food for them. The deer will bow when you feed them.

    The jury's out on why they bow. One opinion is that it's an aggressive gesture. The other is that it's a learnt behaviour because they know it often leads to food. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt because I think if it was aggression we would hear of people being hurt and see warnings around the park…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Class is in.
    Perfect practice makes perfect.Real thing on the left...Kneading and rolling the 'dough'.

    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 in Japanese characters. We then had to practice copying it.

    We were given a wooden box that would eventually contain our own ink stick. Next we had to write our name on the top of the box.

    Each person went forward in turn and shaped their own ink stick in their fist. This was then placed in their box with instructions to not open it for three months until it has dried, shrunk and is hard. Opening before this will cause it to crack.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    Our bus for two days.
    Arithmetic class on the bus.Moon Bridge, Kyoto, on the way to the bamboo forest.Bamboo forest.1Green tea morning tea.Small garden behind cafe.Lunch at Shozan Resort.Garden at Shozan Resort.

    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-Queue 10-Jule

    Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, therefore it is sometimes called the thousand year capital.

    On arrival in Kyoto we travelled to the Arashiyama bamboo forest. We had plenty of time to walk around before heading for the coach and lunch.

    Lunch was a traditional Japanese lunch at Shozan Resort.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    "Real Buddhist monk".
    Tea master with Inage translating.Being given our tea.Janette being tutored.Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple).1The three streams of water.

    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 the tea ceremony centre of the world. The tea ceremony is an age-old ritual in Japan. We experienced one, with the ritual being explained step by step.

    We received a bowl of tea each and then two volunteers were called for to prepare tea. Janette was the first.

    Next, on to Kiyomizu-dera. This is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. Kiyomizu-dera literally translates to Pure Water Temple and was founded on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in 780.

    The temple is famous for its wooden stage that juts out 13 metres above the hillside.

    There are three 'streams' of water that are said to grant a wish if drunk from:-
    The left one - pass exams.
    The middle one - meet a girlfriend /boyfriend.
    The right one - longevity.

    You can only drink from one so choose carefully.

    There was quite a queue, so I went thirsty.

    Dinner tonight was in a restaurant a few minutes walk from our hotel - roast chicken served to the table, then buffet style.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    The garden is raked every day by the monks.
    Stone wash-basin.

    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 of meditation.

    There are fifteen stones. The stones are placed so that the entire composition cannot be seen from from any one place on the veranda.

    There is a stone wash-basin with the inscription “I learn only to be contented. He who learns to be contented is spiritually rich. The one who does not learn to be contented is spiritually poor even if he is materially rich”. This is an important concept in the Zen spirit.

    From the dry garden the path goes around a pond, Kyoyochi Pond.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnJanette and JohnKon’nichiwa Nihon
    1Very, very old pine-once a bonsai.1Fan painting.Trish's fan.

    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 two tiers are covered in the gold leaf that the Kinkakuji Temple name is derived from.

    The original structure of the Golden Pavilion was burned down in 1950 but rebuilt in 1955 based on a detailed reconstruction initiative.

    Lunch today was in a traditional Japanese restaurant in the Gion area. We sat on the floor with our feet in a sunken area.

    There was time for a wander round the shops before attending a fan painting workshop. We each had a plain, paper fan, paints and brushes and could paint whatever we wanted on the fan. I don't think any of us will be able to give up our day jobs.

    Tonight our hotel is quite close to a railway station, one stop out from Kyoto. Dinner tonight was in a traditional Japanese restaurant in Kyoto near the main station.

    We went by train. Not just any train but an 'ordinary' commuter train jam packed with local commuters. After dinner, we returned to the hotel the same way.    Read more

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