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Europe 2023
  • R and R Travels
  • Robin Braithwaite
  • R and R Travels
  • Robin Braithwaite

Europe 2023

A long awaited trip to Europe via Japan.
We'll visit;
Japan, France, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain and England Les mer
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  • Reisens start
    20. juli 2023
  • Europe 2023

    We made it

    21. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Thrill seekers that we are, we arrived at Haneda International Airport at 5pm. We got some cash and an IC card each and started the journey to the hotel in Shinbashi.

    Was a bit hectic as we only just made it on the train from Hamamatsucho to Shimbashi as it was full to overflowing.

    A short walk to the hotel, quick check-in followed by a well deserved draft Sapporo.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Tokyo bus fleet

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Tokyo's running these cool fuel cell buses nowadays. They're all over the city, running on hydrogen and spitting out just water. Pretty neat. You'll spot these quiet, high-tech rides cruising past Tokyo Tower or Shibuya Crossing.Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Tzukiji Fish Market

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Tsukiji Fish Market's very interesting. It's like seafood heaven, but with more yelling and giant tuna. The inner market's moved to Toyosu now, but the outer market's still kicking at the old spot. Get there at the crack of dawn if you want the full experience – sushi for breakfast? Watch out for those turbo-powered trolleys zipping around. It's chaos, but the good kind.

    This place is Tokyo's fishy heart, and it's been so for ages.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Muji flagship store

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Muji's Flagship store in Ginza is like minimalist heaven on steroids. This place is huge with multiple floors of simple, no-fuss goodness. It's got everything from clothes, to stuff for your house you never knew you needed. It's like if Marie Kondo opened a department store, but with better snacks.

    It has a great cafe in the basement.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Tokyo to Kyoto - high speed

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We joined our Shinkansen bound for Kyoto. Such an easy experience, once we figured out how to scan our QR code and IC card to enter the station.

    We reached speeds of 285kph at times as the countryside rushed past.

    Great way to travel.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Dinner in Pontocho (先斗町, Pontocho)

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

    Pontocho (先斗町, Pontochō is one of Kyoto's most atmospheric dining areas. It is a narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of Kamogawa River.

    Pontocho is a super narrow street that's barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, tucked right by the Kamo River. During the day, it's pretty chill, but come nightfall the place lights up like a Christmas tree. You've got old-school wooden buildings with lanterns and geisha scurrying about – it's like stepping into an old samurai movie, but with better food.

    This strip is jam-packed with restaurants. You've got everything from dirt-cheap yakitori joints to fancy places where you need to sell a kidney to afford dinner.

    In summer, hit up one of the spots with river terrace seating. Nothing beats slurping down some noodles while watching the world go by.
    Fair warning though, it can get pretty touristy.

    We ate at Kazuma.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Kyoto

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Gion Matsuri Festival

    Gion Matsuri dates back to 869 and originated as an attempt by the people of Kyoto to appease the gods during an epidemic. Today, it is still held for the entire month of July and is one of Yasaka Shrine’s most important festivals. Following tradition, a local boy is chosen every year as a messenger of the gods, and from July 13 to July 17—the start of the first main parade—he must sit on one of the floats and not touch the ground.

    Despite its namesake, the festival’s main events do not take place in Gion district, but instead are held on the opposite side of the Kamo River along Karasuma and Shijo Street right outside our hotel.

    On each of the three nights before the main parades, Kyoto closes its downtown area to traffic and the streets become enlivened with food stalls and drink venders selling festival staples such as yakitori, taiyaki, takoyaki, and okonomiyaki. During these yoiyama nights, visitors can also observe festival floats up close, which are stationed along the streets, as well as admire artifacts displayed by families in front of their traditional machiya houses. Festival goers often dress in yukata to get into the festive spirit! Yoiyama evenings typically last from 6pm to 11pm.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023
    Nishiki Tenmangu ShrineNishiki Tenmangu ShrineNishiki Tenmangu ShrineNishiki Tenmangu Shrine

    Kyoto

    22. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Nishiki Market, Pontocho Park, Dinner

    Nishiki Market is Kyoto's go-to food spot. This covered street's lined with stalls selling local eats and ingredients. You'll find everything from pickles to fresh fish, plus some weird stuff like octopus skewers. It's busy, noisy, and packed with both locals and tourists. The smells are intense and the sights are pretty wild. Good place to grab a snack or just check out what's on offer. It's tight and crowded though, so don't expect to rush through. Come with an empty stomach if you want to try the samples.

    Also a good idea to have some cash.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Shinmachi Dori, Kyoto

    23. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Shinmachi Dori (新町通) is a historic north-south street in Kyoto, that dates back to the city’s traditional grid layout from its time as the imperial capital. While not as widely known today as more famous streets like Shijo or Kawaramachi, Shinmachi played an important role in Kyoto's commercial and entertainment life, especially during the Edo period (1603-1867).

    The name Shinmachi means "new town" in Japanese, and the street was once one of Kyoto’s pleasure quarters, though smaller and less renowned than the more famous Shimabara district, which was the city’s primary licensed pleasure area. Shinmachi Dori was home to tea houses, entertainment venues, and merchant shops that catered to locals and visitors alike.

    Today, the street still retains elements of its historical charm, with some traditional machiya (townhouses) and shops, though many modern buildings have been constructed along the street, reflecting Kyoto's mix of preservation and urban development. Although Shinmachi Dori is no longer a pleasure district, it remains a vibrant commercial area, albeit in a much-transformed capacity from its historical role. Its intersections with other important thoroughfares in Kyoto keep it connected to the city’s broader cultural and commercial life.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023
    1

    Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto (伏見稲荷大社)

    23. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Fushimi Inari-taisha (伏見稲荷大社) is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is 233 metres (764 ft) above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and take approximately 2 hours to walk up.

    Inari was originally and remains primarily the kami of rice and agriculture, but merchants also worship Inari as the patron of business. Each of Fushimi Inari-taisha's roughly 10,000 torii was donated by a Japanese business, and approximately 800 of these are set up in rows that give the impression of entering a tunnel.

    The earliest structures were built in 711 on the Inariyama hill in southwestern Kyoto, but the shrine was re-located in 816 on the request of the monk Kūkai. The main shrine structure was built in 1499. At the bottom of the hill are the main gate (楼門, rōmon, "tower gate") and the main shrine (御本殿, go-honden). Behind them, in the middle of the mountain, the inner shrine (奥宮, okumiya) is reachable by a path lined with thousands of torii. To the top of the mountain are tens of thousands of mounds (塚, tsuka) for private worship.

    The highlight of the shrine is the rows of torii gates, known as Senbon Torii. The custom to donate a torii began spreading from the Edo period (1603–1868) to have a wish come true or in gratitude for a wish that came true, with successive gates being added up to the present day by donors out of gratitude. Along the main path there are around 800 torii gates.

    More photos and video in Part 2 following.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023
    21

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Sagano

    24. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    A truly mesmerising experience with tall stands of bamboo. There are many temples and shrines to visit. If travelling in the summer I suggest you go early as it was 33 degrees by 11am. And yes, that's cicadas you can hear in the video.Les mer

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  • Europe 2023
    1Economy Class

    Sagano Scenic Railway

    24. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The Sagano Scenic Railway, affectionately known as the "Romantic Train," is a captivating journey through Kyoto's picturesque countryside. As you hop aboard the vintage carriages, be prepared to be enchanted by breathtaking vistas of lush mountains, idyllic rivers, and traditional Japanese villages, making it a must-see experience for any traveler.Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Drinks - Ki West, Rokkaku-Dori, Kyoto

    24. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Lucked upon a cute little bar owned by a Canadian, Shaheed, and filled with locals celebrating the Gion Matsuri Festival. Delicious local gins to taste, a great host and free gifts from the festival fellas who were in party mode.

    If you are in Kyoto, drop in and tell him we sent you.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023
    Concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara

    Kyoto temples

    25. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Pagoda Yasaka, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park

    Yasaka Pagoda is a five-story wooden tower located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. This historic structure has existed since the 6th century, though it has been rebuilt several times. The pagoda features a classic design with weathered wood and multiple tiers, each crowned by a roof that curves upward at the edges. It stands out prominently among the traditional low-rise buildings of the neighbourhood. Visitors often discover the pagoda while exploring the maze of narrow streets in the area, making it feel like a hidden gem. While the interior is typically closed to the public, the exterior makes for an excellent photograph, particularly during cherry blossom season. Yasaka Pagoda tends to be less crowded than some of Kyoto's more famous attractions, offering a quieter experience. It is worth visiting for those exploring Higashiyama or looking to see a pagoda without large crowds.

    Yasaka Shrine is a prominent Shinto sanctuary in Kyoto, situated at the eastern edge of Gion. This historic shrine, also known as Gion Shrine, has been a focal point of Kyoto's religious and cultural life for over a thousand years. Its main entrance, marked by a large vermilion torii gate, opens onto Shijo-dori, one of Gion's busiest streets.    Les mer

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  • Europe 2023

    Kyoto temples

    25. juli 2023, Japan ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Pagoda Yasaka, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park

    Maruyama Park (円山公園, Maruyama Kōen) is Kyoto's oldest and most famous public park, located next to Yasaka Shrine in the historic Gion district. The park is particularly renowned for its spectacular cherry blossom viewing in spring, centered around a massive weeping cherry tree known as "Gion's Weeping Cherry" or "Shidare Zakura," which is illuminated at night during the bloom season. Originally designed in 1886 by landscape architect Jihei Ogawa, the park seamlessly blends natural beauty with traditional Japanese garden elements, featuring winding paths, peaceful ponds, and carefully placed stone lanterns. Throughout the year, the park serves as a popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists, offering tea houses, restaurants, and quiet spaces for contemplation. During major festivals like Gion Matsuri and during cherry blossom season, the park transforms into a lively venue where visitors enjoy hanami (flower viewing) parties under the blooming trees, often continuing into the evening hours.Les mer

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