I recently took a small group to Japan to give them a taste of the Country. We took in the big cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, but between those two cities we ventured somewhat off the tourist trail.
Tokyo- team labs borderless, skytree, an early morning buddhist fire ceremony, sake tasting, meiji shrine, izakayas and much more. Grab your ICOCA or other type of transport card and you are set, and you can use them at lots of convenience stores stacking up on kit kats and the like.
A stay at Hakone- Gora after doing the cruise on a pirate ship on lake Ashi, then a trip on the ropeway and the cable car – allowed us to take in the hakone open air musuem which has fabulous sculptures and presently a Picasso exhibition. Our hotel rooms include our own private onsen on the balcony although the hotel had a larger one for all people staying at the hotel. Time to unwind before hitting the trains to head to Kanazawa where it seems they have beautiful gardens, Omichi market, small geisha and old samurai districts and fabulous fish- the best sashimi I have eaten and they make a big presentation of it in local izakaya. A fun time was had making our own sushi, although the rice had been previously cooked for us.
The off the somewhat beaten track to visit Eiheiji temple, visited by local tourists but the highlight being able to see the early morning ceremony of the Buddhist monks the following morning, after taking part in some meditation the previous afternoon – much chanting and then a tour of the temple. We were fortunate to have an American who is a monk and has been at the temple for a year provide us with translations and information about the temple.
On our way back to the trains there was a journey along part of what looked like their version of the great ocean road to visit to the seaside town of Tojinbo and the small island of Oshima- where there is a small Shinto shrine.
Then Kyoto, full of tourists but still amazing temples and shrines to visit , the bamboo forest , as well as some amazing gardens, one being the moss garden of Gioji. We were fortunate to see a maiko walking with her manager on a local street, and again at a performance through on of my hotel contacts.
A quick trip to Nara to see more shrines and temples, and of course the deer on the way to KIX ( Osaka) for the flight home
We had the benefit of great guides in many of our places, ventured out on our own and ate fabulous food.
Japan has so much to offer, next time I am venturing a bit more to the countryside and lesser known places, cannot wait.
