We visited Japan in 21 March to 1 April 2017. The trip was organised by Dan Campbell of InsideJapan Tours.
Dan created a fantastic itinerary for us. We started with a few days of Tokyo, then headed down south to Okayama and Hiroshima, before returning via Osaka and Kyoto.
All in all, it was a fantastic journey, and I hope the following blog pages captures some of the magic from that trip.
Japan 2017 Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo
Our return to Japan after nearly a decade! On arrival in Tokyo (Haneda Airport), we took the train to Asakusa and checked into our hotel.
Japan 2017 Day 1: Tokyo (Ghibli Museum)
On the first day, we landed in Haneda Airport and took the train to Asakusa to check into the hotel. We then headed to Mitaka for the Studio Ghibli museum.
Japan 2017 Day 2: Tokyo DisneySea
Today we are visiting DisneySea, a unique nautically oriented theme park, unlike the other Disney theme parks around the world.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Kurashiki (Bikan Historical Area)
We took a day trip to Kurashiki. The old merchant quarter (Bikan) contains wooden warehouses along a canal.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Okayama Castle)
Okayama Castle (岡山城), located in Okayama Japan, was completed in 1597, destroyed during World War II, and reconstructed in 1966.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Korakuen garden)
We decided to visit the Korakuen garden in Okayama next to the castle. It is It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Japan 2017 Day 3: Okayama (Dinner and shopping)
After visiting the castle and the garden, we wandered around the commercial heart of Okayama, primarily for dinner but also some shopping.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Shinkansen to Hiroshima
We boarded the Shinkansen from Okayama to Hiroshima at 8:25am and to my surprise it's the N700 - the fastest train in the fleet.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Miyajima
Today we visited Miyajima (Shrine Island), an island famous for the O-Torii gate seemingly surrounded by water.
Japan 2017 Day 4: Mt Misen
The peak of Mount Misen, at 535m, is the highest point on Miyajima Island. We got there via Miyajima Ropeway.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (morning)
Hiroshima is infamous as the first city targeted by an atomic bomb. Largely rebuilt post war, the city is once again a significant city.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Hiroshima Castle)
Hiroshima Castle is yet another reconstructed castle because the original was destroyed along with most of Hiroshima by the Atomic Bomb.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Genbaku Dome)
The Genbaku Dome (aka Hiroshima Peace Memorial, or the Atomic Bomb Dome) is a former exhibition hall that somehow still stands as a ruin.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Peace Park)
The Hiroshima Peace Park is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (Peace Museum)
They say the Hiroshima Peace Museum is quite confronting - we found it terribly crowded and quite hard to see some of the exhibits.
Japan 2017 Day 5: Hiroshima (evening)
We walked around Hiroshima in the evening and finished up with a dinner of the Hiroshima variant of okonomiyaki.
Japan 2017 Day 6: Tomonoura
Tomonoura is a small fishing village famous as the location for several films: notably Miyazaki's Ponyo and Wolverine.
Japan 2017 Day 6: Fukuyama
On the way back to Fukuyama station, I saw a rose trellis in honour of Hugh Jackman - I took a picture there.
Japan 2017 Day 6: Osaka
We travelled from Hiroshima to Osaka and arrived around 3pm. We checked into the Ritz Carlton and spent the afternoon exploring the area.
Japan 2017 Day 7: Osaka (USJ)
Today we visited Universal Studios Japan (or USJ as its more popularly known as). We are excited to see the new Harry Potter attractions!
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (morning)
Today we traveled from Osaka to Kyoto and arrived in the morning. Along the way we passed through some interesting sculpture street art.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Ginkaku-Ji)
Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺), or Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is officially named Jishō-ji (慈照寺) and built for a Shogun who became a Buddhist monk.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Honen-in)
Honen-in ((法然院)) is a nice quiet reflective temple on Kyoto's Philosopher's Path. There is an amazing statue of Buddha here.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Yasaka-jinja)
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, with bright red gates.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Otani Sobyo Hondo)
Otani Sobyo Mausoleum is the grave of Shinran, the founder of the Shinshu sect Otani school (Higashi Hongan-ji Temple).
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Chion-in)
Chion-in is a Pure Land Buddhism temple consisting of a colossal main gate (Sanmon), a huge temple building and Japan’s largest temple bell.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Higashiyama)
We walked along the stone-paved roads in Higashiyama (Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka) that lead up to the Kiyomizu Temple.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera)
Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺), is a Buddhist temple and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
Japan 2017 Day 8: Kyoto (evening)
We walked back to Kyoto station as buses were full, crossed the bridge at Shichijo and saw a lovely sunset.
Japan 2017 Day 9: Tokyo (Imperial Palace East Garden)
The Imperial Palace East Gardens encompasses the former Honmaru and Ninomaru areas of Edo Castle and the Imperial Tokagakudo Music Hall.
Japan 2017 Day 9: Tokyo (Character Street)
Character Street is a row of shops selling toys based on various character themes, located underground in Tokyo Station.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku Gyoen)
Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is a large park and garden. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family, then became an Imperial Park.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Shinjuku (新宿区) has been a major secondary center of Tokyo and a commercial hub full of skyscrapers and retail shops.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Metropolitan Government Building)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎) is the tallest city hall in the world, with observation decks proving amazing views.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Shinjuku evening)
We spend the rest of evening walking back from the Tokyo Metropolitan Goverment building along the subways and streets of Shinjuku.
Japan 2017 Day 10: Tokyo (Haneda Airport)
We arrived at Haneda airport, and wandered around the airport shopping area. There were lots of fake cherry blossom trees.