What does a guy who lives and breathes technology and a woman who is infected with the travel bug have in common (besides being related)? A trip to Japan! It seemed the most logical course of action to cash in some RRSP dollars in order to travel with dear son to the land of gadgets, anime and tea. And of…
WARNING -- THIS ENTRY IS A WEE BIT LENGTHY Japan is made up of over 6000 islands, is roughly the size of California and has a population of 127 million people -- which works out to 337 people per square kilometer, or 1 person for every 3 square meters! A mind-boggling statistic and hard to imagine! But as soon as…
Our priority today was to explore Tokyo's Akihabara "Electric Town". This is a district that was well-known for its many electronics shops but in more recent years has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district.
It was…
The Ghibli Museum is the animation and art museum of one of Japan's most famous animation studios, considered to be the "Disney" of Japan It is situated on the outskirts of Tokyo Central so involved a lengthy train ride. While apparently there was a shuttle from the train station to the museum. we opted to walk there through a stunning…
We knew our luck with the weather would run out and that Japan was experiencing an intense typhoon season. So we weren't surprised to wake up to an intense rain storm. Happily our plan today included a visit to the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation and we would be spending time inside the metro/train system as well as in…
Today was a travel day as we left Tokyo on the Shinkansen or Bullet Train for Hiroshima. Travelling at speeds of 260 km per hour, we made the 800 km journey in just 5 hours. Our hotel was a 10 minute tram ride away and easily found. We had an hour or so before dark so went for a walk…
Our evening meal last night is worthy of mention as it is a traditional dish with regional characteristics, and is especially popular in Hiroshima. Okonomiyaki (roughly translated as "as-you-like-it pancake") is a savoury pancake, or almost pizza, made from batter and cabbage. Toppings are added, and include seafood, egg, cheese, and left-overs in general. We had read about a okonomiyaki-themed…
On our first day in Kyoto, we covered a lot of kilometers following a suggested walking tour. We began at the Zen temple of Ginkakuji, which was built in the 15th century. It consists of the Silver Pavilion (not really silver), half a dozen other temple buildings, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden. We followed a…
Typhoon Francisco hit the city in the wee hours of the morning and we awoke to the intense pounding of rain. Good thing today was our souvenir day and we were hoping to find inside or undercover shopping. It was suggested we do to Handicraft Center for quality souvenirs. Luckily it was a simple bus ride away (and we were…
Our focus today was the historic district of Arishiyama, a 15 minute train ride from Kyoto center. This area, with its many temples and natural setting at the base of the mountains was a retreat for the Japanese nobility from the 9th to 12th centuries. Now it is a tourist destination, especially during spring blossom and fall foliage periods. We…
For our last adventure in Japan, we visited the Hakone area, about 45 minutes from Tokyo. I wanted to escape from the chaos of the city so chose this area for its stunning scenery and quiet ambiance, and it was also recommended in all travel guides to do the Hakone Loop. The "Loop" involved travelling a circular route using 5…
Japan is a country of contradictions. It pulses with energy on the brink of chaos, yet knows when to stop to appreciate the more simple things in life. On one hand we would encounter a beautiful temple, with people of all ages engaging in traditional religious rituals, and see a young couple in traditional kimonos quietly moving along a path…