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Japan: the next venue for the 2020 Olympics, is a country I have always wanted to visit. I have heard so much about their efficient transport and the bullet train, temples and shrines, sakura, beautiful gardens and fresh seafood, that I had to go and experience for myself all these wonders.
Recently, in October, even though not Sakura season, my husband
and I, together with another couple, LCM and wife Sharon, had an enjoyable
holiday in this Land of the Rising Sun.
This holiday, planned by LCM and Sharon, was a free and easy trip.
Our 15-day tour started with a flight to Tokyo for a 7-night stay. Then we went by bus to Takayama for a 2-night visit and
to Kyoto for a 2-night stay. Finally, we went by train to Osaka for
a 4-night stay, before flying back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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| Map of Honshu Island, showing the cities (Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara) we visited Map: LCM |
Arriving early in the morning (7.40 am) in Tokyo, we breezed
through a hassle-free Immigration Clearance, moving in orderly lines with our
face photographs and index finger (not thumb) prints taken.
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| My big bag on a trolley travelling on its own |
As we moved out of Narita Airport with my baggage,
I was amazed that my trolley with my big bag could travel on its own on the
escalator. Awesome!
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| A colourful eye-catching welcome |
Along the way, eye-catching photos of Japan’s
touristy spots greeted us. What a colourful welcome!
Travelling on our own, by train and bus, was
different from organized trips that we had been used to. As seniors, we found it relaxing and less stressful, as we could take our own time at certain sites or choose our preferred meals. Furthermore, we could mingle with the locals and experience their way of life.
As we would be travelling mostly by train, we bought a pasmo card. This was conveniently used as a ticket for entry and exit out of train stations, after we loaded it with money.
As we would be travelling mostly by train, we bought a pasmo card. This was conveniently used as a ticket for entry and exit out of train stations, after we loaded it with money.
TOKYO
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. Great Tokyo area is the most metropolitan area in the world, with a population of 38 million in 2018. Japan has a population of 127 million with a fertility rate of 1.42. Comparatively, Malaysia has a population of 32 million.
Tokyo has much to offer. As seniors, we did not go to Disneyland but visited other less adrenaline-pumping
places, travelling mostly by train. We met many other tourists from other countries, travelling on their own too. We could feel the pulse of the city, as we travelled with the local people and mingled with them as
they went about their daily life.
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| Map showing some of the train stations and the various places we visited in Tokyo Map: LCM |
In Tokyo, we stayed 3 nights in Frontier Hotel, Otsuka, which was near the train Subway. Then we stayed 4 nights in a two-room apartment, Sumida-ku, which had a mini-market downstairs and was near to Sumida Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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| Tokyo: Frontier Hotel |
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Shinjuku - Metropolitan Government Building
On our first day in Tokyo, we went to Shinjuku. We visited the Metropolitan Government Building and went
to the top floor to have a panoramic view of Tokyo city as well as watch the
setting sun.
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| Some of the tallest buildings in Tokyo, viewed from Metropolitan Government Building |
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| The names of the tall buildings in the picture above |
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| Tokyo at a dizzying height - at the Observatory Tower of Metropolitan Government Building |
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| Setting sun in Tokyo from Metropolitan Government Building |
Later, we walked to other sections of the building. We were attracted to a Promotion Team for the Tokyo Olympics 2020. They encouraged us to wear their promotion jackets to take some photos. The Japanese are obviously looking forward to hosting the Olympics 2020, as seen in the countdown.That day was 647 days to the Olympics 2020.
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| Four of us with a Japanese Olympics 2020 staff, in the LCM and Sharon (left) Metropolitan Government Building, Tokyo - |
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
(Oasis of the Metropolitan)
This
landscaped Garden in a city, was originally a residence of the Naito
family in the 17th century. In the Meiji Era, the government created the
Naito Shinjuku Experimental Farm, by purchasing part of Naito's estate.
The farm later became the Imperial Garden, was re-organised in 1906,
and eventually was opened to the public in 1949.
We walked through
the spacious garden, marvelling at the 300 giant trees, all well maintained and
suitably labeled. Breathing in the cool crisp air, and getting to know various
giant trees were both invigorating and refreshing.
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| Shinjuku Gyoen National Park has about 300 giant trees, some planted about 150 years ago in the Edo Era |
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| This garden has spacious lawns and many giant trees offering ample shade. Many people, especially locals, come here for recreation. Here, children and teachers come for a picnic. |
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Giant trees and landscaped bushes dot this garden, beyond which are the towers of Metropolitan Shinjuku. |
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| A London Plane Tree (Platanus acerifolia), with girth of 630 cm (needs 5 people to encircle it), height of 26 m and age of over 120 years. |
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| Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) with girth of 337 cm, height of 25 m and is over 120 years. Native to North America, these trees have aerial roots for taking in oxygen when the forest is flooded. |
Meiji Shrine
Founded in 1920, Meiji
Shrine is dedicated to the Meiji Emperor and Empress. There was a gigantic wooden
torii gate, and a long approach to the main building surrounded by forest, which made the
area shady and cool on that hot sunny day.
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I joined many visitors in writing my
personal request for special prayers, to be hung on the trees for blessings.
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| Meiji Shrine - with a gigantic wooden Torii gate, surrounded by forest |
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| Cleansing before entering Meiji Shrine |
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| Meiji Shrine - a Shinto Shrine of national prayer for peace and prosperity dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken |
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| Tablets for special personal prayers and gratitude towards the deities enshrined in Meiji Shrine |
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| Barrels of sake wrapped in straw - these empty barrels are offered every year to enshrined deities to show deep respect for the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken |
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| Emperor Meiji promoted modernisation by taking Western food and enjoying wine with it. Here, barrels of wine are contributed by Bourgogne wineries in France so that France and Japan will enjoy many years of friendship |
Shibuya
Shibuya
is a great shopping area and we spent a lazy, relaxing evening there, people-watching and merging
with the locals.
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“Shibuya 109”, a department store in Shibuya, all lighted up. It houses the latest
trendy Japanese fashion like shoes, clothes, costumes, beauty products,
accessories and food.
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| Red lights: Pedestrians getting ready |
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| Green lights: Pedestrians crossing orderly without knocking into one another |
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| Tourists getting ready with their cameras to capture the Scramble Crossing |
Hachiko Statue
Hachiko Statue - bronze statue of Akita dog. This dog waited
for his master every day at the train station at 4 pm and continued
waiting for 10 years even after his master
(Hidesaburo Ueno, an agriculture professor at University of Tokyo), died
of a stroke.
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| Resting and people-gazing - next to Hachiko Statue |
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This statue was erected in the dog's honour, to show
Japanese symbol of loyalty and faithfulness
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| Inside the green van with giant Hello Kitty doll |
Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Tour
Commonly called Fujisan, Mt Fuji is an
active volcano and the country’s tallest peak at 3,776 m. It is a pilgrimage
site for centuries, and many people have scaled it, the oldest being a man
above 100 years, according to our tour guide. Amazing!
We joined a Mt.Fuji - Hakone 1-Day Tour. Together with 40 other
tourists from around the globe, we first travelled by bus to Mt Fuji 5th
Station (which has a shrine too), then had a traditional Japanese lunch, followed
by an hour’s bus ride to Hakone. In Hakone, we took a Lake Ashi cruise, then
travelled up to Mt Komagatake by cable car, and finally took a Bullet train
back to Tokyo. It was an exhausting but worthwhile outing - seeing the famed mountain
and experiencing different modes of transport!
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| A special landmark of Mt Fuji |
Mt Fuji 5th Station
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| Excitement: First sight of Mt Fuji at the back of us in the misty and cloudy day |
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| At a little museum, with autumn-coloured pine trees in the background |
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| A Photo of Mt Fuji - displayed in the little museum. We could not see the snow-covered mountain that day because it was a misty and cloudy day. |
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| Souvenir shops at Mt Fuji 5th Station |
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| A Shrine in Fujisan 5th Station Photo: Sharon |
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| Restaurant where we had our Japanese lunch |
Hakone - Lake Ashi cruise
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| All of us on board on the Lake Ashi Cruise Photo: LCM |
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| Beautiful landscapes as we cruised on Lake Ashi |
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| Hakone Shrine - red shrine gates seemingly floating on the water. Photo: Sharon |
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| Excitement and awe while cruising in the cool environment |
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| Mt Komagatake with the top landing for the cable car as viewed from our cruise ship |
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| Souvenirs galore to shop while waiting to board the cable car |
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| A wide variety of souvenirs to tempt tourists |
Mt Komagatake Ropeway
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| On the way to Mt Komagatake Ropeway with other tourists from United States, Italy, Spain, India and Japan |
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| On the crowded cable car to Mt Komagatake 1327 m high |
Mt Komagatake
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| On Mt Komagatake with our tour guide. It was extremely cold and misty. Brrr! we could not appreciate the scenic beauty up there |
Bullet train (Shinkansen)
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| The Bullet Train - the journey takes only 40 minutes, but by bus may take 3 to 4 hours |
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| Inside Shinkansen - from Odawa Station (Mt Fuji) to Tokyo. The ride was smooth and silent, like being on a plane |
Asakusa
Asakusa is the centre of Tokyo’s shitamachi
(literally “low city”), where an atmosphere of Tokyo’s past decades survive. It
represents a mixture of traditional and modern side of Tokyo. The main attractions are Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon Street, which spans 400 m.
Kaminarimon Street
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| Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate) : Large entrance leading to Sensoji Temple - there was a sea of people from all walks of life |
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| Asakusa Kaminarimon Shopping Street - Rows and rows of shops with all varieties of souvenirs and snacks to tempt visitors. It is the main venue for a variety of events held in Asakusa, like New Year, Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa Samba Carnival and Tokyo Jidai Matsuri. |
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| Souvenirs to tempt visitors |
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| Gifts galore for loved ones |
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| A chef making his much-sought-after red-bean bun |
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| The warm red-bean bun was yummy, freshly made right in front of our eyes. |
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| The guys contemplating: to buy or not to buy? green tea or vanilla ? |
Sensoji KannonTemple
This is the oldest
temple in Tokyo and a special symbol of Asakusa area. It is dedicated to the
Buddhist goddess of mercy and compassion.
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| Inside Sensoji Kannon Temple, built in the 7th century |
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| Throngs of people praying to Bodhisattva Kannon (Quan-Yin in Chinese) at the Senso-ji Buddhist Temple |
Ginza
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Ginza - a high-end shopping paradise, and a groovy place
for photography |
Tsukiji Fish Market
This is the
largest fish market in Tokyo. Fresh fish and other seafood are sold in many
shops. We joined the hordes of tourists walking and smelling the fresh products
and just had to have our lunch there. We were amused to see an elderly man, relishing his
fresh fish all by himself, oblivious of his surroundings. That is how fresh
fish should be enjoyed, he seemed to say.
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| Tsukiji Outer Market - Fresh fish galore. |
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| An elderly man obviously enjoying his fresh fish, oblivious to the crowd around him |
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| We had lunch at this restaurant - fish was incredibly fresh and tasty. |
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area and contains the main palace, private residences of the Imperial Family, an archive, museums and administrative offices.
We were too far
away to see the Imperial Palace and it was difficult to take photos of it
because it was against the sun. But we made friends with a pretty French girl
there, Laura, who was travelling to learn more about tea houses in Japan. We
exchanged experiences on travelling in Japan.
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| Imperial Palace - so near and yet so far Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Emperor Meiji moved here from Kyoto. |
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| On the grounds next to the Imperial Palace, we met a French girl, Laura. We exchanged experiences on travelling in Japan. |
Sumida Park
Sumida Park is a public
park within walking distance from our apartment. There are about 700 cherry
trees on both sides of the Sumida River and in Spring they would be a pretty
sight.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed strolling along the large and serene park and taking
in the local happenings as well as taking photos of the surrounding area that interested us.
We met
up with my son's Japanese friend, Toshi and his family, in Ushijima Shrine (Sumida Park), our designated place of meeting.
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| Skytree - an iconic landmark near our apartment |
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| Ushijima Shrine - A Shinto Shrine in Sumida Park, founded in 860 |
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| Ushijima Shrine - This cow statue is believed to heal your ailments if you caress it. |
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| A wedding couple in traditional costume at the Ushijima Shrine |
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| Sumida Bridge on the Sumida River in Sumida Park |
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| The Sumida River is also popular for water sports as seen in the background |
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| Sumida Park is popular for locals - joggers, cyclists, picnickers and photo enthusiasts. We met a bridal couple in the green Sumida Park, having their photo shoots and they obligingly took a photo with us. |
Shuttle Bus Tour
After lunch, we took a train from Asakusa to Odaiba. From there we boarded a free Shuttle bus that took
us around Tokyo Bay. We alighted at Odaiba – a scenic
and appealing place for photography.
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| The guys smiling cheerily against the backdrop of the Rainbow Bridge. It is a suspension bridge, 798 m long. Built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, construction started in 1987 and it was completed in 1993. |
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| The ladies posing with the Rainbow Bridge and a clearer Odaiba Island. Odaiba is a high-tech entertainment hub on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay
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Then the best part of the evening happened. We took a high-speed ferry or waterbus, called Hotaluna, back to Asakusa from Odaiba. Hotaluna is the second futuristic vessel produced by anime master, Leiji Matsumoto. The roof converts to a promenade deck where we could enjoy the scenic sights and iconic landmarks all around. The high-tech spaceship-like Hotaluna was super cool! We had a fun-filled thrilling one hour ride back to Asakusa.
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| Hotaluna - a high-tech space-ship like ferry .We boarded this ferry that took us back from Tokyo Bay to Asakusa, which took 1 hour. |
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| On deck on the Hotaluna. What a novel idea - viewing iconic places of Tokyo as we journey back to our apartment. Dusk was approaching and it was refreshing to feel the tangy cool air caressing our skin and hair  Ready, steady, smile!
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| Silhouette of Toshi's sons against the setting sun Photo: Sharon |
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| The Rainbow Bridge with the setting sun and the emergent moon Photo: Sharon |
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| As Hotaluna would be passing by many bridges, we adjourned below deck which was cosy and warm. A huge tv screen had an ongoing commentary of the many features of Hotaluna. We had a great time exchanging experiences (Malaysian-Japanese) with each other |
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| Back in Asakusa after a thrilling ride on the Hotaluna, with the lighted Skytree in the background |
Nikko is a small
city, in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is the site of Toshogu, the famed
Shinto shrine, established in 1617 as a lavish memorial for Tokugawa leyasu,
founding ruler of the Tokugawa shogunate, or Edo Period. The Shrine comprises
the gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove and the tomb
itself.
We bought tickets and boarded a Shuttle Bus to Nikko Heritage
Site. The bus stopped at designated places for us to alight and tour the
various sites.
Nikko Toshogu, Futarasan Shrine and Rinnoji Temple form the Shrines and Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site (registered in 1999).
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| Entrance to Nikko Heritage Site. This copper statue of Tokugawa Leyasu was built in 1955 to honour his contribution to the area. |
Nikko
Toshugu Shrine
Toshogu, a Shinto shrine, was established
in 1617 as a memorial for Tokugawa leyasu, founding ruler of
the Tokugawa shogunate, or Edo Period.
The Shrine comprises the
gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove and the tomb
itself.
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| With 2 tourists, dressed in kimono, at the side entrance to Nikko Toshugo Shrine |
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| Gojunoto (5-storey Pagoda) - almost 55 m high, tallest wooden tower in Japan. Photo: Sharon |
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Stairs leading to the site of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. A sea
of people, from many tour groups were queueing to go up
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Futarasan Shrine
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| Torri gate of Futarasan Jinja Shrine |
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| One of the Santuaries of Futarasan Jinja Shrine |
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| Nikko Futarasan Jinja Shrine |
Shinkyo Bridge
This red-laquered sacred bridge crosses Daiya river at a height of 10 m and spans 28 m. Local legend states that a priest, Shodo, prayed for a way to cross the river and God answered by sending 2 snakes that intertwined to form the bridge.
This bridge was built in 1636 and has been extensively painted. It is opened to the public in 1973, and was designated a UNESCO World heritage site in 1999.
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Rinnoji Temple is Nikko’s most important temple,
founded by Shodo Shonin. The temple’s main building, the Sanbutsudo, houses
large, gold lacquered, wooden statues of Amida Senju-Kannon and Bato-Kannon.
The 3 deities are regarded as Buddhist manifestations of Nikko’s 3 mountain
deities which are enshrined at Futarasan Shrine.
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| Rinnoji Temple - a Buddhist temple in Nikko, completed in 766. |
TAKAYAMA
Takayama is
located in the mountainous Central Honshu of Japan. It is the gateway to Japan
Alps and Japan’s inland culture. It has a traditional down town lined with
traditional houses, shops, temples and shrine.
Takayama is a
great stopover between Tokyo and Kyoto. It is the gateway to hiking paradise of
the Japan Alps and Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage listed village.
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| Takayama: Colourful hues of red, gold and yellow autumn foliage greeted us |
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| Takayama_ Country Hotel, with a family mart downstairs Photo: Sharon |
In Takayama, we checked into Country Hotel, which was near a bus station. A family mart was located downstairs.
Shirakawago (Gassho Zukuri)
Next day, from our hotel, we took a bus to Shirakawago,
50 km away. Shirakawago, a popular tourist site, is a small traditional village with a building style
known as gassho-zukuri (thick-thatched roofed houses).
Gassho
means “hands in prayer”. The construction of these roofs bound the people
together as usually the villagers come together to help in re-thatching the
roofs.
The
characteristics of these houses are sunken hearth in the centre of the living
room, 60 degree roof inclination and absence of nails. In order to minimize wind
damage and maximize sun exposure, all gassho-zukuri houses face north or south.
These houses are warm in winter and cool in summer. The Gassho-style thatched
roof houses can withstand heavy snowfall in winter.
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| Scarecrows in front of the Three Historic Villages |
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| Testing how thick the thatched roof is |
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| Serene and peaceful - these artistic homes are a sight to behold especially with the autumn vegetation. They would be beautiful too in all the other seasons. |
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| Gigantic trees near the villages |
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| A picture from a showroom: showing workers attaching the thatched roof without any nails - a difficult and risky job |
KYOTO
Kyoto is Japan’s greatest ancient city and the most popular tourist destination.
It is the best
place in Japan to experience traditional temples, shrines and gardens, geisha,
shops, restaurants and festivals.
From Takayama, we travelled by bus to
Kyoto, the old capitol of Japan. As we
neared Kyoto, the weather got sunnier and warmer.
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Kyoto: Saizen Matsumuro, with
house owner,Aki (2nd from left) |
In Kyoto, we stayed in a very spacious two-room apartment, Saizen Matsumuro, where the hospitable owners, Jun and Aki, stayed on the top floor. We did our laundry (wash and dry), relaxed on a massage chair and even cooked a meal. It was like home.
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| Saizen Matsumura Apartment - Enjoying a home-cooked meal in the spacious well-equipped kitchen-dining hall |
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| With owners of Apartment Jun (back row, right) and Aki (front row, middle) |
Arashiyama
The Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama, Kyoto,
is one of Kyoto’s top sights. The Japanese have a long history with bamboo, in
myths and legends, linking man’s strength with this plant.
My husband and I took the bus to
Arashiyama, while LCM and Sharon bravely cycled there. They found the ride invigorating, as
they cycled through the main roads as well as along special bicycle paths.
It was a hot day. Many tourists, local and foreign, were visiting this extraordinary site. We had to walk very far, over 500 m long, to finally reach the Bamboo Grove. But it was worth the long journey. Standing amidst the soaring stalks of bamboo was surreal.
It was a hot day. Many tourists, local and foreign, were visiting this extraordinary site. We had to walk very far, over 500 m long, to finally reach the Bamboo Grove. But it was worth the long journey. Standing amidst the soaring stalks of bamboo was surreal.
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| Trying out the 4 bicycles offered free from the apartment. LCM and Sharon cycled to Arashiyama while my husband and I took a bus there, as the bicycles were not suitable for us. |
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| Togetsu-kyo Bridge - Spanning the Oi River, it is a popular sight-seeing spot for its scenic beauty. It is often seen as a backdrop in movies and television dramas. From this bridge, we took a long long walk to the Bamboo Grove.
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| Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The majestic bamboo towered above us, reaching for the skies. It was amazing and even magical to be among these natural slender bamboo.
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Tenryuji Temple
Tenryuji Temple was founded by Ashikaga
Takauji in 1339. In 1994, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sogenchi Garden – a garden of artistic beauty, in front of
Tenryuji Temple showed Zen at its best. The
garden was designated by the United Nations as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
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| Tenryuji Temple - hundreds of people were either exploring the interior of the temple or sitting down outside to admire the Zen Garden in front |
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| Sogenchi Garden - showing Zen at its best, in front of the Tenryuji Temple |
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine is a
significant shrine in Southern Kyoto. It is well-known for its thousands of
vermilion torii gates which lead into the forest of the sacred Mt Inari, the
Shinto god of rice.
The two dense, parallel rows of gates
called Senbon Torii were donated by individuals and companies. The donator’s
name and date of the donation was inscribed on the back of each gate. We were
astounded to see such a huge number of torii gates – what a dazzling display! It was mind
boggling.
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| A Giant torii gate in front of the Romon gate - Dancing with joy after reaching Fushimi Inari Shrine entrance |
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| In front of the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. |
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| Senbon Torii (thousands of torii gates) - stunning torii gates curving artistically along a long path |
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| The torii gates have names of donaters inscribed in it. Many tourists come here to take photos, and some are dressed in the kimono. |
OSAKA
Osaka is the second
largest metropolitan area in Japan. The city of Osaka and its municipality has
a population of 20 million.
Osaka is famous as
a gourmand’s paradise. Okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake) is Osaka’s most
famous dish. Other dishes include takoyaki (octopus in fried batter), udon
(noodle dish), traditional oshizshi (pressed sushi), and pressed mackerel
sushi.
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| Osaka: Sonezaki Luxe Hotel Photo: Sharon |
Our stay in Osaka was at Sonezaki Luxe Hotel which was near to the Central Station, with many eating restaurants and convenience stores nearby.
Osaka has many interesting spots to visit. While families with children flocked to Universal Studios, we concentrated on Osaka Castle, Love Shrine, Shinsaibashi Street, Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine and Todaiji Temple.
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle stands on an expansive lawn
covered park and consists of moats, turrets and walls surrounding a
massive central tower , which is 55 m
high.
It
was first built between 1583 and 1585 by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Much
of the castle was destroyed in wars of the early 17th century, rebuilt in
1620, lost to fire in 1665, reconstructed in 1931, damaged by typhoon in 1950
and renovated in 1997.
We took a lift to the topmost floor for a panaromic
view of Osaka city. Then we walked down every floor of the 8 floors, stopping
at every floor to view a museum detailing the history of Osaka Castle and
Japanese art and literature.There were historical artifacts,
colourful screen paintings, samurai costumes that visitors can try for a fee.
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| Osaka Castle - from a distance, surrounded by greens. |
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| Topmost Floor of Central Tower - Observation Deck with a panaromic view of Osaka City |
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| On one of the floors - Replicas of rooftop ornaments |
Shinsaibashi
Shinshaibashi is a big shopping complex. It was teeming with shoppers from many
Asian countries. We did some shopping at Daiso, Uniglo and H & M.
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| Shinssaibashi - a big shopping complex |
NARA
From Osaka,we went by train to Nara and back. Nara is second city
next to Kyoto as the richest traditional site in Japan. The famous sites are
Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Todaiji Temple, Kasuga-Taisha Shrine and Nara-Koen
(Nara Park).
Deer Park (Nara Koen)
Nara Park, established
in 1880, is one of the oldest parks in Japan. As we walked along its 502
hectares land, we saw some of the 1200 semi-wild deer, roaming freely. Many
come sniffing around us, for deer crackers. Considered to be messengers of the
gods, some are said to bow to visitors when they are fed. I did not observe
any deer doing that but LCM did.
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| A deer approaching, eager to eat deer crackers handed out by tourists |
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| Friendly deer roaming freely in the Deer Park |
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| These deer are resting and do not mind people moving around them |
Kasuga Grand
Shrine is Nara’s most important shrine in Nara Park. Established in 768, it is
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the shrine of
the Fujiwara family.
We were impressed by the interior – many bronze lanterns and over 3000 stone lanterns led up to the shrine. The path to Kasuga Shrine passed through the Deer Park where the deer are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods.
We were impressed by the interior – many bronze lanterns and over 3000 stone lanterns led up to the shrine. The path to Kasuga Shrine passed through the Deer Park where the deer are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods.
It was an
auspicious day for a wedding was going on inside the Shrine Area, the bridal
couple was in traditional wear as well as some children who were all taking
photos when we arrived.
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| A Stone Plaque of Kasuga Shrine |
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| An engaging deer statue - a place for visitors to cleanse themselves before entering the Shrine |
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| Entrance to Kasuga Shrine |
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| A sign at the Entrance |
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| A bridal couple and family in traditional wear |
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| Adorable children in kimono taking photos |
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| Rows and rows of appealing lanterns |
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| A very old Wisteria Plant in Kasuga Shrine - Wisteria , or Fuji in Japanese, is a climbing vine with lovely purple flowers, especially in Spring time, but we could not see any flowers as it was autumn |
Todaiji Temple (Eastern Great Temple)
Todaiji Temple, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Nara’s most iconic and popular landmark. A
Buddhist temple, it is one of the 7 great temples in Nara, housing the World’s
largest bronze statue(15 m tall) of Buddha Vairocana of , known in Japanese as
Daibutsu.
Constructed in 752
AD of Japanese Buddhist architecture, it is the World’s biggest wooden
structures. Walking around the interior of the Temple, I was drawn to a long
pillar with a hole at its base. It is said that those who could crawl through
it will be granted enlightenment in their next life.
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| The iconic Todaiji Temple |
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| The stately gigantic Buddha - front view |
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| The pillar with a hole at the base. A young girl attempts to squeeze through to the other side. |
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| The girl succeeded in emerging from the hole. |
Love Shrine
We have visited
many shrines in Japan but had not heard of a Love Shrine. So out of curiosity, we
visited this shrine, which actually was within walking distance from our hotel.
Love Shrine or
Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine (officially called Tsuyuno Tenjinsha) has a rich history of
more than 1300 years. The story is Japan’s
own “Romeo and Juliet”. The romance is between a geisha, Ohatsu, and the
owner of a soy sauce store, Tokubei. Just like in Shakespeare’s play, the
romance ended tragically with the lovers committing suicide at the forest of
Tsuyuno Tenjinsha.
The Shrine is popular with young couples and those seeking true love. There was a statue of the loving couple and cardboard drawings of a Japanese couple with 2 cut-out holes for visitors to place their faces in. As usual in all the shrines, there were many charms and ema (wooden plaques to write prayers for true love) for sale, targeted at visitors who seek romance.
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| LCM and Sharon with the statue of the loving couple Photo: Sharon |
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| Heart-shaped Ema for visitors to write their prayers Photo: Sharon |
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| Konnichiwa |
Cuisine
Travelling on our
own gave us the freedom to choose what and where to eat.
We managed to sample many Japanese’ favourites like sushi,
sashimi, pickled vegetables, grilled or fried meat, tempura, shabu-shabu, green
tea, usually eaten with sticky rice and miso soup, and different types of
noodles.
Sometimes we had lunch served at counters,
which was quick and efficient. We first bought a ticket from a machine
with our choice of the dish. This was passed to the chef who cooked
it right in front of us and we were served almost immediately
There were many convenience stores in every city. We could buy
ready-packed meals and heat it up in our apartment for a simple quick meal. Sometimes,
we go to Western outlets like McDonald's for burgers (with ham or teriyaki
chicken), and sometimes we had Korean
dishes like bibimbap.
Some of these delectable food are shown below:
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| We had raw fish like these - Sashimi |
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| Bento sets: meat/fish, pickled vegetables, miso soup and sticky rice |
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| Beef on rice, with vegetables and soup |
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| Sticky rice with unagi, mackerel, beef and miso soup |
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| Japanese yakitori (grilled meat) in centre and takoyaki (ball-shaped snack made of wheat-flour batter and filled with diced octopus) on both sides |
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| Yummy Indian curry and vegetables |
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| Soba noodles topped with meat and vegetables |
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| In Fujisan - A Japanese meal of noodles, tempura, pickled vegetables, tofu and sticky rice |
In one restaurant, we had a mixed menu of shabu-shabu (hotpot) and grilled meat. The waiting line was very long but we had comfortable seats while waiting. It was worth the wait, as the Hida beef for the shabu-shabu and grilled meat were simply delightful.
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| A thumb's up for this restaurant |
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| 2 styles of enjoying Hida Beef: Shabu-shabu and Grill |
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| At a restaurant with Toshi and son, we also had a mixed menu meal |
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| A mixed menu meal of Yakinikut (beef), Chicken, Ishiyaki Stone grilled and Bibimbap, Salad, and green ice-cream dessert
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| Attractively-packed meals sold at many convenience shops |
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| Sometimes we had our meals while seated at the counter |
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| Cooking our meals in our apartment in Sumida-ku |
Snacks
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| Many malls and family marts have tempting pastries to warm our hearts. The varieties were so many - we were spoilt for choice |
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| Snacks: Clockwise from top left: doughnuts with green tea and syrup, hash brown, okonomiyaki, apple pie |
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| An apple pie shaped like a pumpkin to celebrate Halloween. |
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| At the Krispy Kreme Cafe - Delectable ice-cream on doughnut, decorated with nuts and streaks of sweet maple syrup |
My first
impression of Japan was the cleanliness. Everywhere we went, we saw clean
buildings, clean vehicles and clean streets, without any rubbish in sight.
The toilets (in hotels, subway, convenience
stores and other public places) were exceptionally clean with high-tech bidet
selections. Some even have a music selection that played soothing flushing water
while you empty your bowels or bladder.
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An environmentally-friendly toilet: with a
selection of automatic washes and a pipe of recycled water on top |
The toilets in our apartments have a pipe on top which flows with recycled water for hand-washing every time we flush - really environmentally-friendly. I vote Japan’s toilets as the best in the world.
Not many Japanese
can speak English, which is sad. We had problems ordering food, asking for warm
water instead of being served iced drinks, or asking for directions. We found
it useful to learn a few Japanese words like hot water, thank you, hello, good morning, goodnight, yes, no and
excuse me.
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| Independent children travelling on their on the train |
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Friendly and obliging students on their way home after school.
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Japanese children were independent, respectful and helpful. Like the adults, many were not able to speak English. But most of them will whip out their phone, search for a map or suitable data and from there guide or help us with directions or other matters.
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| Trains and buses are always punctual. They are clean and spacious. This train has comfortable seats with suitable handles for passengers to hold on to. |
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| Conductor - smartly dressed, helpful and dedicated to his work |
The transport
system is ultra efficient. The trains and buses that we travelled in were
always on time, with high-technology working in clock-work precision.
Announcements in the trains and buses were usually in 3 languages - mainly Japanese, English and Mandarin, which were well enunciated.
Announcements in the trains and buses were usually in 3 languages - mainly Japanese, English and Mandarin, which were well enunciated.
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| A picture of respect and dedication to work: A worker making a deep bow to the driver as he started to drive off Photo: Sharon |
The people working in public transport, shops or hotels and
those we met on the streets, were polite, friendly and respectful of others. We
found the drivers, conductors and other officers in the transport system well-dressed,
dedicated to their work, and often bowing to say thank you.
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| The kimono attire is elegant and attractive, as seen in this picture |
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| Kimono-clad tourists, walking happily together |
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| Arayashima:Tourists with kimonos enjoying wearing the attire. They find walking with the Japanese slippers a little difficult |
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| In Asakusa - Kaminarimon Street |
I find the Kimono, the traditional Japanese garment, feminine and elegant. Unfortunately, it is only worn by the Japanese women for formal occasions. On the other hand, many tourists like it - they loan it to wear for a few hours or a day especially to take photos.
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| An owner taking his dog for a walk |
Many
Japanese like animals. We saw many owners taking their pet dogs for
a walk. Because of the cold, many of the dogs wear a little coat.
Have you heard of Pachinko? It was something new to me. Pachinko is a type of mechanical game, comparable to a slot machine in Western gaming. It is a form of recreational arcade game that men frequent.
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Japanese men playing Pachinko - a very noisy gambling game
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The Japanese' dedication to cleanliness, hard work, discipline,
punctuality and respect are commendable and admirable.
Our 15-day holiday came to an end all too soon. Travelling
on our own was challenging but rewarding - we get to see and do more than if we
had travelled with an organised tour.
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I wish to thank LCM and Sharon for organising this enjoyable holiday and for sharing some of their photos here.
