Japan Highlights
We spent roughly 3 weeks traveling throughout Japan. Here are some highlights and much of the below can be done on your own.
Hiroshima
- The Shukkeien Garden was impressive and the cherry blossoms were in full
bloom. - Hiroshima Castle was closed when we visited, but, worth a stop by.
- The Peace Memorial and site is a must visit. It’s a very interesting and sobering area. The museum was very depressing, however well done. Each day at 8:20 am music plays to signify the actual time the bomb hit.
- Miyajima Island/Itsukushima (Shrine Island) is a nice day drip. Get there early by ferry, as line get long. Be sure to capture a photo of the iconic floating torii gate at high time or wade to it at low time. Sika deer roam freely on the grounds. Be sure to sample momiji manju, a maple leaf shaped pastry as well as one the bake eel dishes.
Himeji
- Hotel Monterey was a great location, near the train station and easy access to all
sites. However, no bar or restaurant. - Otemae street is a great outdoor mall.
- Did a sake tasting and recommend doing at least one.
- Try Okonomomiyaki at a local restaurant.
- The Harima-no-Kuni shrine was Ok
- Himeji castle and Koko-en Garden are a must visit and reason you visit Himeji. Known as the James Bond castle, up until recently, it was the #1 castle in Japan. Over 400 years old, the city was destroyed in WW2, but, the castle was
untouched.
Takayama
- Easy walking city and only need a day/1.5 days to visit.
- Nice morning market
- Old town has a lot of old wooden buildings.
- Sake tasting was fun.
- Hide beef is good and ate at a number of interesting restaurants
- Hide village is also a nice walk through.
Kanazawa
- Daiwa Roynet Hotel had good amenities, good location near train station,
- decent size rooms, no bar or restaurant. Good breakfast
- Castle and park area very nice, especially, when we were visiting during Cherry
Blossom Festival. - Decent old town
- Shirakawa-go was a good day trip
Tokyo
- With the bright lights, quirkiness and energy of Tokyo, we were lucky to be able to visit there twice. Once to meet up with our girls and Evan, and then prior to departing. We saved the last day to shop and bring home some very nice but expensive knives.
- Check days when the National museum is open. It was closed Monday and Tuesday
when we were there. - Ameyayokocho market was fun.
Mt Fuji
- Visited Mt. Fuji on our own. It takes a full day and a couple of days. We had a perfect day, no clouds and cherry blossoms were ideal. However, we had to stand
in line for 2 hours to take a picture at the iconic view of the pagoda in the foreground. - Emperor Palace is not really worth the visit.
- Must do the crossing in Shibuya, Meiji temple cool, The Cat temple was also charming
Tips: If you are taking a train and have large luggage. Reserve last row in the
train, as you can use storage behind the seats.
Metro building has a free observatory and there was a light show on the building.
Favorite Bar: Three Bar, near the metro building in Shinjuku. Hidden, close to
the station, downstairs. Great intimate atmosphere and cocktails.
McDonald’s in Japan has table service!
Kyoto
- A must visit city and spend at least 2 full days. It is filled with old buildings now serving as shops and restaurants. Be sure to watch for the brown reedgrass balls over the doorways which indicates there is sake tasting inside.
Osaka
- Need only one full day to visit
- Emperor palace is a nice visit.
- Kiyomizu-dera shrine is a must visit and the surrounding areas. Great market
- Nara Park and temple is a day trip and fun to visit with the wild deer that were comically verty aggressive.
- Bamboo grove was stunning and fun to explore
- Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine and must visit to hike the gates.
- Nishiki Market is great.
- Dotonbori cool and better at night
- Shinsaibasi area good for shopping and restaurants
- Osaka castle has an elevator to the top and is a beautiful castle.
- Katsuoji is a fun shrine to visit but takes a while to get to.