Getting there: map
After lots and lots of recommedantions, I went almost up to the coast by the Sea of Japan, to the city of Kanazawa to visit the Kerokuen Garden, one of the most scenic in the country. I'm glad I did - it was a great day out.
Also, I can now say I rode in a Thunderbird - that's what the trains from Osaka to Kanazawa are called. And they do go! ;-)
The album can be viewed here.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Sunday, 8 March 2009
The Hiroshima and Miyajima Island album is now online
The pictures from Hiroshima and also from Miyajima Island are now online. Hiroshima has a different feel to other Japanese cities - more open and with wider spaces. More modern, for obvious reasons, and with a pleasant feel to it.
Miyajima Island was a place I really wanted to go to. It dind't disappoint.
I wanted to see the Itsukushima shrine on stilts and, naturally, the red Torii gate as well - the symbol of the island. Plenty of other sights to see though!
The album can be viewed here.
Miyajima Island was a place I really wanted to go to. It dind't disappoint.
I wanted to see the Itsukushima shrine on stilts and, naturally, the red Torii gate as well - the symbol of the island. Plenty of other sights to see though!
The album can be viewed here.
Tags: hiroshima, miyajima island
Friday, 6 March 2009
Kyoto album is now online
The pictures from Kyoto are now online. The last day was a write-off as it was bucketing down, so I decided to move on to Osaka instead and return to Kyoto later in the week to visit the Kiyomizudera temple and the Heian Shrine.
For now the album includes pictures of the Fushimi Inari shrine, of the beautiful Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion), of the Nanzen-ji temple and of the amazing building that is the Kyoto train station.
The album can be seen here.
For now the album includes pictures of the Fushimi Inari shrine, of the beautiful Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion), of the Nanzen-ji temple and of the amazing building that is the Kyoto train station.
The album can be seen here.
Tags: kyoto, fushimi inari, kinkaku-ji, nanzen-ji, station
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Tokyo album is now online
I've compiled most of the pictures taken whilst in Tokyo. There are a few pictures missing and I'll put them online once I get them.
The album also includes photos taken in Enoshima and Kamakura, in the outskirts of Tokyo, where I spent a great day out on the beach(!) and paying a visit to the wonderful Daibutsu, the Great Buddah of Kamakura.
The album can be seen here.
Over the next few days I'll be adding up captions.
Tags: tokyo, enoshima, daibutsu, enoshima, kamakura
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Japan, at long last.
The butterflies are flying. This is it!
My seat is quite comfy with lots of legroom which is absolutely brilliant. On the flight back I’ll be changing my seat assignment to 36A again. It gets better, the seat next to me is vacant! Plenty of space for all my stuff then… ;-)
We take off ahead of schedule and soon after the seatbelt’s sign is switched off the crew starts distributing snacks and beverages. After a short while the main meal is served. I chose the Japanese option, of course. I had no idea what I was eating but is tasted really good! ;-)
After dinner I quickly went into sleep mode. Seat pushed back, blanket in hand, pillows in place and, crucially, ear plugs in – I was ready.
Quite a few hours later, I woke up. Pretty much everyone else was still fast asleep. Where were we anyway? Turned the flight info on and it said we were somewhere over Russia. Opened the window cover and could clearly see three(!) refinery flame towers – spewing HUGE flames. No, I was not flying over Kazakhstan! ;-) I could see the sunrise in the distance.
Despite several attempts I could not go back to sleep so I ended up watching movies.
Hours later, the lights were turned back on and soon after breakfast is being served. Good timing too as I was getting quite bored.
By this time we were leaving Russia behind, clearing it just north of Vladivostok. There was snow everywhere – and lots of it too! Found it weird that the heavy snow went right up to the seashore and, for quite a while, couldn’t locate a single village or town, even when the flight map said we were going past one.
Suddenly, Japan comes into view… at loooonnngg last! Lots of mountains, even more snow. I was getting impatient, anxious to arrive – 11+ hours flights are not easy.
Another meal was served. The service was very good throughout the whole flight with the cabin crew being very attentive, prompt and always extremely courteous.
We finally land at Narita. As usual, I’m the last one out of the plane. I make it to immigration. Just a couple of basic questions, picture and finger prints taken and I’m in – Welcome to Japan!
By the time I get to the luggage carrousel my bag is already waiting for me. I make my way to the Japan Rail centre and sort out my rail pass and get my Suica card (similar to London’s Oyster).
Next task, getting to Tokyo itself. Best option for me was the Narita Express into Tokyo station. Once there, I’d need to change to the urban train on the Yamanote line.
Narita airport is quite far from Tokyo. The Narita Express takes a whole hour just to get there! Changing to the Yamanote line was quite interesting. I had to move up 4 or 5 levels to reach the right platform and the station was still in rush hour mode – people everywhere!
I finally reach the hotel and sort out check-in. Over 25 hours after setting off from home, I’m here… exhausted but here. I don’t even unpack, I just crash out.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
After packing the odd titbit I'm out the door and on my way to Liverpool. There, after a quick stop at Costa's for my espresso fix, I jump into the Virgin train to London.
In keeping with Japanese theme I head to Misato for another great lunch - and one more chance to practice my chopstick'ing abilities. Misato is my kind of restaurant – simple and unpretentious, with excellent value for money and where the focus is on awesome food. Highly recommended.
Refuelled, I catch the tube to Heathrow. When I arrive, check-in is already open and without any queues. Good start!
I’m assigned seat 36A at the very back of the plane, in the row before last and one of the few 2+2 rows.
After security and the shoes-off rigmarole, I quickly make my way to gate 31 at the (very distant!) end of Terminal 3 – only to find out there’s no internet coverage over there… great stuff…
Not up for the trek back to the terminal’s main lobby, I decide to endure the no-mans-land and take refuge in this tiny kiosk serving surprisingly decent coffee.
Soon after the entertainment starts… I couldn’t make out the airline but 3 french-speaking ground crew setup camp at a neighbouring table. Almost immediately a bitchin’ match ensues!
Ground and air crew colleagues are gossiped about. Such and such is a wh*re, some guy is a pig and, of course, passengers are morons and an utter nuisance! Always good to know what the lot across the counter thinks, right? ;-)
After a while, the gate opens and boarding quickly follows. Just a handful of westerners – the vast majority are Japanese going home. Back rows are called first so I end up being on the first group inside the cool Boeing 777 and the crew works its way frontwards for the rest of the passengers. Japanese efficiency at its best.
My seat is quite comfy with lots of legroom which is absolutely brilliant. On the flight back I’ll be changing my seat assignment to 36A again. It gets better, the seat next to me is vacant! Plenty of space for all my stuff then… ;-)
We take off ahead of schedule and soon after the seatbelt’s sign is switched off the crew starts distributing snacks and beverages. After a short while the main meal is served. I chose the Japanese option, of course. I had no idea what I was eating but is tasted really good! ;-)
After dinner I quickly went into sleep mode. Seat pushed back, blanket in hand, pillows in place and, crucially, ear plugs in – I was ready.
Quite a few hours later, I woke up. Pretty much everyone else was still fast asleep. Where were we anyway? Turned the flight info on and it said we were somewhere over Russia. Opened the window cover and could clearly see three(!) refinery flame towers – spewing HUGE flames. No, I was not flying over Kazakhstan! ;-) I could see the sunrise in the distance.
Despite several attempts I could not go back to sleep so I ended up watching movies.
Hours later, the lights were turned back on and soon after breakfast is being served. Good timing too as I was getting quite bored.
By this time we were leaving Russia behind, clearing it just north of Vladivostok. There was snow everywhere – and lots of it too! Found it weird that the heavy snow went right up to the seashore and, for quite a while, couldn’t locate a single village or town, even when the flight map said we were going past one.
Suddenly, Japan comes into view… at loooonnngg last! Lots of mountains, even more snow. I was getting impatient, anxious to arrive – 11+ hours flights are not easy.
Another meal was served. The service was very good throughout the whole flight with the cabin crew being very attentive, prompt and always extremely courteous.
We finally land at Narita. As usual, I’m the last one out of the plane. I make it to immigration. Just a couple of basic questions, picture and finger prints taken and I’m in – Welcome to Japan!
By the time I get to the luggage carrousel my bag is already waiting for me. I make my way to the Japan Rail centre and sort out my rail pass and get my Suica card (similar to London’s Oyster).
Next task, getting to Tokyo itself. Best option for me was the Narita Express into Tokyo station. Once there, I’d need to change to the urban train on the Yamanote line.
Narita airport is quite far from Tokyo. The Narita Express takes a whole hour just to get there! Changing to the Yamanote line was quite interesting. I had to move up 4 or 5 levels to reach the right platform and the station was still in rush hour mode – people everywhere!
I finally reach the hotel and sort out check-in. Over 25 hours after setting off from home, I’m here… exhausted but here. I don’t even unpack, I just crash out.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Everything's in place!
The last piece of the puzzle finnaly arrived today, the Japan Rail Pass voucher that I'll exchange for the real thing once I arrive at Tokyo's Narita airport.
After a bit of research, I realised that using the rail pass whilst in Tokyo would be a waste of money so I decided to go for just the 7-day version.
It costs ¥28,300 and I was billed £210 for it - a real bargain given the amount of travelling I'll be doing during the 2nd week! Buying individual tickets would cost me twice as much so buying the rail pass was a no-brainner really.
Tags: Japan Rail Pass
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Japan : Almost there!
Some of you will know that for a long, long time I’ve been wanting to go to Japan. Well, after a few false starts, this much awaited journey is finally happening!
This will be my first trip outside Europe so, despite considering myself a seasoned traveller, it is not without some trepidation that I embark on this personal adventure.
Having said that, the excitement and curiosity more than compensate for any misgivings…
Anyway, and also for the benefit of those without anything better to do, I’ll be documenting my goings-on during the next 2 weeks. Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I surely will!
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