A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Pana... wait something's not right here.

Hello Friends, Family, and Random internet people who stumbled across this blog and decided to read it.

Welcome. This is a blog for my travels to and round Japan. To fill you and and reassure you that everything is fine.

UPDATE: Plans delayed - till when, who can say.

This is the basic outline of my plan for my trip to Japan:

Day 1: 26th March
Flight to Tokyo (BA 007) 10:55 GMT - 22:35 GMT

Change in flights mean I no longer have the morning to panic and will instead be up early to head to the airport. From there it's onboard a plane and wherever the winds will take me. Hopefully Tokyo.

Day 2: 27th March
Land in Tokyo 07:35 JST
Staying at Toyoko INN Nihombashi Ningyo-cho

Change of flights means a) I miss Hong Kong and b) I basically get an extra day. The plan is to explore Tokyo and hope that culture shock and jetlag cancel each other out. We'll find out the hard way.

Days 3: 28th March
Tokyo

A weekend in Tokyo. This is a chance for me to take in the vast area that is Tokyo, or more specifically some target subsections of it. Target recommendations welcome.

 Day 4: 29th March
Tokyo

More aimless street wandering. If you have suggestions for street wandering let me know. Hopefully meeting a friend on the Sunday evening for a meal.

 Day 5: 30th March
Train from Tokyo to Karuizawa
See the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Train from Karuizawa to Nagano
Train from Nagano to Yudanaka Station
Staying at Ikariya Ryokan

One of my more travel heavy days - in part because of my desire to see the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls. Apparently there is a bus from the station to the falls which takes about 25 minutes. My aim is for the falls to be my midday break before heading up to Nagano and over to the Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) with its included Onsen (Japanese Baths).

Day 6: 31st March
Snow Monkeys
Train from Yudanaka Station to Nagano
Train from Nagano to Kyoto
Staying at Minshuku Koumekawa

Snow Monkeys in their own onsen. Not sure what else needs to be said. Train journey to Kyoto will take up a fair amount of the day, might hop off at some point, probably Lake Biwa.

Day 7: 1st April 
Kyoto
Tea Ceremony at 1100
Sake Distillery tour, tasting, and food pairing at 1500

A day to explore Kyoto and try and cross some of the traditional side of Japan off my list. My hotel is a short walk away from Maruyama Park, so that and some of the surrounding area is the plan in the morning until the Tea Ceremony. Post Tea Ceremony it's down to Fushimi Inari Taisha (a shinto shrine with a path featuring hundreds of traditional gates). That should nicely take me to the Distillery tour. After that I might head up to the bamboo forest and the kimono forest, but it'll be late by then.

Day 8: 2nd April
Explore Kyoto
Train from Kyoto to Oyamazaki Station
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery tour at 1500
Train from Oyamazaki Station to Shin-Osaka
Train from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima
Staying at Capsule&Spa Grand Sauna Hiroshima

Taking in more of Kyoto's atmosphere and also stopping off at the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery for a tour and a drink. I deny all claims that I planned an entire trip just to see this distillery.
I'm also spending the night in one of Japan's (in)famous box hotels.

Day 9: 3rd April
Hiroshima, A-bomb dome, peace museum.
Train to Osaka.

Hiroshima is by all accounts a must do. The museum, the dome, the island with the famous gate to capture the sunset. After that it's a bullet train to Osaka and my first night in the nightlife capital of Japan. Also known as Japan's kitchen.

Day 10: 4th April
Osaka

A day in Osaka, to experience the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Japan's Kitchen. Also there might, might, be some Wagyu beef. Maybe.

Day 11: 5th April
Journey to Koya-San
Staying at Koyasanshukubo Henjosonin (No Wifi)

Leaving Osaka for Koya-San in what promises to be quite a journey. Looking online I will need to take train, bus, cable car, and another bus to get there. Koyasanshukubo Henjosonin is a Buddhist temple.

Day 12: 6th April
Journey to Sekigahara
Explore Sekigahara
Train to Mt Fuji
Staying at Samurise Hotel

Another travel intensive day as I need to reverse the previous days Bus>cable car>bus>train, this time taking me to Sekigahara (the site of a battle of which I have some interest). From there I plan to explore the area and take in some of the (hopefully non-touristy) attractions before hopping back on a train to Mt Fuji and staying at the Samurise hotel.
In my defence I only realised it was a pun after booking it.

Day 13: 7th April
Mt Fuji
Train to Tokyo

A more relaxed day as I attempt to gather as many photos of Mt Fuji as I can, ideally from iconic locations. Train to Tokyo in the evening.

Day 14: 8th April
Final bit of Tokyo

A day in Tokyo to shop and explore any last bits.

Day 15: 9th April
Flight to London (BA 008) 08:50 JST – 13:10 BST

Plan is to roll out of the hotel and check in early. A change of flights means a single flight back and a midday landing.

Comments

Post a Comment