My first trip Japan was pretty cool, and I promised myself that I would go back, but this time by myself planning the trip ...
2. April 2005 - Spring Travel:
The opportunity came when a couple of friends, Lydia and Anthony asked me to accompany them. We organized this trip every 3 Spring, alternating new places for me and others I wanted to revisit.
They could stay only 15 days, but I have added an extra week, an issue to benefit fully.
Spring, is the most tourist season in Japan and thanks to a highly anticipated annual event: the flowering of cherry trees. It's a tradition to go see nature in action and the return of sunny days. This is called mid Hana (花 见) we end up with family or friends for a picnic at the foot of the cherry.
And cherry trees are everywhere! It's really amazing to see all these white petals flying in the wind, in alleys and parks of cities and villages. It was a wonder of each day.
again should we choose its period, for the season of sakura is stealthy: the cherry blossoms are not hatched a few days before losing their petals. For example, at the beginning of our 2 weeks were not all flowers bloom in Tokyo. Back after 10 days of wandering around the country, it was already too late, the cherry trees from Tokyo were all naked.
Some links not to miss the period of sakura: Japan Guide - Clickjapan
Travel Time: 21 days from April 2 to 24, 2005.
JRPass With 14 days.
you see on the plan, there were many round trip between Tokyo and other cities. The downside was that we spent so much time on trains, something I tried to correct on my trip later.
- Day 1 - Tokyo
- Day 2 - Tokyo:
------ Browse -storey department store in Ginza : the basement reserved for the food to the roof fitted terrace.
------ -Harajuku: with a visit to the Meiji Shrine . Then I wanted to share the excitement of the well known Takeshita Street to my travel companions.
------ - Shinjuku by Night: Under the starry night of neon, of course.
To start this walk one day, take the Odakyu Romance Car (very comfortable, with the front of the train's panoramic vision) Hakone Yumoto to (buy a ticket Hakone Free Pass from Tokyo). It is a village of ancient hot springs. Take the funicular and the cable that goes into the mountain and leads to Owakudani , sulfur fumarole field. You can see Mount Fuji in the distance. It then descends on Lake Ashi to take one of the pirate ships and cross the lake to the village. Time flies and we do not have much time to walk: take the bus to the station to Hakone and after a dip in an onsen, go back to Tokyo. Y spend 2 days with accommodation in onsen, would been nicer ...
day trip in this city of temples complex Engakuji , then after a leisurely walk in the forest, we reach the temple Zeni arai Benten (superb: built in cave, people come to wash his money). It ends with the large bronze Buddha . You feel in a small quiet town.
- Day 5 - Himeji:
Arrival in the evening on the island of Miyajima and moved to a real ryokan overlooking the sea ...
- Day 6 - Miyajima - Osaka:
Train to Osaka where we moved to Carpe diem. I also remember this delicious Yakiniku eaten in a restaurant Dotombori.
- Day 7 - Osaka / Koyasan:
------ - Koya san : We take the train to go to Mount Koya, a center of pilgrimage. We will be staying in a Buddhist monastery not far from the huge cemetery in Okuno, so old that ancient cedars growing between the graves. An atmosphere of old movie ... Ghost exclusively vegetarian food at the monastery. Super good.
- Day 8 - Koyasan / Nara:
------ -Depart for Nara : Hosted by the deer, we visit the ever impressive Great Buddha of Todaiji. At the exit, rikishin (rickshaw) propose a city tour. It is expensive but why not? Sure, it's nice to be guided in Nara Park. Souvenir picture under the cherry trees.
evening and hotel in Kyoto.
- Day 9 - Kyoto
------ -In wanting to see the Golden Pavilion , we are wrong bus and we arrive after closing time. It only remains for us as we walk the streets at random and go on the roof of the Kyoto Station watching the city sleep ...
- Day 10 - Kyoto
In evening transfer to Nagoya (thank you mr the JRPass).
- Day 11 - Aichi Japan expo:
In the evening, Lydia and Anthony went back to Tokyo. I stayed to go to ...
- Day 12 - Takayama:
For accommodation, after much difficulty, I finally found a room in the friendly pension pot.
- Day 13 - Takayama / Tokyo:
------ -A long train ride waiting for me to reach Tokyo before the evening and return to Anthony and Lydia. We are invited for a meal in the family of mr Takemoto, I found with pleasure.
------ "They want me to stay for the night but I am adamant I will sleep tonight in a capsule hotel ! It's an experiment worth trying, after all ... not very conclusive Experience: Between the snoring of my neighbor's locker above and discussions with 2 drunks at 4am, I did not sleep a wink all night ...
- Day 14 - Tokyo:
------ -temple Senso ji in Asakusa: many people and a little disappointing ...
------ -A tower in Ueno Park to see the Japanese picnic under the cherry trees that are no longer quite in bloom ... then in lanes Ameyoko.
last evening with Lydia and Anthony who leave tomorrow for France ...
- Day 15 - Tokyo / Kobe:
The meal tonight is Chinese, because Kobe also has its Chinatown.
- Day 16 - Kobe
should already start to go away ... far ... far
This is a real village onsen located on Kyushu, at the edge For the sea which is the village that is not really this: I found the small town not very pleasant, with hotels that spoil the whole ugly beach views and a whole neighborhood strip club ... glaucous.
But onsen water is hot, hot! And there are many: my small ryokan has already several hot springs and water flowing gutters ... it makes steam!
------ - Jigoku meguri : Take the bus and a combined ticket to visit the eight hells of Beppu: sources so hot you can not swim: Umi a turquoise, orange Chinoike, the geyser Tatsumaki ...
------ - Kamegawa : Try the bath of sand on the beach: Wearing a simple yukata you and you're lying covered with hot sand. With the sound of waves and sky blue is super relaxing. I closed my eyes and I fell asleep ...
- Day 18 - Beppu / Tokyo:
------ - Hoyoland : an onsen in Beppu a bit special when they are mud baths in the open air. Me I did not quite appreciated ... In addition to the onsen is mixed.
In the afternoon, here I go again for a long session to train to Tokyo, where I sit at the ryokan Sawanoya.
- Day 19 - Tokyo:
------ - The National Museum in Ueno Park , with the discovery of Ainu pottery, screens and samurai armor. So studious morning.
------ - Yokohama harbor: Late afternoon and evening spent in this city within 30 minutes from Tokyo. I climb on top of the Landmark Tower for superb views of the sunset and the Port of Yokohama. Great pictures in perspective.
------ -Chinatown: Back at Yokohama Chinatown restaurant. Ultimately disappointed by the somewhat cheesy in this neighborhood ...
- Day 20 - Tokyo:
------ - O Daiba : Je rentre sur Tokyo pour aller à nouveau sur cette île dans la baie, ses centres commerciaux, sa plage et la statue de la liberté. C’est le temps de faire ses courses pour ramener quelques souvenirs…
------ - Tokyo Tower : This time, I'll climb to the top of this red and white imitation of our Eiffel Tower. It's night and, all lit up, it looks much nicer that day and with a superb view over the city and its lights ...
- Day 21 - Tokyo:
------ - Ginza : In gale, I buy a few trinkets in the stores of the neighborhood.
------ -Iidabashi: I'm meeting you one last time with RM Takemoto. It leads me to Kagurazaka , the district 'French' in Tokyo. We eat in the brasserie's French Institute Franco-Japanese. Never been so happy to eat a slice of baguette! Must say it's been 20 days since I have not eaten ...
------ - Ghibli Museum : I had booked my tickets a week in advance, visit this site dedicated to cartoons from the studio Ghibli, a suburb Tokyo. It is very well done: a movie theater, work tables of the great masters are presented, with the real story boards and a temporary exhibition on the Pixar Studios . A bit small, but interesting.
Returning to Sawanoya ryokan, a show awaits: the owner's son gave a demonstration of dragon dance. It is very very talented.
- Day 22: Done! Back in France!
In conclusion, this trip was really great, a view shared by my two traveling companions. On the one hand because we managed to see and review the cherry blossoms. On the other hand, because we knew something different, alternating modern Japan, traditional Japan, nature walks ... our trip was well filled!
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