Mark's time in Japan
Japan left an indent on our hearts that cannot easily be put into words. The Japanese way of life could only be described as being in stark contrast to the manner in which we live in Australia. Polite, patient, orderly, clean, respectful and hard working are some of the traits that come to mind when reflecting on the culture we witnessed in Japan over two jam-packed weeks of travel. If any of the above resonates with you, I can all but guarantee you will love a trip to this beautiful country.
Arriving with my wife at the end of March 2019, Emma and I were kindly greeted by Tokyo’s famous cherry blossoms out in full bloom, the only fortnight of the year travellers have the opportunity to experience these spectacular flowers. Well worth the trip at this time of year, despite the peak travel season price hikes on accommodation. Aside from the blossoms, what struck us the most was the sheer size of Tokyo, dwarfing our home city of Melbourne in comparison. Skyscrapers and tall, compact apartment buildings were the norm, not the exception, as expansive golf courses, parks and sporting fields were as rare as hen’s teeth. One of our favourite evenings spent in the nation’s capital was an evening walk around the Emperor’s palace, surrounded by a moat and lined with cherry blossom trees. At approximately 5km around the palace, it made for a nice one hour stroll as the sun set, illuminating the city buildings in spectacular fashion.
If you are in the mood for some sightseeing at high speed, then consider go karting around Tokyo with MariKart. Warning: helmets were not included and seatbelts were optional! Flying around the city at speeds of between 40 to 80 km/h, on face value it sounds like a death wish, but surprisingly felt relatively safe in convoy with our guide. The Japanese drivers are polite, courteous and patient on the roads – we learnt that tooting your horn is only for extreme circumstances and is otherwise considered rude! I would definitely recommend if you are a bit of a thrill seeker. Keep in mind that you need to have an international licence before you travel.
Journeying around the country with the JR Rail Pass was an economical way to go if you are planning on travelling out to Kyoto and other cities on the bullet trains. We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful day on our trip to Kyoto, in which you pass Mt Fuji on the right hand side - request a window seat on this side if you can! The view of the mountain was a stunning highlight on the two-hour trip.
Kyoto provided a more traditional view of the Japanese culture with an endless number of temples to visit. The Kiyomizu-dera temple was incredible, but hoards of other tourists thought so too, so expect big crowds with most dressed in hired Geisha costumes. Definitely worth the trip and hike up the hill to the top.
Another couple of hours west of Kyoto lies Hiroshima, which you may be familiar with when considering the devastation of the newly introduced atomic bomb at the conclusion of World War II. Visiting the town was a both a humbling and sobering experience. Exquisitely preserved is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial building, it was the only structure that was left standing in the area after the bomb, as a permanent reminder of the 6th of August 1945 that changed Hiroshima forever. The Peace Memorial Museum proved an insightful experience into the lives of those who endured such a horrible event in human history.
Japan, a nation so rich in culture and the people’s respect for one’s self and others places it firmly on the map of travel lovers everywhere. We may well be back – next time for the snow season!
Mark Jeffery
