Japan is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, with a thousand-year-old culture, rich in history and mystery. A unique journey to discover large metropolises such as Tokyo and Kyoto and unique customs.
Japanese culture is so different from ours that every activity on the trip to Japan was out of the ordinary, even going to the bathroom. Yes, because in Japan even the toilet is special.
Finally Japan
Two days later than our initial plan, because of the flight change by EgyptAir, we finally arrived at Tokyo Narita Airport. The first night we slept at the Toyoko Inn near the airport. The hotels chain Toyoko Inn is all over Japan with very affordable rates and modern and clean facilities.
Famous for Trains. So We Got a Car 😀
Japan is famous for its trains but we preferred to rent a car. Sure the tolls are very expensive but it’s worth it. However, even Shinkansen, high-speed trains, are very expensive, especially if you are not traveling alone. We left for Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, a quiet city about 500 kilometers from Tokyo. The extraordinary thing about driving in Japan is that, despite the roads having only a few lanes, you can go through Tokyo (the largest city in the world) without any particular slowdowns. In fact, we have never noticed any serious traffic jams in Japan. Indeed, even in Tokyo the streets are often literally devoid of cars.
Across Japan
Because of the speed limits (often just 60 or 80 km/h) and the beauty of the landscape that calls for many stops, it took us about 9 hours to get to destination. We stopped along the way to see the cherry blossoms of Fuji Shibazakura in Yamanashi Prefecture. However, when we arrived at the festival, the local staff showed us a photo of what the blooms looked like that day, very different from the photos online. The Japanese are truly honest and this can be seen in many other particulars. In fact, in Japan there are even roadside shops where people take the objects on display and put the money in a box without anyone watching at all. A few kilometers from Fuji Shibazakura we found a family-run restaurant where we ate really well for very little money.
After lunch we set off towards Hikone, passing along the route the Nakanokura Pass which offers an unobstructed and wonderful view of Mount Fuji. The beautiful Motuso lake is the body of water at the foot of the volcano.
Kyoto
Our Toyoko Inn this time was located a stone’s throw from Hikone Station. The next morning we took the local train to Kyoto and visited Arashimaya BamBoo Groove and Fushimi Inari Shrine. They are very crowded tourist destinations but nevertheless absolutely beautiful. We had lunch at the Dragon Burger Tofukuji in Kyoto where we had the best burgers in the world, or almost!
After lunch we visited the Gion neighborhood, famous for Geisha. We were lucky to see some of them up close but could not take any photos of them because it is prohibited. It was in Kyoto that I discovered that Japan has the best strawberries in the world, even if a little expensive.
Japanese Trains Run on Time but…
In the evening we found out that not all Japanese trains run on time. In fact, due to an accident, all trains heading to the Hikone area were delayed by more than two hours. As a young student who is able to communicate somewhat in English explained to us, very often there are people who throw themselves in front of a train to commit suicide. Unfortunately, being very introverted, the Japanese run a greater risk than others of slipping into a labyrinth of loneliness and desperation from which they are no longer able to escape until they commit dramatic gestures.
Hakone
After two days spent in the Kyoto area – one less than initially planned before our flight changes – we left for Hakone, one of the most touristy places in Japan. Along the way we stopped at Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, a traditional village among the most beautiful in Japan. However, we arrived a little late and were not allowed to enter as the Japanese do not allow deviations from the rules, not even for a minute. In Hakone we slept in a very beautiful and comfortable independent house which we will certainly remember forever for its super-technological toilet.
Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
Since the village of Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba had remained in our hearts, we returned there. No one lives in the village houses which are used for other activities such as pottery making, handicrafts, and much more. The place is beautiful and surrounded by cherry trees in full bloom. Even though the forecast for that day was cloudy and rainy, Fujisan showed up for a couple of minutes before hidding again.
The Aokigahara Forest
At the end we visited the Aokigahara forest (the suicide forest) where the Wind Cave is located. This cave is very cold and in ancient times it was used as a natural refrigerator. Another cave is the Ice Cave but we didn’t go there because our clothing wasn’t suitable as well as being quite difficult to visit it being very steep and slippery.
Chureito Pagoda
The iconic Chureito Pagoda is a must for all visitors to Hakone. Hundreds of cherry trees in full bloom dominate the city with the incredible background of the Fujisan.. We had lunch at a restaurant where we had no idea that we would be served by a robot. We were taken by surprise when a robot came and brought our order previously made from our table with a tablet. Our last stop for the day was Lake Kawaguchi.
Tokyo
After our overnight stay at Narita Airport’s Toyoko Inn, we returned our rental car and took a bus to Tokyo. Our hotel was in Akabane, about 20 minutes by train from Shibuya.
Tokyo is a city that captures the imagination with its fascinating fusion of tradition and modernity. Although you may think that Tokyo is an extremely expensive city, the reality is that it is far cheaper than many European capitals. One of Tokyo’s defining features is its extensive public transportation network, which includes one of the largest subway networks in the world with 13 lines and 274 stations.
Japanese curiosity number one: In Japan there are over 4 million vending machines located practically everywhere where it is possible to buy hot or cold drinks, hot meals, cigarettes, alcohol, various items and even perishable goods at surprisingly low prices.
Japanese curiosity number two: the Kaitenzushi (Sushi Trains) or sushi on a conveyor belt. The price per plate starts at around 100 yen, making kaitenzushi significantly cheaper than traditional sushi restaurants.
In Tokyo for our first visit we spent a couple of days in the streets of Shibuya and Shinjuku. They are the most iconic areas of the Japanese capital for their vitality and their unique cultural symbols. In the heart of Shibuya is Center Gai, a lively pedestrian street considered the hub of Japanese youth culture. Aside from the iconic Shibuya crosswalk despite being the largest city in the world, Tokyo is a much less hectic city than you might expect.
Not to be missed for Starbucks coffee lovers is the Reserved Roastery of Tokyo, one-of-a-kind place that is not limited to coffee but is a triumph of the flavors of Italian cuisine: pizzas, focaccias, lasagna and even Sicilian cannoli. Everything very Italian and very delicious!
Epilogue
There are many reasons to love Japan: – It is a clean, organized, and very safe country; – People are kind, friendly, helpful and honest; – The food is delicious and very cheap; – The entire transportation system is well organized. Despite all this positive things, on the other side you might think of the language barrier but Google Translate will help you all along. The only thing you need is an Internet connection. Japan has become one of our favorite destinations and we will definitely return some day.
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