Japan
Random thoughts about Japan
How do Japanese people stay thin with so many fried foods? Is it always so rainy? Is is always so humid? Why do women wear such ridiculous high heels? Even climbing mountains? Why are drinks so expensive in restaurants? A Coke or coffee is 1000 yen (about $10 USD) in a restaurant but 150 yen … Continue reading
September 29, 2008 Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is amazing! For a city so large with so many people (38 million), it’s so quiet. No car horns, no yelling, no cell phones ringing obnoxious ring tones. Cell phones are always silenced and people only take calls at the end of the train car. We’ve walked everywhere – the electronics district in Akihabara, shopping … Continue reading
September 23, 2008 Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
I love the train in Japan! It is so easy and fast! We took the train from Hiroshima to Hakone last night. It was really late and really foggy when we finally arrived at the train station in Hakone. We were the only ones to get off the train and we couldn’t see anything. We … Continue reading
September 22, 2008 Hiroshima, Japan
Today we visited the site of the atomic blast in Hiroshima. It was a very sobering experience, but one I felt was important. The most difficult thing was reading the stories of children and their parents. We stayed at The World Friendship Center last night, a guesthouse run by volunteers. We slept on futons on … Continue reading
September 21, 2008 Miyajima, Japan
We’re on the island of Miyajima in the South China Sea. One of the most famous images of Japan is on Miyajima – Itsukushima Shrine. The island is off the coast of Hiroshima and is pretty isolated after dark. Most tourists take the ferry over for the day. We decided to spend the night here … Continue reading
September 19, 2008 Himeji, Japan
We purchased a Japan Rail pass, which includes unlimited travel on Japan’s trains. The train is so easy to use – especially the high speed train, the shinkansen. It’s very easy to find your way around – most signs are written in English. We’re in Himeji today, home to a 400 year old castle built … Continue reading
September 18, 2008 Kyoto, Japan
Our flight from Detroit to Osaka was amazing. We were literally two of the only Westerners on the flight. The fourteen hour flight went fairly quickly and we were here in no time. Kyoto is such a beautiful city – it is full of temples, shrines, and geishas. The people couldn’t be more gracious. They … Continue reading