It's hard to believe that, after more than two years of planning, our trip to Japan has come and gone. We had an amazing time visiting friends, eating delicious food, and touring Tokyo, Kyoto and Iberaki prefecture. Here is a brief rendition of the good, the bad and the unexpected:
Highlights
- unsurpassable Japanese hospitality
- excellent, healthy food (especially the traditional breakfasts and not- too-sweet desserts)
- our whirlwind tour of Tokyo with Ayano, our fearless leader
- the beautiful sakura (cherry blossoms) everywhere
- riding the Shinkansen (bullet train) and catching a glimpse of Fujiyama
- the history and beauty of many Kyoto temples
- staying at two lovely ryokans (Japanese inns) and sleeping on comfy futons
- the constant juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern, the rural and the urban
- the cleanliness and safety of Japan
Lowlights
- our inability to read/speak Japanese
- the trek to/from Narita airport before/after a long flight
- the lack of recycling
Surprises
- the lack of spoken/written English
- complicated shoe removal/slipper-wearing etiquette
- driving on the left side of the road
- the lack of ovens in homes
A small shrine in Ushiku
Lovely sakura in front of Byodoin Temple in Uji (20 mins from Kyoto). The temple was built in 1052 and is on the back of the 10-yen coin.
Gardens at Daigo-ji in Kyoto
Kiyomizu temple with Kyoto city in the background
View of Tokyo from the Imperial Palace
Cutting my first bamboo shoot!
Huge thank-you to Marna for being our chauffeuse extraordinaire and to Mom for taking such good care of Holly. Doesn't look like she missed us much!
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