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Whenever I hear the word JAPAN, the first thing that comes to mind is CULTURE.
Even as a child, I have been intrigued at this fascinating place that is truly rich in culture and with people who embrace their history.
Last year, around my birthday week, I urged my friends to go with me to see the cherry blossoms of Japan in their early spring season. Finally, when the day came to fly to this beautiful country, I can hardly conceal my excitement as I have been looking forward to it since the start of the year. We arrived in Tokyo at the 28th of March 2017 and the weather was really cold. Thanks to the application "Google Translate" we made our way to the hotel by ourselves as we didn't book this trip with a travel agent. We spent two days in Tokyo and three days in Osaka. It was a short trip and I was quite sad not to spend a night near Mt. Fuji.
I was amazed at how silent public transports can be and in my mind I thought, "Of course you're in Japan and people here are really respectful". This respect is reflected in how they go about in their everyday lives, from respect to the law, people and nature.
So here it is..First stop... TOKYO
Anyone of you a fan of fresh seafood? The Tsukiji Fish Market is the best stop for you.
There are many other things you can find in this market, but if you want to get the best sashimi, be there as early as you can.
Who would forget the heartwarming story of a loyal dog to his master? The statue of Hachiko is located outside the Shibuya station just in front of Shibuya crossing.
The Tokyo Imperial Palace was where I first saw the Cherry blossoms of Japan. The flowers have not fully bloomed yet when we were there as it was still the start of Spring but, at least, we still got a glimpse of the delicate blossoms.
Is it just me? Or does this tree look majestic even without its leaves?
Most of all, Let's not forget, one of the best things in Japan: their Food.
Ramen just tastes a hundred times better in its homeland.
On our second day we went to Tokyo Disney Sea. Like they always say, no one is ever too old for Disney.
The mere act of roaming around this park with old Disney movie theme songs playing in the background transports you to a different time.
Second Stop... Osaka
We took the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka. The trip would take about 2.5 hrs so we bought takeaway bento at the train station. I must say the ride was more comfortable than an economy class flight as it was quite spacious. This was a good chance to see the beautiful areas along the train route.
Dotonbori street is a place filled with Japanese streetfood. This area is buzzling at night with many choices of food around. Instead of dining in one restaurant, we hopped from one stall to another to make the most out of our night. There were also shops around where we bought skin care products at a much lesser price.
Third Stop.. Kyoto.
The next day, we went to Kyoto for our Tea Ceremony where the tea master taught us about the history of the tea ceremony in Japan. We were also dressed in kimonos during the ceremony. In the afternoon of the same day, we went to the Golden Pavilion of Kyoto. It was swarming with tourists and taking a solo shot was certainly a challenge . However, the beautiful view of this temple and its serene garden was enough to relax a weary traveler.
For the last stop of the Kyoto tour, we went to Fushimi Inari Taisha. It's the famous red shrine of Kyoto. Before you enter the temple, it is a must to cleanse oneself with the water.
After our day tour in Kyoto, we headed back to Osaka since our hotel was there. We did not have enough time to go to the bamboo forest and the samurai village. Those will be part of the itinerary in the future.
On our last day, we went to Universal Studios. The whole day was exhilarating! Roller coaster rides, boat rides and food had our adrenaline rushing. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was definitely the highlight of the day!
It was indeed a fun trip. I recommend purchasing the JR pass , but also keep in mind that not all rails accept this. The pass must be purchased ahead of time and this will be delivered to your preferred address before your departure date. When you're in a hurry for trips to transfer to different cities, fill yourself and get some takeaway bento. There are so many choices that comes in different sizes and varieties.
If you want to shop for Japanese goodies, go to Don Quijote. It is a discount chain store that packs you're goods ready for travel. Many drugstores sell beauty products and also give out discounts for tourists.
Lastly, it is very important to observe silence in their public transports. It is always good to read up on what is good etiquette or not before travelling anywhere.
I'll see you after my next adventure. xoxo
https://youtu.be/ZRhv9aYwUQQ