This is visual trip journal with selective pick travel photography I taken along the trip. This is the second trip for me to Japan with wife, first trip is to Hokkaido in winter season.
Below is Indiana Jones like travel map, easy to explain where am I travel for the trip, high level in single map. Hope it serves a purpose for those who will undertake similar trip or look for travel inspiration.
It typical 7 days 5 nights region trip, and since want to write in brief, so divide into three sections below, Kansai, Chubu, and Kanto. Hope your enjoy selective pick travel photography I taken along the trip, along with the travel journal below.
The trip started from Wakaya prefecture 和歌山県 visit Yuasa soy sauce 湯浅醤油 making old town, now still produce soy sauce, visit the factory and see and hear how the soy sauce being making. This once upon a time important product, as time changes, machinery mass production making it very hard for traditional house to keep their old manner for soy sauce compete with low cost soy sauce, but the premium market who are willing to buy premium soy sauce remain. I very impress for a local wooden craft dragon sculpture saw while in the store. Then follow with visit to Kuroshio Market 黑潮市場, a typical seafood market, but feature a live show operate by fisherman cutting giant salmon fish. A place for tasting fresh seafood snack and continue for seafood lunch.
In the afternoon after lunch, journey toward Osaka prefecture 大阪府, first visit to Osaka Castle Park 大阪城公園 where here is place not just for old iconic Japanese castle landmark, but place for enjoying the sakura, cherry blossom. But we come slightly earlier, it just began, but from the walk, a lot of local, and the weather is just right for the park walk, it spring season. Go up the Osaka castle observation deck and visit and saw the internal museum exhibitions. The unique golden dragon fish on the castle roof replicate outside and original inside for display is impressive. In the garden park below, a lot of local, from high school students take graduation photo, to street artist perform the trick and attract people's attention.
Shinsaibashi Shopping District 心斎橋商店街 is full of people, I like the street full of restaurants make giant display, from dragon (actually a Raman store), to others eye catching pop (point of promotion) advertisement. Taste the famous blowfish in Japanese restaurant who had the license and skill to treat this poison fish that need special care.
Night stay at Shin Osaka area. At night go out for supper. Had a good time for the elder operate local izakaya 居酒屋 (informal Japanese pub). Next day after hotel breakfast, continue the journey.
Today will visit two ancient city. Start from Nara Prefecture 奈良県, after walk thru the deer park, visit Todai-ji Temple 東大寺, follow with the nearby shinto shrine, Himuro Shrine 氷室神社, Sakura Cherry Blossom is beautiful, can feel the season is beginning, we are really come in the right timing.
Next stop Kyoto Prefecture 京都府, stop at Nishijin Textile Center 西陣織会館, for traditional Kimono fashion show, it enjoyable saw Japanese female in traditional Japanese dress for the catwalk. I bought my Yukata over here, follow with the lunch. After that visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺. Dress in traditional Japanese dress will not found it look strange in this old street district. Kiyomizu-dera main attraction is the stage, you need to walk to the opposite hill to view back. Night stay at Gifu 岐阜市.
From Gifu along the highway can see scenic mountain while toward Shirakawago 白川郷. Observation deck at the high hill provide impressive bird view for this UNESCO world heritage village. Follow with the walk inside the village, then take the lunch, before journey to Takayama. Come here for visit Takayama Jinya 高山陣屋, former governance office and Sanmachi Suji 三町筋, Edo-period streets lined with traditional merchant houses, restaurants, shops and breweries. Tonight stay at Isawa Onsen 石和温泉, of Yamanashi Prefecture 山梨県. Tonight saw the night sakura, and the next morning, another round of Sakura Cherry Blossom session, just in front of the Onsen Ryokan.
Visit Mount Fuji, but due to the weather no so good, can only go up to 2020m, level 4. Level 5 is blocked. Next stop is Shiraito Falls 富士宮 白糸の滝, unique, wide waterfall in the scenic. We make lunch stop at NEOPASA駿河湾沼津. After lunch, we visit Fujiheiwa Park 富士平和公園, the park with lots of unique lion sculpture from various countries. After that go for Gotemba Premium Outlets. Saw lot of kid in waiting their parents for shopping. Overnight at Hakone onsen (hot spring) resort.
Arrived in Tokyo, first stop Asakusa Kannon Temple/Sensoji 浅草寺. Served as Tokyo iconic landmark, beside the color red Tokyo Tower, it features a giant Japanese lantern and with the kanji word of thunder gate "雷門". Follow visit to Ueno-Onshi Park 上野恩賜公園, now it is the right season for sakura cherry blossom. Saw a lot of local occupied the floor with mat, open party and enjoy the scenic moment. Pass by Imperial Palace 皇居 while to coach drive slowly, while we go Ginza 銀座 shopping district. Follow with VenusFort, shopping complex at Odaiba, feature Toyota city showcase and continue shopping inside the mall. The night ended at Aqua City Odaiba for dinner and saw the replica Liberty Statue, with famous rainbow bridge and Tokyo Tower as the backdrop. Over night stay at Shin Osaka. Next day after breakfast, go to Haneda International Airport, transit from Hong Kong International Airport back to Kuala Lumpur.
