17 day action-packed trip to Japan during April 2016, visiting Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Kyoto, Himeji, Mount Yoshino, Nara, Nagoya, Kiso valley, Tokyo & Hakone. We travelled mostly by Shinkansen bullet train. When I showed Charli the itinerary before we left the first thing she said was “but Dad… there’s no rest days”.
Horikoshi Shrine, located near our Air BnB – OsakaPedestrian only street mall, Shinsaibashi district – OsakaTakoyaki restaurant, Dotonbori shopping & entertainment district – OsakaThe Minami shopping district is located around Namba Station – OsakaVending machine – OsakaDotonbori shopping & entertainment district, OsakaPeace Memorial Park – Hiroshima. Earlier in the day, G-7 officials came together in Hiroshima and laid wreaths at the Memorial Park, including US Secretary of State, John Kerry.Ruin of Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now called the A-Bomb Dome building, Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima.Peace Memorial Park – HiroshimaHiroshima Castle. The castle was originally constructed in the 1590s, but was destroyed by the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. The castle was rebuilt in 1958, a replica of the original.The vermilion colour of the torii gate and shrines are believed to have the power to keep evil spirits away. However, they were completely ineffective against Charli.Friendly deer at the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine – Miyajima IslandShukkeien garden, which translates to shrunken-scenery garden. Construction of the garden began in 1620 during the Edo period.Himeji Castle, also known as White Egret Castle or White Heron Castle. Various structures have existed on top of Himeyama Hill but the large building complex we see today was completed in the early 17th Century.Kokoen Garden, located right next to Himeji Castle, was opened in 1992.View of Royoanji Temple, the site of Kyoto’s famous rock gardenThese Japanese ladies, tourists dressed in Kimonos, were happy to pose with the girls – Kyoto.Chion-in temple – KyotoFollowing Japanese tourists as we enter Fushimi Inari Shrine – KyotoFushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in southern KyotoHiking up Mount Yoshino, looking for cherry blossomsTodaiji Great Eastern temple – NaraA bullet train enters Nagoya stationBeautiful scenery hiking along the Magome-Tsumago trail – Kiso ValleyThe trail connects the towns of Tsumago and Magome and takes 2-3 hours to walk at a leisurely pace – Kiso Valley.Magome is a former post town in the Kiso Valley, which served travelers of the Nakasendo, a major route that connected Tokyo with Kyoto during the feudal ages.Mount Ena (2,191m) viewed from MagomeWe stayed one night at a Ryokan, which is a Japanese-style inn that provides the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese lifestyle & hospitality.Magome has been beautifully restored with a broad stone walkway lined with wooden buildings and carefully tended foliage.Disneyland – TokyoTokyo DisneySeaTokyo DisneySeaTokyo DisneySeaImperial Palace – TokyoFor our last day in Japan we did a day trip from Tokyo to Hakone, which is a hot springs resort town in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. After relaxing in the very hot springs bath we had a superb meal, Yakiniku style, where you grill meat and vegetables on the BBQ.
