Welcome to our Japan blog
Sitting at Heathrow before we left for our first trip 2017, I wrote a summary for the Facebook page...
"Two slightly dazed Brits go to Japan for three weeks and womble about. Includes constant photos of food and occasional swearing!" I think that still stands.
Japan is phenomenal. Really. Just phenomenal.
Although we always did our research before we left, we learnt a load over the weeks. Given that these days we struggle to remember what happened last Wednesday, this site is really for us to get it all down in writing while it's still relatively fresh in our minds. You know the sort of things..what was good, what we'd change next time, any travel and language tips. If it proves useful to anyone else then...Bonus!

Miura Anjin Memorial, Nihombashi, Tokyo

Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Nebuta-Warasse Museum, Aomori

Shinkansen at Shin Kobe Eki, Kobe

Ueno Park, Ueno, Tokyo

Modelling Yukata in Toji Market, Kyoto

Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa, Tokyo

Textiles in Okadaya, Shibuya

Working Virtual Boy, Super Potato, Akihabara, Tokyo

Cappuccino Shiki Kissaten, Morioka

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tsukiji, Tokyo

O-bansho Guardhouse, Imperial Palace Gardens, Tokyo

Tamadare Falls, Hakone

Shōwa Daibutsu, Aomori

Miura Anjin Memorial, Nihombashi, Tokyo

Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Nebuta-Warasse Museum, Aomori

Shinkansen at Shin Kobe Eki, Kobe

Ueno Park, Ueno, Tokyo

Modelling Yukata in Toji Market, Kyoto

Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa, Tokyo

Textiles in Okadaya, Shibuya

Working Virtual Boy, Super Potato, Akihabara, Tokyo

Cappuccino Shiki Kissaten, Morioka

Tsukiji Fish Market, Tsukiji, Tokyo

O-bansho Guardhouse, Imperial Palace Gardens, Tokyo

Tamadare Falls, Hakone

Shōwa Daibutsu, Aomori

Breakfast with Melon Soda, Gusto, Asakusa

With Harita San & Siosake San, Aomori

Outside Sensō-ji, Asakusa

Shima no Eki, Tashirojima

Yakitori Restaurant, Asakusa

Wih Hiroshi San, Cappuccino Shiki, Morioka

Kyo Restaurant, Kyoto

Tōshō-gū Shrine, Nikkō

At Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G

Super Potato, Akihabara, Tokyo

With Kyoko San, Kamoizumi Brewery, Saijo

Sendai Castle Zunda Shop

Pronto Cafe, Hakodate

First Ever Okonomiyaki, Asakusa Nakemise Dori
The Adventures of Pochi, Uisuki and Daiou
Pochi belongs to one of the students at school. He was a bit of a last minute "Mascot" idea in 2017 but we took him everywhere in Japan and he was very well behaved. So much so that, when he wasn't available for 2018, we invited his friends Uisuki and Daiou (Whiskey and Rhubarb).
Pochi and Uisuki like Melon Soda and Sake. Daoiu prefers Beer and Iced Coffee. All of them, however, like meeting people.
Actually, in all honestly, if you are learning the language of a country you can do far worse as a conversation starter/ice breaker than asking people to pose with small stuffed toys. I handed them over and trotted out 「僕の子供のために写真を取ってもいいですか」("May I take a picture for my kids") quite a bit and so they made a lot of new friends :-)
Top travel tip.

Breakfast with Melon Soda, Gusto, Asakusa

With Harita San & Siosake San, Aomori

Outside Sensō-ji, Asakusa

Shima no Eki, Tashirojima

Yakitori Restaurant, Asakusa

Wih Hiroshi San, Cappuccino Shiki, Morioka

Kyo Restaurant, Kyoto

Tōshō-gū Shrine, Nikkō

At Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Hongan-G

Super Potato, Akihabara, Tokyo

With Kyoko San, Kamoizumi Brewery, Saijo

Sendai Castle Zunda Shop

Pronto Cafe, Hakodate
