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.