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Land of the Rising Sun - JAPAN
2017 - Tokyo
5/2023: Tokyo, Hakodate - Hokkaido, Nagoya, Kyoto & Osaka
1/1/2017: So fortunate to arrive on 1/1/2017 at 5 a.m. from Thailand to Haneda, Japan, and everyone welcomed the sun for the new year 2017 (as we flew into Japan, you could see everyone outside welcoming the sun) - an important day in the land of the rising sun. We took the train from Haneda airport to Tokyo on a clear 1/1/17 and we were fortunate to see the important mountain of Mt. Fuji an active volcano, southwest of Tokyo. It is called “Fuji-san,” the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s been considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity. Its iconic profile is the subject of numerous works of art. - on the way back to the airport it was foggy and we could not see it........
Took this pic. from the train
Quite a complicated train system but we were lucky a musician & actor partner took us under their wings and took us practically all the way to Ginza from Haneda Airport monorail/metro -
Reminds me of a city like N.Y or L.A. but cleaner and the ppl are so amazing in Japan - the most respectful, kind, humble people I have met.
Then all the rush of cars because the Princess of the palace (Ginza) just arrived I was told by the guard.....
Shrine/Temple - Ginza, Tokyo
Long lines on the first of January as most folks lined up to go to the temple, and we did too!
Enjoyed the Japanese food and the only restaurant that seemed to be open on the 1/1/17 -
Daniel could not find the Wall Street Journal and is reading the Japanese newspaper!!
5/21/23 Hakodate, Hokkaido - Japan
5/21/23: Started on an iffy note going to the E.R. 12a-3a doing tests for chest pains which turned out to be stress only and made our flight on United directly from SFO in the a.m. from SFO to Tokyo; then domestic to Hakodate. It was tiring, but we were happy to arrive from the airport via taxi to the Banso Onsen Ryokan to relax and unwind. Divine sitting in the natural hot springs, silk bath, and all the different areas to stress relief, all naked (women and men were separate), so a very similar way the Korean baths are in the U.S. which I'm very familiar with and have done over many years). Loved the soaking, and had a good rest from the travel overnight in the traditional Japanese-style suite (taking Yen from your bank in the U.S. is the best thing to do). The next a.m. we took a stroll on the beach and then enjoyed the wonderful buffet of Japanese breakfast (lots of fish and everything you wanted to eat). We then checked out and went to the main area of Hakodate City in the early afternoon of 4/22/23 and stayed at The Fourpoints Hakodate.
5/22/23-5/24: Stayed at The Fourpoints Hotel: took the taxi everywhere; best onsen in the area is the Century Marina Onsen - amazing overlooking the port of Hakodate; Russian Orthodox Church, seen the Old Public Hall, Kanimori red brick houses, Motomachi districts, Mount Hakodate at night, Goryokaku Fort is a massive star shaped western style citadel and the Park and ate delicious sea food everywhere.
5/22/23: I took a taxi to the Motomachi Heritage District; visited the Russian Orthodox Church - it was so peaceful to just sit and meditate in the church, visited the Public Hall - yellow building below, was happy to see some blossoms at the end of the season and talking to the wonderful people of Japan.
We took the Shinkansen bullet train from Nagoya to Kyoto; it was not as fast as I thought, but enjoyed the 1 hr and 45 minute train ride and seeing many rice fields and some places along the way.
Marriott Associa Nagoya Hotel
People of Japan doing pottery together, and loved that we asked if we could take a pic. of them!
Kinkaku-ji Temple below is the most iconic sight in Kyoto and reflects in the pond.
Unesco World Heritage Site and was constructed in the 14th century by the Ashikaga clan
Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Grove:
(We took a taxi from our hotel to the grove and gardens)
Beautiful forest and standing amid those soarding stalks of bamboo is amazing; loved the serene surroundings even though it was busy with tourists everywhere, except one garden I enjoyed with a few others (a private garden within the grove)!
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