Category: Japan

Floating torii in Miyajima 0

Hiroshima & Miyajima

I don’t exactly know why I visited Hiroshima. I mean don’t know anything about the war between the USA and Japan nor do I know the exact reason why Hiroshima was bombed to hell. But I guess it was just one of cities you just “had” to visit when you’re in Japan. For some reason, a trip to Hiroshima seemed the obvious choice when you visit Japan. Considering it’s tragic past and worldwide coverage of the atombomb incident back in 1945. Personally I don’t really know much about the reason behind the bombing nor do I have any interest in...

Lovely temple and shrines in Koya town 2

Koya-san, Unesco monastary complex

Koya-san was another suggestion from my fellow traveler. I was a bit sceptical about visiting this place since it was yet another buddhistic destination, the monastic complex of Koya-san. To be honest, there isn’t much I can actually say about Koya-san since I just followed along and I’m not exactly a Buddhist. But I did enjoy this little trip to Koya-san. It was snowing when we arrived near Koya town, which made the whole experience just more magical than it is. The path towards the monastary ran through the buddhist cementary. This little hike itself was actually the best part...

Giant LED-billboards on Dotonbori 1

Osaka and Nara

Osaka Osaka is only a short 1-hour ride away from Kyoto. For the average backpacker there isn’t that much of value here. The most famous attraction is the Osaka aquiarium and I haven’t even visited it myself. But next in line (and free) is the Dotombori. This is a huge plaza/shopping area with tons of shops and restaurants. There is tons of different thing to try and eat in only a few blocks. A dear friend of mine gave me a fair warning before I came here. The good thing about the huge commercial places is that each and one...

Fushimi Inari-Taisha at sunset 2

Travel back to Ancient Japan – Kyoto

While Tokyo is all about modern day consumerism and commercialisation, Kyoto is the place to be to go back to ancient times and discover the historical story behind the country. Kyoto used to be the country’s capital before Tokyo, meaning many of its important imperial buildings were located here and are pretty much still in tact for tourism. Including tons and I mean TONS of temples and shrines. Kiyomizu-dera According to sources: the story behind the love stone is that there are these 2 stones within a certain distance of eachother. You start at one stone and close you eyes...

Otaku paradise - Akihabara 1

Tokyo city Japan!

Japan. I think most people have Japan in their list of top destinations to visit. But why do that many people want to visit this country considered to be one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world? Well, just because there is just about anything for anybody’s taste and interest here. You can find the most diverse, the most weird, the most beautiful, the most fascinating things in Japan. It’s pretty much a place of extremes, depending how you look at it. Not sure if that makes sense hahah….. Anyway, for my Japanese trip, my buddy Greg joined...

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Must visit places / must-do in Japan (part 2)

Japan has a modern culture that’s strongly influenced by their history. With the help of the internet and some personal experience of friends and relatives, I’ve compiled a list of must do / must visit places in Japan. Be sure to check out part one. Encounter a geisha A Geisha is a Japanese woman who entertains people (usually men), with classical Japanese arts. She is skilled in singing, dancing, playing musical instruments for example, shamisen. serving food, drinks like sake, and tea, and practiced in conversation. There remains some confusion about the nature of the geisha profession. Geisha are regarded...

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Must visit places / must-do in Japan (part 1)

Japan was and always will be a unique place. Whether we talk about traditional festivals or traditional theater, religion or pop culture, architecture or transport, food or clothing, martial arts or games, you can see in unique scenes Japan, that do not exist anywhere else in the world. Visit an onsen or sento Sentō (銭湯) is a type of Japanese communal bath house where customers pay for entrance. Traditionally these bath houses consist of one large room separating the sexes by a tall barrier, and on both sides, usually a minimum of lined up faucets and a single large bath...