On the shadow of the cherry blossoms.. Story of my wedding trip in the unconventional Japan

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... We had a wonderful and memorable honeymoon!
When Louis asked me to Japan as a place I stayed a bit 'puzzled, in my dreams as a child I imagined the honeymoon under the palm trees on some Caribbean beach but I admit that I've changed my mind well and we could not choose better country!
For ourselves we booked the return flight to Rome-Tokyo route as the journey we have chosen to Jalpak of Rome has also provided to all hotel reservations.
The itinerary is this: starting April 8 from Rome and arrived in Tokyo on 9, 12-14 Hakone-Takayama, 16-18 Shirakawago - Kanazawa, 18-21 Kyoto Hiroshima then 22, 23 and 24 the beautiful island of Miyajima and finally returned to Tokyo where we were until April 30 (date of departure) with the exception of 26 that we moved to Nikko, where we stayed overnight and day trips to Nara and Yokohama. The climate is similar to ours but the best time to visit Japan I think certainly in April / May is the time when ... 'hanami' ... the Japanese custom of contemplating the spring flowering cherry trees to flower are a spectacular beauty!
I admit that we struggled a bit 'hot (except two days time) and I dare not think in July or August, which reaches the humidity levels.
At first glance the city are not the best ... chaotic metropolis with tall buildings, narrow and close together ... the many balconies overlook the interior of the building housing .. alongside a sadness!
On one side is a country projected into the future where everyone has always hand the phone ol'immancabile ipod, the trains 'shinkansen' high-speed take you everywhere, skyscrapers illuminated from morning to night with signs of sliding or the big screen cast advertising, almost a cartoon to open the other side ... but there is a country closely tied to Japanese tradition.
They go back centuries before imposing Shinto temples, wooden red bulls or stone, or manicured Zen gardens and bamboo forests', old merchant houses, cellars of sake and you expect to meet at any moment a Geisha (view !) or a samurai!
The trip is because undoubtedly challenging but well organized and we managed to see much ... thanks to the Japan Rail Pass 21 days (there is also 7 and 14) that is strongly recommended to why most fitting and necessary.
And 'subscription to the JR (Japan railways) sold only outside Japan and validated on site and ensures the movement with spectacular shinkansen covering the whole territory, with local trains using the JR and Tokyo Yamanote line ( a circular line that touches all points of interest).
With a good guide orientation is good but we must always focus points of reference in that, particularly in major stations (basically the city within a city) is easy to get lost.
English is parlicchiato giapposotti but honestly we met we do not speak well well even if they do everything to make themselves understood while to help!
Everywhere you go is a chorus of "Ashimase" and bows (and their welcome), the girls are very beautiful and have made a knee-high fashion, turning or firmatissime see from head to foot and dressed in elegant kimonos or a cardboard animated .. a myth!
The food was sore ... I who have problems and I eat well the stones I'm only a pound, even Louis 5! For breakfast there are chains like Starbucks and € 5 a cappuccino and a cake you save the morning, at lunch we made do by comparing the ' needed for sandwiches, fruit or sweets in supermarket chains Familymart Lawson or you find every street corner as well as the ubiquitous vending machines with green tea. A dinner made up for a pizza (to go to Tokyo - Roppongi Midtown - the legendary Neapolitan pizza 'Napule' of 'pizzettaro' Japanese winner of the best pizza since 2006 and know the legendary Antonio of Naples made us feel the warmth Italian!) or the delicious kobe beef, grilled or some indecipherable mess. The impact with the sushi was not very positive but it is surely to try as well as miso or soba, buckwheat noodles in soup hot or cold accompanied with fish or tempura verdure.Pochi restaurants have menus in English but in any case are false or reproductions of the plates or photos.
We stayed in 3 star hotels average price of € 120 per night without breakfast (do not make it to the hotel ... too expensive!) Are honestly better beds because the bed is as big as a single! The bathrooms are tiny but functional ... the toilet is a myth ... heated table with all small buttons to wash and drain the water. Change of sheets every day, free internet connection in your room if you had a personal computer otherwise many hotel the fans pay 100yen for 10min. Although the hotels were all near the main train stations have to say that we have always found good, are safe cities and evening walking quietly.
About ... stations close to midnight and then from eleven at night on a frenzy of people for the attack on the wagon!
Miyajima enchanting ... we stayed in a ryokan typical structures with traditional Japanese tatami mats on the floor, walls made of rice paper ... are really beautiful but a bit 'too expensive.
They are also equipped with public toilets .. onsen spa experience to do ... but you must follow the rules and pay attention to the temperature!
Split between men and women, because then you're naked you can go directly with the clothes yukata (cotton robe that you find in every hotel / ryokan you go!), It takes a shower before entering and then you dive in this water boiling! More than ten minutes you can not resist!
So definitely a good viaggione ... Japan has so many beauties to be discovered ... even walking through the streets of the city is interesting ... a very unique culture and a people and not the Japanese are just so many! All sorted equal and precise ... too ... and wherever you go everything is clean .. the street smoking is prohibited (except in the smoking area where you see dozens of people 'smoking' next to a single ashtray) and can not find a card for ground although there are litter boxes!
Businessmen all have their nice jacket and trousers and the inevitable case, all students in uniform ... too perfect ... and maybe it will be a whole appearance since then in the evening perfect these businessmen and many girls walking swaying from too much alcohol taken!