The Empire of the rising sun. Japan travel experience

Departure: Barcelona. Travelers: Me and my ... how much Yoli illusion accompanies us on our departure ... Japan! Stories, myths, stereotypes ... it does give first hand account of what is true and the only "popular belief". There is no way to know that touching with their hands ...

 

TOKYO

The arrival in Tokyo is the morning. Procedures for rapid approval and without costs. Strict controls and meticulous ... Even if a little tired and rintronati for the jet lag, we put ourselves immediately in search of an accommodation to take advantage of the day ...
Just a couple of tips:
1 - currency exchange at the airport: There are differences in the rates in the city.
2 - arrivals the opportunity to find accommodation in town and easy, quick and secure. Try the bench Welcome Inn Reservation Center.
3 - ... if you want to reach Tokyo by train the possibilities are many. Even economic ... (min.Y1000)
There system to Suzuki Ryokan, just to try typical local hotels, where two nice older ladies there accologono obviously without knowing a word of English ... and then you go ahead "arigato" all day. The Ryokan is one minute from the station Nippori, just 15 mins from Ueno. Y7000 for a double. Hygiene is not a problem, as in the rest of the country ...
The first day we dedicate to the visit of the nearby district of Ueno, a small oasis of cultural and natural heritage of the city. Passing through the Yanaka cemetery and the temple of Tennoji we are in the park of Ueno-Koen, where you can visit, in addition to the park is the Tokyo National Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Western Art and the Ueno Zoo ... the air Ueno is charming and incredibly quiet, so we do not yet realize that we are in a megalopolis of 18 million people ... but now, walking, we are to where Ameyoko "resist" one of the few markets in the still open in the city, the Market Arcade Yokocho we "suck" literally among the people ... but those are? ...
The next day we launch in the central part of the capital. First stop the Tokyo Imperial Palace, or rather the park surrounding it, given that the building is closed 363 days a year ... to see a multitude of workers involved in the conservation of the surrounding trees: there was hardly a tree, cutting leaves with nail scissors. All under a torrential rain ....
News practice in Japan in March is a cold dog. It rains 3 days to 4.
Then we move into the "close" Ginza district of inspiration business, where are the Tokyo Int Forum, called the "Dome", with its futuristic structure and the Sony Building, a dream that we can tap, for those who love technology ... and I have this "problem" (because, in this country a normal passion in this field becomes a problem ...) after visiting a couple of shops spread over 9 floors, all devoted to the subject, I decided to avoid them until the end of vacation ...
So we decide to end the day at Shinjuku, the famous area dotted by tall skyscrapers. At sunset the spectacle is assured and it is good then get lost in the nearby red light district (nothing to do with the western cities of the same name, here it feels more secure in your own home ...), where the wealthy Japanese after a long day of work to go spend some of Yens tantissimi in love hotels. The scenario is worthy of the set of Blade Runner: to see to believe.
Advice: eat can be quite economically, especially if you do in the many restaurants that dot all the stations of the city. Always choose those that exhibit the pictures of the dishes, unless you speak and read Japanese ...
Try the subway in Tokyo is an (expensive among others). If you are in a smaller station where their names are written in local characters ... good luck!
The last day in the Japanese capital leads to the discovery of Akihabara, an area totally dedicated to shopping in electronics stores. A real Arab suq but with colors and faces east. From experience the thrill of getting lost among the multitude of people running everywhere.
After a visit to Tokyo Bay, with its landscape characterized by the Rainbow Bridge and visit the magnificent temple of Zojo near-ji, where you can also see the Tokyo Tower.
The night we are nell'incredibile district of Shibuya. Lights, giant monitors, shops and the people most unthinkable in the streets. Everything has to leave the mouth open ... even the pedestrian crossing!
Tokyo is unimaginable if not views. A city of the future with skyscrapers, lights, tangles of roads and railways, but where it is easy to get lost between parks and "oasis" of incomparable beauty and tranquility where the forgetting of being in a megalopolis. And then cleaning, everywhere, is astonishing!

KYOTO

The visit Kyoto started well thanks to the fact that even if the trip in order to achieve it, moves before leaving. Finally climb on the famous Shinkansen, the bullet train!
Already the Central Station in Tokyo leaves speechless when they find "only" one of the 2 million passengers daily passes to its 2 million tracks ... ...
So sit on one of these trains seem fully to board a plane, with the only difference that here the first ever start on time. A delay of 2 minutes means that already monitors blink with large type and red. Same anxiety that people in Italy can breathe for a national tragedy ...
... And so in only 2h 30mins reach Kyoto ...
The old capital of Japan welcomes us with a cold temperature el'immensa futuristic central station and there a little disorienting to our arrival. But thanks to the ICT (touristic information center), located near the south of the station, we can get out "alive" ..
And after a long and exhausting walk in the cold we can find accommodation.
The Budget Inn hotel for three days and Tour Club for a further 2 (5 minutes away from each other and managed by the same person) will then reveal excellent for both rental and for value for money. Dormitorio pp Y2500 and Y8990 pr Double Room for something first and the second most economically.
We leave what remains of the day to begin to explore Kyoto and its many wonders ...
... So that at the end of the second day and after walking silometri we are fully satisfied of a thousand temples and monuments visas, not to miss: Kiyomizu-Dera, Ginkaku-Ji, Kinkaku-Ji (golden temple), Ryoan-Ji (garden rock) and Nishi Hongan-Ji ... but if you like you can see something different every day for a week!
Useful to the One Day Bus Pass for Y500. Perfect with their bus route numbers 100 and 102.
After a day what better than a little shopping? The best is in the Shijo and under its arcades.
Then use the days to follow as the basis for Kyoto by Shinkansen move to different destinations to visit in a trip in one day ...
... So that Kyoto and its incomparable artistic wonders never be forgotten by our minds and our hearts.

NARA

In 45 minutes by train, this time a commonplace "local", we arrive at Nara, the first capital of what was the Japanese empire.
A small town (according to Japanese standards 300,000 inhabitants is a small town) pretty, quiet, very pleasant.
Anything that draws the attention of a visitor is inside the walls of a huge park, the Isui-En Park, incredibly inhabited by thousands of deer in total freedom.
The useful ICT station will release maps and suggested itineraries.
We admire Kofuku-Ji, the five-storey pagoda, the huge door Toda-Ji Chu-Mon access templo Toda-Ji-Mon Nandai where the old wooden walls of more than 1300 years, it contained the largest bronze statue in world depicting the Buddha. The long walk (under a heavy snowfall among other things ...) will lead us then to the temples of Sangtsu-Do Hall and Kasuga Taisha, also known as a temple lanterns of 3000.

HIMEJI

Himeji to go for one reason: to admire what is considered the most beautiful castle in Japan.
And so it is.
Himeji is also easily visited in a single day. Via Shinkansen can be reached in about 2 hours, and the castle, the only attraction of the city, is located not more than 15 minutes walk from the station. View it is not impossible. Majestic white and is marked on each side of the city.
Admission is Y600 or you can 'opt for the "combo" castle gardens + kokoen for only Y720. A pleasant walk through geometric and beautiful gardens where they were the homes of the samurai is to be considered.
As for the castle a photo of the only external part that may not want to come to visit. Prevent!

HIROSHIMA

So we decide to conclude our tour of the rising sun always more to the south.
Hiroshima.
I believe there is no living creature on the planet who do not feel a shiver down my spine to hear pronounce the name. And then I do not think I need to explain it.
I did not know exactly what to expect from this city. To be honest, except for its unfortunate reputation, did not know anything about modern Hiroshima.
And like almost everything in Japan, too stunned to find myself still in a very modern metropolis, but where people seem to live at a pace much more calm and peaceful than in the rest of the country. The same people have called the city of peace. And past few hours I think that really is so ...
Stay at Aster Plaza Hiroshima Int Youth House, Western-style hotel next to the Peace Memorial Museum. Y3130 pp per night is the best price to be set.
Absolutely unmissable and unforgettable in its drama is the Peace Memorial Museum (entry Y50). There are no words to describe the horror that you can re-live within these walls ...
... And to leave out almost seems to breathe an air of different roads. You feel more part of this community ...
The adjacent Peace Memorial Park contains in itself: Cenotaph, flame of peace, children peace memorial, korean A-bomb memorial and the famous A-Bomb Dome.
Then walk throughout the city the chance to visit Hiroshima-Jo (the main castle) and the World Peace Memorial Cathedral.
... Never forget the shopping: Hon-dori Arcade area is the best!

The time of their return is approaching.
And in just 5 hours of Shinkansen, with a single exchange in Osaka, we cover the most of a thousand km which separate us from Tokyo ... and arrived in the capital already sadly we feel at home ...
What can we say about Japan? A pleasant surprise. Absolutely not expensive as you think, undoubtedly cold, and sure to be discovered day by day ... and the Japanese? Simply ... Japanese!