Japan Holiday

 

       Day 9.

    This morning we transferred to Kyoto-Shi station for another Bullet train ride to Hiroshima a journey 350 Kms and takes 1 hour 40 min.

 Hiroshima will be forever remember as the world’s first atomic bomb target.

 With the typhoon approaching our schedule was altered a little by going to Miyajima Island by ferry first with a quick visit to Itsukushima Shrine.

 As all ferry stopped at 12 00 because of the typhoon Trami we then went to lunch.

 After lunch we stopped at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum where we spent 2 hours before checking into our hotel and freshen up for dinner.

 

Our lunch being cooked in front of us is known as Niku-Tama-Soba.

Pre lunch drinks.

Len and the Nike-Tama-Soba cook.

Part of the Itsukushima Shrine.

A scene of a part of Hiroshima after the bomb.

Hiroshima Bay as the typhoon Trami approaches.

Sunset over Hiroshima as typhoon Trami passers.

Love

Len and  Val

 

Japan Holiday

 

        Day 8.

   We started the day with a visit to Kyotos Klyomizu Temple built in the 16th century 

Klyomizu Temple 

Then after lunch learn about traditional Japanese handcrafts such as origami and tea ceremony.

My origami frog.

Then for dinner it was to a local restaurant.

Love 

Len and Val 
, 

Japan Holiday

       Day 6.

After breakfast we traveled to the 5th station on Mt. Fuji stopping first at the Fuji San World Heritage Centre where it is a comprehensive 

Introduction to the nature, culture, history and ecology of Mt Fuji.

The first man to climb Mt. Fuji.

At station 5 Mt Fuji 

Mt.Fuji 

At the 5th station with Mt. Fuji in the background.

It was to lunch on the shores of Lake Yamanakako in the foothills on Mt. Fuji.

Lake Yamanakako 

Our next stop was Lyashi no Sato a replica village based on a former farming village which was destroyed by a landslide in 1966.

The houses here have traditional thatched roofs located on the western shores of Lake Saiko.

In front of a working water wheel and the Thatched roof house.

Some of the produce grown in the village.

Mt. Fuji in the background overlooking the village.

It was then back to our hotel Val and l then went for a short walk to Lake Motosuko which our hotel lover looks 

On the banks of Lake Motosuko.

Love

Len and Val 

  

Japan Holiday

         Day 5.

Today we traveled two hours north of Tokyo to the foothills of Mt. Fuji and the five lakes region which was formed volcanic eruptions.

And trying our hand at making traditional Japanese sofa noodles which became a part of our lunch

Preparing lunch.

After lunch we continue to Oshino Hakkai a scenic area full of crystal clear ponds created by Mount Fuji melting snow 

there was also a small museum Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokanis a traditional farmhouse.

And our hotel Motosu had accommodation with western and Japanese style rooms combined the choice was ours we choose western.

Love

Len and. Val

Japan Holiday

          Day 4.

 After breakfast our first stop was the Hamarikyu Garden for a leisurely walk around a Japanese style garden next to the mouth of the Sumida river.

Val in the Hamarikyu garden 

Part of the Hamarikyu gardens.

Black Pine tree.

Then onto our next stop Shinto Meiji Shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken.

Then it was lunch time at a rooftop restaurant and returning to our hotel driving by the Shibuya Scramble Crossing with the rest of the day off.

For dinner it was a cruise leisurely one hour cruise on Tokyo Bay.

Tokyo from the bay.

 Model of the ship we had dinner on.

Selection of the menu 

Another selection.

After a relaxing diner and cruise it was back to our hotel to pack our bags for tomorrow’s drive heading to Mt Fuji.

Love 

Len and Val.

Japan Holiday

            Day.3

          This morning was a little bit earlier start than yesterday we all met at 08 30 and our first stop was The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace 

           a cloud cover but still very humid .

A Bonsai pine tree thought to over 400 years old

Another old Bonsai 

A Spider Lily 

The accident stone wall of the Imperial Palace.

It was then to the Eno - Tokyo museum which 

Val lifting a ancient flag of shogun 

Len lifting the water barrels.

It was then a stop for lunch with another traditional Japanese food.

After lunch our next stop was the Sensoji Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple and the oldest in Tokyo which was originally founded 

in the 7th century. The temple adorns an image of the Buddhist Goddess Kannon who was said to have been rescued by two fishermen from the Sumida River in Tokyo.

The Sensoji Temple 

Len an Val with a young local in traditional dress

Two Drag Queens in traditional dress

Our next stop was the Tokyo Skytree the tallest structure in Japan and the tallest tower in the world,Tokyo Skytree is predominantly a television and radio broadcast tower and is earthquake resistant.

Tokyo

Tokyo from the Skytree.

Then back to our hotel to freshen up for dinner for a short 10 minute walk to our restaurant 

for dinner a traditional Japanese hot pot.

Beef,Pork,Chicken and vegetable hot pot

Len enjoying a tasty hot pot

Love 

Len and Val

Japan Holiday

  

          Day. 2

          After a good sleep in and just making breakfast my 15 minutes we set for a walk around the block but got only as

          far as the park on the conner where we came across all these young people dressed up as comic book super heroes 

          About 25000 to 3000 of them it happens every month in different parts of Tokyo.

Val and her new friends 

Then at 13 00 it was time to make our way to the Sumo wrestling grand final of the Tokyo masters it was a great experience 

e.

Sumo wrestlers being introduced 

Action in the ring

The looser is out of the ring.

Which resulted in a new Tokyo Masters Champion of that kind in 19 years.

Then it was back to our hotel to meet the rest of our group that we will be spending the next 11 days with.

Love

Len and Val

Japan Holiday

Day.1

After a two hour delay leaving Tullamarine due to technical fault it was a good flight to Tokyo 

It took one hour to get through customs and then a 90 minute drive to our hotel got to bed 23 45

Good nights sleep.

Love 

Len and Val