Oh, Japan!

[majestic_duxk]

ok, let's see how quickly I can summarise three weeks!


I flew into Narita, and stayed at the airport hotel I stayed at last time with my parents (the Nikko Narita) and it is a great place. I like it because it has a 24h convenience store (although their chinese restaurant is AMAZING), and because they have good shuttle connections to the airport for an early flight.

The next day I flew to Fukuoka before making my way to Oita to stay with a friend. Now this friend I met in 2008 when me and one of my sisters were traveling. I... misled us, and we ended up up the hill in the middle of nowhere, when this Japanese lady stopped her car in the middle of the road and went "what are you dooooooing?" long story short, we ended up staying with her and have been friends ever since.

When I went, I thought I'd spend time at home while they worked, but they took time off for me! I helped a few hours at their english school, but oh my gosh! we went to their fave restaurants, went to African Safari (where I petted the dogs), had crepes, and just generally had an awesome time.



After that I headed to Miyajima. I think I've said a few times that while this was mainly visiting friends, I had a few things to tick off. Miyajima, and the bamboo gardens at arashiyama. and I added the shimanami kaido to that. And I managed them all!

Miyajima has the floating torii gates. I saw them during the day, and I almost didn't go down at night, since my legs freaking ACHED but I am glad I did! The shimanami kaido is a 75km bike track that joins shikoku to honshu, via six little islands in between. It rained on me. The whole time. I couldn't see any views. I got lost. three times. Even though the trail is marked on the ground. my bike was too small. my breaks didn't work. I gave up at 45km. And hells yeah! FOUND THOSE GARDENS. and it was still hard! like once you find it, fine, cool, but I dunno... I still walked to all the wrong places. And I got a train an hour in the wrong direction too. It was just one of those days :)





then it was to Toyama to stay with a uni friend who has now been in Japan for 8 years. Then Tokyo with another friend (who was there for a conference) where we ate delicious food AND lined up for it! an hour the first night, 45min the next day. had I been alone that would NOT have happened XD



Did I mention I went to La Rochelle, the Iron Chef French's restaurant?



My feet/ankles were pretty bad in Tokyo, but I rested up and was ready for adventures in Kyoto. ie those bamboo gardens which I have evaded me no longer. And I know it sounds like I am harping on, but I have been trying to find these bastards since 2008.



From Kyoto it was back to Tsukuba (where I used to live) and to my friend's house! They are heavily pregnant, and I thought there would lots of down time, writing time, but not so much XD we ate delicious food, and watched some movies, and started Fargo (which was excellently done, but I really didn't like it. REALLY DIDN'T LIKE IT. but if you like bloody psychological shows I recommend it).

and I FINALLY got to finish my art exchange! I sent it late, but my person was ok with that! (i'll post it in it's own post which I will make public).

Uhhhh... and then I went to England? I'm off to Portugal on Tuesday, (gosh, soon) but I think I'll have time to catch up on england tomorrow. :)

and that is the really quick summary of the three weeks in Japan XD

Comments

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

I read every word of this and looked over every photo with great interest. I could read and look at photos of Japan for hours upon hours. Thank you for this!! Your trip sounds like it was awesome. <3 I very much look forward to your England write-up! (And Portugal, perchance??)

[majestic-duxk.livejournal.com]

yes yes! I am actually going to try and stay on top of it all >_<

it takes more time than I thought to sit down and get/keep up to date.

and thank you for reading! (and yes!! so far it is amazing!)

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

Wow, awesome tales and photos! How cool these experiences would be! Your descriptions really make me want to visit Japan. Thanks for sharing this delightful travelogue.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I loved reading/looking through this. It may have been a swift (as far as you were concerned) round up of Japan but it felt like I was there, especially after our chat on Friday :D Thanks so much for sharing honey :D