Japan Travels

Japan is perhaps our favourite Asian destination. It is relatively smog free, the food is clean and healthy (no grubs, beetles, spiders etc.) although like most Asian foods it lacks "chew".

We backpacked throughout Japan using the "fast train" network, staying in smallish railway hotels & eating in non lavish restaurants. The rail system is excellent. The trains run frequently and on time - they are also very clean. To get the best price, you must purchase your 7 day rail pass outside the country.

Japan is expensive (avoid taxis at all costs), but it is manageable, provided one exercises care when selecting hotels & restaurants. If you get lost, the locals are very friendly and helpful - they love exercising their English.

The fast efficient Japanese Bullet Train (proper name is "shinkosan".

Below are some random photographs of Tokyo.

Maureen has a good knowledge of Japan as she worked there for small stints. We started in Tokyo & caught the fast train to Kyoto, which has lots to see, including an authentic Ghesia area.

From Kyoto we travelled to Nara (approx 1 hour in the fast train), an ancient city full of impressive temples.

A 3 hour train journey through impressive valleys, up the mountains took us to the small town called Takayama. This is a resort town and can be easily explored on foot. It has an "old town" full of narrow streets with traditional Japanese wooden buildings, and streams flowing through the streets.

Ogimachi......our next destination was reached by a 2 hour bus ride. Ogimachi an ancient village (pop.. 600), is further up into the mountains. It has two streets lined by wooden farm houses. Rice and hay are grown here. In winter it is covered in snow. The view from the mountain overlooking Ogimachi is similar to many mountain views in Switzerland.

3 hours from Kyoto, by fast train is Hiroshima........devestated by an atomic bomb in WW2. Some ruins remain and there is an excellent museum depicting the history of that fatefull day.