I was nervous, even a little hesitant. As a little girl, I had passed through Tokyo many years ago. This metropolis with its futuristic existence had really intimidated me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel. My favorite part is how traveling pushes us beyond our comforts. But in this case, there was a lot to be pushed. A new language, new foods, the world’s most populated city with its daunting transportation system. To top it all off it was just the two of us on our own (No, we didn’t do travel tours – they seemed to be too structured for our comfort and freedom.) How would we ever navigate our way around?
My husband certainly did his homework before we left, and as for me, I just decided to jump in with both feet. Afterall, I was in the most trustworthy company. To my surprise, this incredible country of Japan grew on me instantly. Somehow the Japanese people have managed to take the traditional and futuristic, the swift and the calm, eastern and western, old and new, and have made it all work so impeccably. I honestly felt like the whole country functions in a meditative mode and life happens effortlessly and beautifully. I think this amazing place should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Here is our itinerary for Japan:
We had a total of 15 days. We chose to make Tokyo and Kyoto our base (6 days in Tokyo, one day in Hakone (Mt. Fuji), 7 days in Kyoto and then back to Tokyo to catch our flight). This worked extremely well and saved us a lot of time and effort.
Tokyo:
There is so much to do and explore in this beautiful city. Here are the places we visited and thoroughly enjoyed. I am sharing some of my favorite photos (sparingly). Japan is a photographer’s delight and we have a lot of photographs. These are some of my favorite.
Imperial Palace and Chidoriga-fuchi Park:
The palace with its magnificent grounds is truly grand and showcases the power of Imperial Japan. Spending the evening paddling through moat with the gorgeous cherry trees and romantic little boats was one of my favorite evenings in Japan. 
Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park:
With a large Torri Gate at the entrance (symbolize the separation of the sacred from the ordinary) this shrine encompasses 170 acres of evergreen forest. We were very intrigued by the barrels of wine on the opposite side of the sake barrels. “We’d like to think of Emperor Meiji, who promoted internationalization, and cherish the exchange with France while upholding Japanese traditions,” reads a sign outside the shrine. The country has certainly followed his vision.
Shinjuku station and Shinjuku and Shibuya District:
With its many restaurants, bars, and shopping this vibrant district is a tourist’s paradise. We found the Google App (and the reviews) to be so helpful in finding some of the best places. It never failed us.
Tokyo holds the world record for the city with the most Michelin Star restaurants. Our trip was so spontaneous that we decided to leave the booking for this till we reached Japan (some of these restaurants need booking months ahead). With the help of our hotel concierge, we were able to book Shinjuku Kappou Nakajima. What a delight! I am not very adventurous when it comes to food, and so, of course, have never been tempted to eat raw fish. I must confess the sashimi sushi was one of the finest foods I have ever had. Yes, I am hooked.
Kamakura (A day trip from Tokyo):
We traveled to Kamakura via train while making a few stops along the way. Our delicious lunch (I had Japanese Curry, while Ravi had a bowl full of ramen) was at a beautiful little restaurant overlooking the ocean.
This small city of Kamakura is so charming with many tourist attractions. The Tsurugaka Hachimangu shrine is simply beautiful. As we walked through the calm, quiet streets we realized this was not Tokyo and things closed sooner than we anticipated.
At this point, we hired a rickshaw so we could experience the rickshaw ride and also have a guide to show us rest of the attractions (two in one). The rickshaw operator was one of the most humble, respectful individuals we have ever met. Japanese people are so respectful, so this means a lot (more on this in my next post). He bowed to every elder that crossed his path, covered in sweat. At every stop sign, he would turn around and have a conversation with us. He made sure we saw everything worthwhile in time. At the end of it told us to pay him less because he felt he had to rush things. Of course, we would not accept this and on the contrary, paid him more for such an admirable attitude.
The best part of this area was the Enoden railway line. The Enoden is a streetcar that connects Kamakura with the surrounding areas. The third station on this line brought us to Kotokuin Temple and The Great Buddha.
The site of this bronze statue standing 11.5 meters tall is very humbling. I could feel the influence of this great man’s teaching on the beautiful Japanese culture. I wonder what keeps the rest of us from learning and adapting his path?
Sensoji-temple and the Nakamise Shopping Street:
Located in Asakusa District this is one of Tokyo’s oldest temples. I absolutely loved the small shops leading up to the temple. They were great for souvenir shopping. We also had the most delicious Raman in a small little restaurant here.
Shinjuku Gyoen Park:
We decided to visit this beautiful garden right in the center of all the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku District (very close to our hotel) for relaxation, and that meant no cameras. It was wonderful to see families together enjoying the traditional “Hanami” (family picnic under the cherry trees).
Hakone (Mt. Fuji):
From Tokyo, we took a train to Hakone. It started pouring rain as soon as we checked into our hotel (talk about perfect timing). Going to the Onsen (natural hot springs) at the Grand Prince Hotel was the perfect activity. It was such a wonderful experience sitting undercover in the open hot springs while watching the romantic rain.
We thought Mt. Fuji would never make an appearance with such clouds in the sky but I had faith. Sure enough the next morning the sun came out and there stood the majestic mountain. That afternoon we visited the Hakone Shrine on the shores of Lake Ashi.
From Hakone, we took the bullet train (Shinkansen Japanese high-speed trains reaching up 320 km/hr) to Kyoto. The train certainly lives up to its name.
Kyoto:
This city is a real charm. I am still processing and absorbing all that it has to offer. We could have easily spent another week here. Still, I am not sad that its over, I am glad it happened. And there is always room for a second visit.
Gion District:
Like every little girl, my fondest memories of childhood are those of playing dress up. This childlike enthusiasm and wonder are what made the adult in me so happy as I got to experience the grace and elegance of a kimono while walking through the very traditional streets of Gion District and particularly the Yasaka Shrine.
Gold Pavilion (Kinkaku-Ji) Shrine:
As you can see this shrine is absolutely beautiful, but I think even more beautiful are the gardens that surround these shrines and temples. The Japanese people have certainly perfected this art.
Arashiyama District and the Bamboo Grove:
The sun shining through the tall stalks of bamboo with winding pathways is an enchanting site. It is known to be one of the prettiest forests in the world and rightfully so. One has to stand here and experience it. Once again, there are lots of tourists so try and go early in the morning or later in the day.
The Sagano Scenic Railway’s romance car close to the Bamboo Grove is a perfect way to enjoy the natural beauty of this area.
Ninna-Ji Temple
This is one of the many World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, I shall let these speak for themselves.
Ryoan-Ji Temple:
We spent a couple of hours at this temple known for its famous rock garden. This is the first time I felt the calming effect of a rock garden. To just sit and observe… WOW.
Day Trip to Nara with a stopover at Inari Shrine:
We left early in the morning so we could beat the crowds at the Inari Shrine and also have ample time for both the places. Our purpose was well achieved. It was such a fun day.
All of the approximately 5000 vibrant, orange, winding Torri Gates seem endless and magical.
The Nara Deer Park is so delightful. Can you believe these deer bow to you before they ask for food? Yes, only in Japan. Oh, and the rest of Nara city is very lovely too. 
Hiroshima and Itsukushima Shrine – Day Trip from Kyoto:
We again took the bullet train and it was a very easy trip with plenty of time to enjoy both the places.
I was a little nervous and almost afraid of my own emotions while going to Hiroshima. The ability of these people to take a tragedy of this magnitude and accept it, learn from it and graciously move forward touched my soul beyond words. It turned out to be such an uplifting experience. I now have a deeper understanding of the love of peace and its prevalence in this beautiful culture.
From Hiroshima, we took a boat ride to the island of Miyajima. The iconic Torri Gate of this shrine stood tall welcoming all visitors. The absolutely stunning shrine and the torii fate are built over water. We got here in the early afternoon and stayed until late night. It was so mystical to watch the water level slowly ebb and flow. We just could not get enough of this place. I would highly recommend this day trip. 
Japan is one of the most epic trips we have taken so far. While traveling the Backwater of Kerala, India we had met this amazing, well-traveled British couple. They had literally traveled the world. When I asked what their favorite country to visit was they simultaneously replied Japan. They had already been twice and would go again. I am so grateful to these two souls and of course to my hubby who suggested we go for my birthday as it was the cherry blossom season.
Japan, I shall be back for more…and I still have so much more to share. Stay tuned for future posts on ‘”10 Reasons I Love Japan” and “5 Things You Must Do Before You Go”.
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