Tripadeal package to Japan.
Day 1/2. Tokyo
Arrived at Narita airport, met up with Tripadeal rep and transported to hotel via coach. Hotel was about an hour from airport, so little late when we arrived and restaurant was closed. 1st of many visits to local convenience store for beer and snacks.
Next day was Tokyo city tour. Our guide was called Elsie, whose excellent English and great sense of humour would be with us for the rest of the trip. 1st Stop Imperial palace (only from the outside), then Meiii Jingu Temple (popular with courting couples and for weddings), then on to a trip up the Tokyo TV Tower for the views and a lunch stop (good noodles). Next was the famous Shibuya junction, which is just basically a very busy road crossing. Probably looks a lot better from above! Nearby was a statue of a famous dog, that used to keep coming to this spot, even after its owner had passed away! Final stop of the day was a market craft street leading to another temple (no piccies of that, as we left the bags and phone on the coach!). There was an option to be dropped off in town (near red light district) or stay on the coach back to hotel. Show of hands to get off – only ours went up, so waved the rest of the tour party goodbye for the night and headed for the nearest bar! Found a Japanese version of an English/Irish Pub, followed by a visit to a locals’ basement bar, then food at a nearby cafe. Then it was time to work out how to get the train back to the hotel. With the help of Google translate, and only one minor detour, it was back at the hotel just before midnight!
Day 3. Mount Fuji
After breakfast in the hotel (good breakfast curry), it was all aboard the coach to mount Fuji. The weather gods were on our side, and the predicted rain and cloud had cleared by the time we arrive at 5th Station (highest point that you can drive to). The summit is only visible for about 30% of the time, but luck was with us for the first hour or so, with good views of the snowcapped summit. Lunch at 5th Sation including Lava or Volcano bread (sweet sort of mango flavoured dryish sponge is the best I can describe). Post cards posted to the UK (not sure if they ever arrived). Then back down the mountain for a boat trip on Swan Lake. By now the summit had disappeared into the clouds, but the views around the lake were still good. Next stop Toyohashi for our next hotel. After a wander to a local back street bar (Honky Tonk), where we were on our own for much of the time (too early we guess), and we strained our limited Japanese to get some drinks, then wandered back to get some food. Local Ramen bar (Saporo Ramen), which looked like it had not changed in 50 years, and possible still had the original staff, was fantastic, although we did get lots of strange looks from the locals. Again, Google translate came to the rescue, and of course they had beer.
Day 4 Bamboo Forrest and more temples
After breakfast in the world’s biggest breakfast room, it was back on the coach to Arashiyama and the Bamboo Forest. The bamboo very impressive, but the crowds less so, so we escaped up the top of the path to come back around via the river, which was much quieter. Picked up a mixed selection of the local speciality of fried cheese kebabs and munched away in the train station foyer. Next stop – Golden Pavillion (as described), with very nice gardens and lots of Bonsai trees. Then on to Fushimi Inari and Mount Inari Temple complex. Bit of a slog uphill and once again a bit busy (but that’s Japan), The Thousand Tori Gates (did not count them) and a well-earned view from the top. Then on to Osaka for the next two nights.
Day 5/6 Osaka.
Favourite city of the trip. Funky food, funky bars, friendly people. Hotel was right in the middle of town, which was excellent (can be potluck with Tripadeal sometimes, but we were very lucky). Good hotel, with very small lifts! Rooms clean but small and no windows. First night was an orientation in Food Street and surrounds. Found a back street bar, (Bar Futagoya) overlooking the canal, and tried some local plum wine. Gave up our seats to allow a party of 20 Japanese office workers in, to then be bought Whiskey and attempt to have a brief chat with some very broken English. As previously mentioned very friendly. Dinner was in what appeared to be a 1980s goth night club, complete with very sticky floor. However, the food was superb, with Wiz trying the famous local “Okonomiyaki” (Cabbage Pancake). Next day was a free day in Osaka, so we joined a local “free” walking tour. Guide was excellent and quite funny. Local food market for lunch (Tako Yaki – Octopus balls) and eventually fetched up in a google recommended Craft Beer Bar. The guide was well worth the “optional” tip at the end and we would definitely recommend Osaka Free Walking Tours Then back to the hotel for a freshen up before heading out for a Wagyu Beef feast! Wagyu is Japanese for Beef, so that would be Beef Beef feast. Kobe is just a region, and has been hijacked to become the most expensive Wagyu, there is better Wagyu than just Kobe beef, try and find Matsusakagyu Yakiniku (or something like that) as alternative. Obligatory photo stop by the Glico Running man sign, then finished the night at an open-air bar next to the canal for people watching.
Day 7 Nara to Hamamatsu
Sad to leave Osaka, and hope to return one day. Next up Nara and the famous deer. Lots and lots of deer and lots and lots of stalls selling deer food (crackers). Don’t think they would ever go hungry! They are protected as a deity so no hunting allowed! Once through the deer, it was a walk around the Todai-Ji Shrine. This wooden built Buddhist Temple from 8th century AD, houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha (although I am sure there are a few other claims for that record), still very impressive. We did not try to squeeze through a hole in one of the supporting columns, but many others did. Next up was the very busy Kyoto and the Kiyomizu Dera Temple. Views from the top worth the long walk up and the treat of the apple and custard pie on the way back definitely worth it. Final stop for the day was the industrial city of Hamamatsu. Fairly standard but quite acceptable city high rise hotel. Went for an evening wander and found a good pub (The Lord Nelson), staffed by a Romanian girl with a fairly international clientele. After a few beers there, found a pop up restaurant in a sort of tent. Some of the English translations were amusing but as usual the food was excellent. Back to the pub for a night cap before bed.
Day 8 Hamamatsu to Tokyo
Final day of the tour. Back on the coach to catch the flight home, but first a stop at a green tea plantation. Quick look at the very neat rows of tea plants then the obligatory exit via the gift shop. The lemon tea was quite nice. The other stop was at a motorway services for lunch. Takeaway down stairs, but we opted for the very good full service restaurant upstairs. Normally order via the table Ipad, except full Japanese. Luckily had a very helpful waitress with a little english. Outside in the carpark was a ride out of loads of old 70s and 80s motorbikes which took me straight back to my mispent youth (most would be worth a fair bit back in Aus). Due to there being two flights for the group, it was an early drop off to Narita airport and then a fairly un-eventful flight home. Next time we visit, we will come armed with a 14 day rail pass and wing it, however as an intro to Japan, can highly recommend tripadeal and would use them again. Final shout out to our wonderful guide Elsie who made the whole trip really fun and informative (Angry Bento!). Until next time!
Tips and takaways.
Japan is generally very safe and quite friendly, although many Japanese are a little shy speaking english. Try a few words of Japanese to break the ice! Hello, please and thank you go a long way.
For Tripadeal trips – Tip your guide! Its part of their pay and is well documented by tripadeal, so price it in to the cost of trip. Our guide was more than worth it
Japan is busy (nearly everwhere), go with the flow.
Google translate is your friend.
Some toilets need an advanced degree in engineering to operate!
The Whiskey is good, but so is the beer. If you are a wine drinker, then you may be disapointed in some places, Plum wine good but not like grape based wines.
Trains are excellent, but not cheap, with the bullet trains very expensive but definitely an experience.
Convenience stores (Konbini) – sell pretty much everything, often open 24/7. Good for cheap beer and delicious snacks. Most common – FamilyMart, Lawson and the familiar 7-Eleven.