Return to JAPAN

Preparing for the second (business) trip to Japan is a little bit different than for the first one. You are now aware where you are going. You are going to another world, respectfully. 

Why Japan is a so unique country? Past, present and future are presented here at the same time. Ancient and new, traditional and modern are living together in perfect harmony. From tourism point of view, Japan is not the most popular destination because of the high price level. Its society and economy has one of the highest standard worldwide and possess exeptional natural and built places of interest. Here, things are working and they are working perfectly. Because when they are doing anything, they are doing till excellence, and not less. 

Since Tokyo is the most populous  city of the world with its 30 million citizens, it must work, they have to keep the rules strictly, otherwise it would became possessed with chaos. Although, Tokyo is overcrowded, it is undoubtedly clean, well-ordered and GREEN. People take care of each other, take care of themselves, of the tourists and of every little detail. They are wearing masks if they are ill which is self-evident. They are carrying sunshade not to expose themselves to sun even on a cloudy, partly sunny day inside Tokyo. They process all constructions on the quickest and cleanest way so that you hardly recognize it. They always prove to be very helpful in guiding or finding the right way. They never want to tell anybody "no".

It is also said to be a reversed world. Japanese people often eat their food cold and drink their wine hot. The center of the body is not the heart but the stomach. They start to count from the little finger  and laugh when they're sad. They take the shoes off first and not the coat. They grab the umbrella on the top when carrying and use their surname first, not their given name. They write from top to down or from right to left, their books start on the last page according to ours. They use EN (East North) and WS (West South) on the map, not NE and SW. The doctor gets his salary only if his patient is healthy.

Being familiar with the Tokyo Metro lines is a good thing that makes the beginner proud and makes the advanced say that it is so logical! This time I felt that I would stay much longer. Just to try how it feels to live there and to merge in this nice nation and try their lifestyle. I think I could. 

This time I managed to visit Nikko with the Toshogu Shrine which is a Shinto shrine from 1617, UNESCO World Heritage site. Enchanting place; torii, pagoda, karamons, Yomeimon, all leave you unwordly, no matter how big the crowd is around you. The Three Wise Monkeys (hear no evil, say no evil, see no evil) also can be seen here. This was followed by a traditional Japanese feast. 

More dishes, too many but little portions. I was undecided which one to eat first then I was suggested that it was up to me. Although, Japanese couisine is not my favourite, there are a couple of things to follow. A man from Singapore sat in front of me while eating whose son lives in Tokyo. 

The lunch was followed by the scenic Lake Chuzenji in Nikko Nat Park with its depth of 163 meters, created 20,000 years ago. (Here we could still see some cherry tree to blossom.) Next stop was the Kegon Falls with the height of 97 meters, was recognized as one of the "Eight Views" which best showed Japan and its culture in the Showa period. 

Tasting "Skyberry", visiting EDO Wonderland (Japanese cultural theme park) in Tochigi prefecture, seeing rice-swamps, walking in the Imperial Palace garden in Tokyo, seeing muscular rickshaw guys, seeing women dressed simply, comfortable but still elegant on the weekdays, in kimono on weekends,  seeing men dressed in white shirts demonstrating the term of white-collar workers, shopping, eating freshly served mochi in the market, meet Senjo-ji the ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa area again, buying sushi (bento) from the supermarket for much less money than in Hungary, yes, these all are made in Japan...  

I really had the plan to see the sunrise from Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest and most prominent mountain. Such experience in the country of the rising sun can make for lifelong memories. I made investigation just before departure and realized that such adventure is more difficult than I imagined. Firstly, the official climbing season is limited, lasts from July to August when the trails and mountain facilities are open. During this period the weather conditions are said to be stable, otherwise it is windy, snowy, icy and cold and climbing requires special equipment, warm clothes and you might suffer from altitude sickness. The 5th station is the last one that accessable by car/bus till 2300 m (already been there in 2013) and then there are different paths to choose to climb to the summit of 3776 meters on foot. My original plan was to start from here in the early evening, to climb up by night in the darkness so that I can reach the rising sun by 04:30 or so. Brave idea and definitely will be carried out another time, not alone, not within a frame of a business trip.

And of course, I still have a couple of plans what to see upon a next time visit if any: Ueno Zoo for giant pandas, Kyoto reached by Nozoumi shinkanzen, a sumo tournament in Tokyo, to walk in as many Japanese gardens as I can, possibly to try the Japanese home visit system.