Birthday gift redeemed: Tokyo-Kyoto-Nagano-Tokyo mother-son program series well done, and so the eagerly desired trip came to reality. But be careful! Japan is infectious. I can declare my son was infected by Japan as well.
This is simply something different. Very easy to get
accustomed to the fact that everything works. Returning home you immediately
miss the whole and start to play with the idea of the next trip. Previously I
had the chance to visit the island country twice and told a lot to my elder son
about those trips in the past. He asked me a few days after we arrived home:
“Mom, how long does it usually take for you not to starve for it, again?” Yeah,
that’s the nice part. The enthusiasm never stops. His question plainly proves
his infection. That’s why I’m saying that Japan is infectious but mostly when
you have own experience with it.
10 days, 4 accommodations, several trains and bullet trains,
continuous map diving, amazing places and people wherever we go, whatever we
try – the essence of Japan is everywhere and in everything. And do you know what
gives its essence, what is the point? The unique harmony of tradition and
modernity based on deep respect, responsibility for the community, discipline,
constant pursuit of perfection. Not just a geographical place but a lifestyle
and a sense of life based on several pillars where quite contemplation and
bustling city life coexists.
Gratis: the Sakura festival had just begun during our visit (02-12/MAR). Arigatou gozaimasu!
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Traveling to
Japan is a good thing, traveling within Japan is even better. You can quickly
get used to the intricate Tokyo subway network, and you can get used to the
comfort, speed, accuracy, and safety of the shinkansen even sooner. The
"super express" or "bullet train" is the technological
symbol of modern Japan with a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h. The Nozomi
is the fastest of the trains (a good choice between Tokyo and Kyoto), but the
Hikari and Kodama are also top-notch. They are earthquake-proof; they stop
automatically in the event of a natural disaster. Their delays are extremely
rare, measured in seconds; if they are more than 5 minutes late, a lateness
certificate is issued, which in railway culture already belongs to the category
of shame. Disciplined passengers have 1 minute at the stops to get on and off.
Favorite: the
seats that can be rotated in different ways
Gratis: His
Majesty Fuji-san, visible only 70-80 days a year, showed us himself on our way
from Tokyo to Kyoto!
Kyoto or Tokyo?
If I look at it from a UNESCO World Heritage perspective, 17 of Japan's total 23
UNESCO sites are in Kyoto. For collectors (for me), this is a treasure trove, so
for me Kyoto takes the top spot.
Kinkaku-ji, also
known as the Golden Pavilion, is really made of gold! Its wooden facade is
covered in five layers of 24-carat gold foil. The use of gold is symbolic: it
cleanses the soul of negative thoughts about death.
Gratis: the
entrance ticket is also a blessing
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Arashiyama is a
wonderful place to spend a not-too-exhausting day. It's a good idea to arrive
early so you can stroll among the bamboo trees, which can grow up to 20 meters
tall, before the tourist crowds (but be aware of the signs warning of bears and wild pigs). While walking along the main street, you can taste all kinds of Japanese
delicacies, look around the gardens of temples, dress up as a geisha (or take
photos with them), sit on the riverbank, or even go boating - the backdrop
provided by the mountains will be picturesque in any case.
- Bamboo Grove
- Togetsu-kyo
Bridge
- Tenryu-ji
Temple
- Kimono Forest
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Fushimi Inari
Shrine in Kyoto is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. It is
famous for its thousands of vermilion-red torii gates that lead up the mountain
like a tunnel.
A torii is a
dividing line, a symbolic boundary between the ordinary and the otherworldly
worlds, between humans and gods. Founded in 711 (!), the site is the central
shrine of the god of business prosperity and rice cultivation.
Gratis: the
crowds run out by the end of the 2-3-hour hike to the mountaintop
Another place of
historical importance, although for this we have to travel further north, to
Nagano Prefecture: Edo-era Japan, NARAI-JUKU, the longest post town of
Nakasendo. While/after wandering the
streets, it's nice to sit down for a hot soba in a quaint traditional tiny
family restaurant. While waiting, the notebook on the table encourages you to
write anything you want.
We can find great
hiking trails (Nakasendo Trail, Torii Pass Hike), following that we can explore the Kiso
Valley.
Gratis: snowfall
+ the tourist crowds are completely gone here
Japan's National
Treasure: Matsumoto Castle
A medieval castle
built in the 1500s in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. It is one of the three
most beautiful castles in the country. It is also known as Crow Castle because
of its black walls. Every summer, the castle hosts the Taiko Drum Festival. (I
would love to see that one day!)
Tokyo Skytree is
a broadcasting tower (a farewell to Japan for us) and the tallest man-made
structure in Japan at 634 meters. Unfortunately, one of its elevators broke
down on February 26, 2026, leaving 20 visitors stranded for almost 6 hours.
Lucky us, that it did not happened during our visit.
