Best of Japan

With a Lonely Planet guidebook in hand - Michael and I travelled to Japan in April 2012 for two weeks. With no real plan, we decided to just wing it and do whatever took our fancy. We started our adventure in Tokyo travelling by Shinkansen (the Bullet Train) to many fascinating destinations. We were lucky enough to catch the end of the cherry blossom season with the cherry blossoms adding vibrant colour to the landscape.

Kyoto:
A visit to Fushimi Inari-Taisha (the shrine gates) is a must see. The shrine sits at the base of the Inari mountain – Inari being the god of rice. The walk amongst the shrine gates takes about two hours. This place is popular so get there early so you don’t end up with lots of strangers in your photos.

Hiroshima – Peace Memorial Park:
The site of the world’s first atomic bomb attack is both an emotional and fascinating experience. A beautiful memorial which reminds us of the destructive power of nuclear weapons. A trip to Miyajima for a glance of the floating torii should also be added to this part of the trip.

Kagoshima:
A ferry ride from Kagoshima Port to Sakurajima is where you will find one of Japans most active volcanoes which erupts most days. Volcano ash can be seen in the streets and if the ash is heavy - the locals will shield themselves with umbrellas. But be we warned - research shows the volcano is due for a major eruption within the next 25years – so visit at your own risk!

Shakey’s Pizza Place – Tokyo:
If you survived Sakurajima, it’s now time to get some food. Shakey’s Pizza Place was a delightful surprise. Who would have thought you would find an all you can eat pizza buffet in Japan? The desert pizza made up of a mixture of peaches, chocolate and icing sugar was delicious.