Since I mentioned it yesterday I have been thinking a lot more about my Japan trip as it is getting closer and closer. Yippee! I did a quick Google map of where we are going. The orange route line is just a rough idea – we will be traveling by train.
Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Naoshima -> Okayama -> Kagoshima -> Yakushima -> Fukuoka -> Tokyo
Does anyone have any tips about these places they want to share? We won’t have a great deal of time in each place so I am going to do quite a bit of forward planning of things that it would be nice to do and places that would be good to visit.
The origins of this trip are that I at first wanted to do some kind of grand adventure before my 30th birthday in December. I had thought about doing a cycling adventure in Japan. However the cycling part is now out as there are so many people coming with me! Of course Simon had to come too as he has never been to Japan and I wouldn’t want to go without him. And then my sister said that there was no way I was going to Japan without her (she hasn’t been back in 7 years). Then my father said he would be there for work reasons too and why don’t we do some traveling together (my dad is Japanese). THEN it turned out that my aunt (also Japanese) and uncle (German) would be there also on holiday. So the whole trip is turning from a small plan I had to have my nervous breakdown about becoming 30 (agh!) abroad into a happy crowd of people zooming all over the place by train. You won’t be able to move in Japan without running into my family ;)
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oh wow, that’s so exciting!! I’m envious of the amazing trip you’re going to have, and it’s so wonderful that you’ll do it just before you turn 30! Makes me wish I had done something like that before I turned 30 last December.
Yes I am so excited! Can’t wait :)
I’m sure you have most of it covered for kyoto but there’s a shop there called angers http://www.angers.jp/ that you HAVE to look up, it’s the best store I’ve ever been to. they sell great design from all over the world, I would have bought the whole shop if I could. I hope I can make it back there one day…
as for fearing your 30′s… don’t! it’s so much better on this side! I don’t miss my 20′s at all, life becomes so much easier once you cross that threshold, believe me!!
Oooh thank you for the tip! I will add it to my list, it sounds amazing. I am going to have to take an almost empty suitcase, I know I will want to bring so much back.
Thank you too for the comfort on turning 30, it seems such a big milestone :)
wow your travel plan sounds really exciting! and you are going to the best places in Japan! Naoshima is really fun and Kagoshima is a paradise! Sunset in Sakurajima is superb and the city called Ibusuki in Kagoshima is so wonderful it’s famous for “suna-mushi-furo” – the sand spa which you get buried in the steamy hot sand. It’s good but if you have some extra time around there i recommend you go to the onsen called “healthy land” it’s so far my best onsen experience! http://www.mapple.net/spots/G04601064102.htm
also i have the photos from naoshima and kagoshima here in my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikihiki/sets/72157618814864235/
Yay! Thank you for the tips, I am adding them to my list. Very helpful.
It was partly your photos that has got me going to Naoshima, I want to see that pumpkin!! :)
Are you going to Naoshima purely for Benesse Art Site? I’ve been thinking about visiting there forever now.
BTW, I know the panic. I’ve been there. But there is absolutely no reason for you to have a nervous breakdown about turning 30.
Yes we are going for the Art Site, I am so curious about it. We are staying overnight at the museum, it is a bit pricy but seems worth it.
Thank you, I hope I will be ok and not have a beakdown :) I am trying to prepare myself in advance so that on my actual birthday I will not be too crazy.
I love Kyoto and would love to go back. Oh the food!
If you happen to be there the 21st the Toji temple flea market is great.
Everything and anything under the sun. For example I bought beautiful kimono fabrics.
We won’t be there on the 21st unfortunately but thank you for the tip, I will keep it in mind for next time :)
Wow, that’s going to be amazing! I’ve never been there and have no tips, but I look forward to reading all about it :)
Thank you, I am so excited to go! I hope that on Yakushima we will be able to do a little bike riding also ;)
hi alice! thank you for the friendly visit and comment :) wow, how exciting! i can’t wait to see the pictures and read about your adventure. you have a lovely blog. i will be back for a closer look!
hi again!
you might have already got it on your plans, but do make sure to experience the James Turrel’s Open Sky Night programme at the Chichu museum it’s really great not just the programme itself but also you get to see the museum at night time which looks totally different. you will need to book it in advance but you can do it online here : http://www.yoyaku-chichu.jp/e/
This sounds interesting, I know we have booked something on the island, I think we are staying at Benesse House. I am going to speak to the others about this.
Thank you very much for the tip!
i agree with hiki-san. the sand spa in ibusuki is pretty amazing. i didn’t get to go this time, but i went there years ago and it was niiice :) in kagoshima, i hope you get to enjoy all of the snacks they make with sweet potatoes. karukan is a little expensive, but yummy. oh and sweet potato ice cream…lots and lots of good stuff!
Thank you for the tips! Ah wow I love the idea of sweet potato ice cream – I will look out for it.
I am so glad that people seem to think that we are going to good places :D
Sounds amazing, how much time will you have in each location? I’ve never been anywhere else except for Tokyo so I don’t have many tips.
Some places we are having quite a quick visit – I think we only have one night each in Okayama and Kagoshima city and Naoshima. Otherwise it is a couple of nights at each place. We should have a fair bit of time in Tokyo at the start of the trip and end as we need to visit relations and also pay respects at the family burial ground and that sort of thing. Also not to forget shopping in Tokyo. I am going to bring as empty a suitcase as possible :)
that sounds like an amazing trip. japan is definitely on my to-do list, soon after i get back to europe.
my best friend is in japan right now and i am living vicariously through her photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollyannsibley/collections/72157622376944748/
i can’t wait to see what photos you take!
p.s. i am really enjoying your blog!