January16th
The trip was a complete success and don’t regret choosing how I traveled. There was the occasional time I felt a bit rushed and hoped to have at least stayed a bit longer, but this was I got a taste of everything. If I decided to return in the future, there is always the benefit of cheap travel within the continent if I’d like to revisit a certain area again.
There were a few places I’d like to revisit because I didn’t get enough time or just try a different season.
January15th
So here we are, last day in Japan! Can’t believe just 27 days ago I was on an airplane heading into Singapore and now I’ve covered 5 countries, 16 cities! It’s been a great experience but I’d like to mention how this non-stop traveling makes such an impact on your body. As tempting as laying around the hotel watching Japanese TV, my last day wasn’t going to be spent being lazy. Anyway, got dressed, grabbed another shot of caffeen and aimed to visit the Tsukiji Fish Market. Have I mentioned how 10 out of the 11 days have been sunny in Japan? Incredible!
January14th
Studio Ghibli, creators of many popular children’s Japanese anime movies and shorts such as; My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, opened it’s doors to the Ghibli museum in 2001. It’s a commercial museum located at the Inokashira Park in Mitaka, 40 minutes outside of Shinjuku. Entrance is strictly with advance purchase, exact date and time in mind aswell. For more information on how to purchase please click on the link http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ticket_information/
The 20 minute trek from the JR to the Museum though the city of Mitaka, take notice a surprising mix of Japanese and European influence. I say this because the ground work for most houses in Japan consist of clay and wood, yet here you come across houses and apartments that make use of stones/bricks and steel. Here’s an example; google maps is amazing for this! Pan 180 around on the first person view. Peaceful little city to walk through!
January13th
7 am, bright and early. I swing open the blinds and get another welcome surprise by a warm glow from a corner window in the hall. I crawl out on all fours, stand up and stretch out my limbs like a starfish. I’m out of the hive and ready to take on the day; but not after hitting the hot tubs with my capsule bunk buddies – naked.
I was changing hotels once again this morning, but this time to Shinjuku, where I am going stay for the remainder of my trip. I managed to book the last three nights online and was provided with some of the worst Japanese to English translated directions ever! Let’s just say after hauling my luggage in the wrong direction, over unpaved roads, pot-holes, up and down stair in the subways stations, I was absolutely finished with moving my stuff till it was time to go to the airport!
January11th
It was my 7th day here in Japan so it was also time say goodbye to the JR pass, but not before my last trip on it to the big city, Tokyo. For the next 5 days I’ll be spending it here in Tokyo before fling back to Vancouver. This was hardly enough time but this should give me enough time to at least soak my hands. The morning couldn’t have been any better and whether cold or snowy, this is the land of the rising sun! Caught some extra sleep before purchasing coffee from the vending machine and making my way to the station. While waiting for the train I saw first hand the speed of the fastest bullet train in Japan. The Nozomi ripped through the station going so fast I couldn’t even catch the front in focus. I read the Nozomi reaches top speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) and is able to cover a 515km trip from Tokyo and Osaka in only 2.5 hours. It’s to bad the Nozomi is the only JR daytime train service not covered by the Japan Rail Pass *sad face*.
So today’s schedule didn’t go according plan. I was suppose to arrive in Tokyo, lock up the luggage and make way to Kawaguchi lake. Imagine Shinjuku, the busiest station in Tokyo have all 350 lockers filled up and to that extent I wasn’t the only one experiencing this problem. I decided to depart for Kawaguchi with my luggage and hopefully find any unoccupied lockers there instead. Because of my late departure in the morning time was also the enemy. By the time I arrived at my last transfer to the lake the sun was already making it’s way over the horizon. I had to call off the trip and save it for another occasion in the next 5 days. The great lakes around Mt.Fuji was marked down as a priority for me and so others must be cut to make room.
