Japan Part 1

Wow, where to begin? I'm truly amazed by Japan! This country captivated me from the very beginning. It is full of aesthetics, with so much attention to detail, beautiful places, landscapes, the most polite people, and also many very crazy things 😉. I am fascinated by how strongly you can feel the extremes between tradition and modernity.

I'm sure that I enjoyed my first days in Japan so much because I was lucky enough to spend time with wonderful people.

Arriving in Osaka, Taka warmly welcomed me on the first evening. Taka lives here, studies English, works as a cook, and I met him in Taiwan during a guided tour. We had so much fun together with his friends during the three days in Osaka, and as a "local," he could show me the best places and restaurants.

We awakened my childhood memories when we played Mario Kart in one of Osaka's many arcades! My gaming heart was racing 🙈😁. We took photos in this crazy photo booth with Nana, where you get big eyes and perfect skin and look like you're 10. Apparently, that's the beauty ideal here.

These covered streets with arcades (Pachinko), restaurants, bright lights, music, anime stuff, and thousands of cosmetic stores were something completely new and funny for me when I arrived here. Overall, Osaka is more of a business metropolis. Without Taka, I probably wouldn't have found it so cool.

Together with Nana, we visited Japan's oldest temple, the Shitennoji Temple (593 AD), which has been mostly reconstructed due to destruction during the war.

Then we took a leisurely walk to Osaka Castle. A castle built by ruler Hideyoshi in the 16th century, which offers a beautiful view from the top. The museum showed a lot about the battles of the samurai and warfare at that time.

My first hostel experience in Japan was also something special! I have only experienced such a high standard of hygiene and aesthetic furnishings in Japan so far! The toilet and bath were cleaned every 10 minutes, as is customary in the country. Street shoes are taboo indoors, and there are separate slippers for the toilet so as not to "dirty" the others. And the best thing of all: the heated toilet seats!!! I need something like that at home! 😊 I haven't dared to press the other twenty buttons on the high-tech toilets with purely Japanese labels yet. 😂 Like I said: modern meets tradition. High-tech toilets on one side and traditional-style furnishings with Tatami mats and a fireplace on the other side...

Unfortunately, the time with Taka and co. was already over, and after our farewell, I took the Shinkansen train to Nara, which I visited with the lovely Lucia from Slovenia.

Nara was Japan's first capital in the 8th century AD and can be explored in one day due to its manageable size.

There, I immersed myself in the ancient world of Shinto shrines, garden landscapes, and temples. And the phenomenon in Japan is that every time you think: okay, it can't get any more beautiful... but then you discover a new temple and are amazed again! Every corner, every angle offers something new to admire.

Nara is also known for its tame deer that (unfortunately) are fed too much by tourists and have to serve for countless selfies..

Nevertheless, they have fit wonderfully into the moss-covered landscape.

The Todaiji-Ji was particularly beautiful, the largest wooden building in the world, which houses the largest bronze Buddha statue.

Unfortunately, we were quite cold and it was raining, but that didn't dampen the atmosphere in the parks.

The cherry blossoms can already be seen in some places. Many plum blossoms bloom earlier. 🌸🌸🌸

Next, I continued my journey with my now much too heavy backpack 🎒 to:

Kyoto.

Here, I didn't want to leave anymore.

Actually, I wasn't feeling so well after my arrival in Kyoto, I had a headache and was homesick... But then (fortunately) two Americans approached me in a café and lifted me out of my state with their positive and sympathetic attitude. We got along exceptionally well, so we spent the next 4 days together in Kyoto. Everything with Torrey and Nick was so uncomplicated, relaxed, and very, very fun; in contrast to some other people you meet while traveling...

The karaoke night was especially fun 😊!

Among other things, we visited the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, for which we got up very early to avoid the crowds. And it was worth it a thousand times! The shrine was definitely one of my favorites. And the peace and atmosphere while climbing the hill and walking through the thousands of orange-red "torii" gates were very meditative.

Kyoto had so many beautiful temples and shrines to offer, each with its own atmosphere. Many see Kyoto as the true heart of Japan because it was the capital and seat of the imperial residence from 794 to 1868.

We deliberately avoided the touristy places and discovered the more hidden but no less interesting spots.

The traditional Japanese tea ceremony we experienced together was particularly beautiful, as well as Arashiyama with the bamboo forest and the monkey trail and the dreamlike Zen temple Kennin-Ji (founded in 1202). 

After only 4 days in Kyoto, Torrey and Nick really grew on me, and saying goodbye was the hardest so far with all the travel companions. But that's what it's like when you're traveling. Sometimes it's easier, sometimes it's harder to say goodbye...

Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a smaller city in the northern central region of Japan, known for well-preserved Edo-era districts, traditional craftsmanship, one of Japan's most beautiful garden landscapes, and the samurai district. Oh, and everything related to gold, as over 90% of Japan's gold leaf is produced here. You could even buy ice cream with gold leaf and face masks made of gold leaf 🤦‍♀️. 

It was so peaceful and quiet here, with few tourists in total, and there were lovingly maintained gardens inviting you to take a stroll. 

Japan Part 2 is coming! 🖖

Thanks to all who actually read my blogs. It's actually quite a lot of work 😉.