Two countries I wanted to travel before I die: Australia and Japan. My dream of traveling Japan became true in Summer 2014. I forgot the names of most places I have been to.
Therefore I would like to share a series of photographs I took from Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. The Land of the Rising Sun is one of my favourite countries.
Colourful, weird and lovely I highly recommend everyone to travel Japan.
Geishas, Kyoto. 2014
Tokyo
Tokyo is very expensive, back then my friend and I did a lot of CouchSurfing. We spent two weeks in Tokyo with the Lonely Planet Guide: Tokyo. My personal highlight: Hiking Mount Fuji and watching the sunrise on the top.
Welcome to Japan 🙂
On the bus to the city center of Japan
Buying a metro ticket in Tokyo
Random Shop
View over Tokyo
Tokyo
Millions of people are living in the metropolis Tokyo
Cinema in Akihabara? Perhaps the craziest area in Tokyo
Tokyo Street
Street of Tokyo
Arcarde Game
Impression
Temple festival?
Starting climbing Mount Fuji with stomach ache.
Hiking Fuji Mountain
Sunrise from Fuji Mountain
Sunrise starts
Sunrise.
On the top of Fuji Mountain
The active volcano, Fuji-san
Tokyo Station
Tokyo Girls in yukatas
History of Japan?
The small donut was so tasty!
I guess it was Akihabara in Tokyo
Paris or Tokyo?
View from Roppongi Hills
Pikachu Cafe, Roppongi
Menu from Pikachu Cafe
Is it a temple?
Art Museum
Does someone know where I am? Maybe, Tokyo Imperial Palace?
Street singers
Colourful as always.
Window fake food
More window fake food.
Tokyo Vibes
Where to go?
Shushi at Tsukiji Market
Temple in Tokyo
Ueno, my favourite area in Tokyo.
Random alley
Toy Story 3 pawns
Ferris Wheel in Tokyo
Tokyo Skytree Tower, low angle shot
Heights of Towers around the world.
Hi mate.
Hall of the traditional Tokyo Kabuki theater ‘Kabuki-za’ in Ginza
Tokyo is amazing in every way. At a shinto temple in Tokyo.
Kyoto
Kyoto was once the capital of Japan. Famous for their Buddhist temples, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and rich traditions, it is one of my favourite cities in Japan. My highlight: Geishas at Gion district. Guidebook: Lonely Planet (I hope I don’t mix up anything, if yes, let me know in the comments.)
Kyoto Tower in the background.
Small street in Kyoto
Crowded street
Shopping in Kyoto
Street Photography
Geishas
Hidden Temple
Girl with yukata
Kyoto Vibes
Drinks dispenser everywhere.
Fanta Grape. Always.
Tanuki, lucky charm.
It doesn’t look like that, but this watermelon is a fortune!
Please, no pictures.
Osaka
Osaka is a large port city. Later we took the ferry from Osaka to South Korea, Busan. It’s known for its modern architecture and nightlife. My highlights: Universal Studios Japan and the 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, the main historical landmark. My generous host’s mother and grandmother dressed me up in a traditional Kimono and organized a tea ceremony for me. Guidebook: Lonely Planet PS: Here again, if I made any mistakes about the locations, please let me know.
Tsutentaku Tower at night.
View from Tsutentaku Tower
Miniature from Old Japan
Not bad.
Having a night out in Osaka
Nearly empty.
Namba Dotonbori Hotel
Street Photography, Osaka or Kobe?
Indoor fishing?
Takoyaki party at Hitomi’s home (our host).
Entrance gate to Universal Studios Japan
Magic wands and Gryffindor cape
American buildings in Japan?
Theme Jurassic Park
Mel’s Drive-in
Wanna try Butterbeer?
Hogwarts
Honeydukes Candy
Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans
Zonko’s Joke Shop
Hitomi (my host) is fixing my Kimono
The end result.
Kobe
Only half an hour’s drive away from Osaka is Kobe, one of Japan’s ten largest cities. The important port city locates between the sea and the Rokko mountain range. More than 5000 people were killed in 1995 by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. But today the city is completely rebuilt and is considered as one of Japan’s most attractive cities. I didn’t try Kobe Beef, but if you eat meat – go for it and indulge yourself in this luxury expensive delicacy.
Unfortunately, we only spent one day in Kobe.
Kobe-Sannomiya Station, main railway terminal of Kobe.
Light of Hope, commemorating the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake
Memorial monument.
Cafe Fish, Kobe
Maritime museum
On the left: Port Tower.
On the right: Maritime Museum
Architecture
At the port of Kobe
The front gate of Chinatown in Kobe.
Chinatown in Kobe
Nara
Nara is an ancient city in Nara Prefecture and secretly my favourite city in Japan . The city has beautiful temples and artwork dating to the 8th century. Nara used to be the country’s first permanent capital.
My personal highlights: Deer roam freely in Nara Park. Nara’s deer are tame, but they can be a little bit aggressive if they think you will feed them. Deer crackers are for sale around the park.
Daibutsu, a 15m-high bronze Buddha, is displayed in Todaiji Temple. There is a huge pillar inside the temple hall and it has a hole near the floor. Allegedly, the size of the hole is equivalent with the nose hole of the Buddha statue. Once you go through the hole, you are healthy and happy in future life. Therefore, many people try to get through the hole.
Nara Park
A deer attempting to get the crackers of this man.
Lovely deer at Nara Park
Deer want to be your friends.
Todaiji Temple
Tōdai-ji’s 15m-high bronze Buddha.
Todaiji Temple Komokuten Statue
Trying to get through the nose hole of Buddha
I did it almost.
I got through the hole!
Deer Statue
Shades of Nara.
Japan is a pricy travel destination. But for me it is a must-visit-country and Japan didn’t disappoint me in anything.
The food was seductively delicious and mouth-watering.
Japanese people are shy, but indescribable friendly and helpful, maybe the friendliest folks I got to know.
Traveling Japan is easy and convenient, I wished I had more time in this country. One month was definitely not enough.
Japan’s beauty is difficult to describe, you have to visit the country to understand my excitement and love for the Land of the Rising Sun. My pictures above are just 30% of my impressions in Japan, but I hope to inspire you to visit stunning Japan.