Tag: Japan

  • Bye bye bathing in hot sand. Hello Volcano!

    Bye bye bathing in hot sand. Hello Volcano!

    It is time to move on again. As less and less beer and alcohol was consumed in the course of the last days it was easier to get up to watch the sun rise. Those who had fallen ill the last days where in the mend as well. Someone forgot to tell this to the…

  • Day at a spa.

    Day at a spa.

    Today we mostly spent at a spa some way outside of town. Lucky for us we got a ride there with the hotel shuttle. This way we did not have to get there by public transport. As a result of the last taifun season part of the spa was damaged and we had to get…

  • Further on to Ibusuki

    Further on to Ibusuki

    Kagoshima was just a stop on our trip. The real goal was a ryokan in Ibusuki. To make it a bit lighter on the shoulders we left some of our luggage in the hotel and enjoyed a scenic trip with a local train line. The cab of the train looked ancient. But as trains were…

  • Travelling day. Flying to Kagoshima

    Travelling day. Flying to Kagoshima

    Todays order of business was to get from Naha to Kagoshima. Unfortunately the direct flights where all but booked out we are now on a connecting flight via Osaka. Yes back the same way we flew in. Just to fly back south again. But those are the ways of air travel. Some excitement was provided…

  • Okinawa – the last defense before the main land

    Okinawa – the last defense before the main land

    In WW II Okinawa was decided to be the foothold for the American invasion of Japan. Today’s trip was about the invasion of Okinawa and the effect this had on the civilians. Especially as the Japanese command had decided that everything that delays the enemy to reach the main land was a good fight. The…

  • Along the west coast of Okinawa

    Along the west coast of Okinawa

    Today’s trip reminded us about the impact of the US invasion of Japan. Okinawa in particular. The weather was great. Sunshine with a sprinkling of dark clouds accompanied by gusts of wind. The first stop was at Kakazu Takadai Park. The park was the location of a bunker overlooking a flat ground which was one…

  • Visiting Naha

    Visiting Naha

    The morning brought rain. And not just a small drissle but cats and dogs. Then it stopped and started pouring again. As we left the hotel at 9:30 it had stopped raining again. First stop was the prefecture building and city hall. City hall will be more important later in the day. If you enter…

  • Trip to Okinawa

    Trip to Okinawa

    Today not too much happened. Our goal was to change locations and get from Osaka to Okinawa. To do that we met up quite a bit later than usual and took the monorail to the airport. At security it was no problem to get food and (unopened) bottles through to your gate. And then something…

  • Arashiyama and Kyoto old Town

    Arashiyama and Kyoto old Town

    This time a bit later we started off to Arashiyama. Less for the shrines which are available in abundance but for the bamboo forest. So let’s try get onto a train on the second stop and find some seats because even though our train is an original express line it still takes quite a while…

  • Kyoto day one

    Kyoto day one

    Early day today and a forecast of sun, sun and sun again. Breakfast as usual hearty. Then taking the train to Kyoto. Here a short stop T a Konbini as two did sleep through the stop. (Happens if you have a train ride of almost 40 minutes. ) So late additions to the sugar storage…