Japan was our first “big trip”. We wanted to see as much as possible, towns, the ocean, mountains, historic sites. We travelled only by train, that are clean and in time. From the Japan consulate in Toronto we took a two weeks pass for the four of us, my wife, I and our two kids.
We started our trip in Tokyo.
The next day we travelled to Nikko to see the temples. From Nikko history: “Tokugawa Ieyasu (ruling from 1603 to 1605) was the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate and is credited with bringing 300 years of peace and stability to the country after a long period of regional conflict. “
The next day we travelled to Nikko to see the temples. From Nikko history: “Tokugawa Ieyasu (ruling from 1603 to 1605) was the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate and is credited with bringing 300 years of peace and stability to the country after a long period of regional conflict. “
Close to Nikko was a fall, and we were told it is the highest in Japan.
Our next stop was in Yamagata region where we stayed in a mountain resort.
The resort had a shuttle bus three times a day from the resort to the train station. So one day we took the train to Zao mountain.
Our next resort was at Toba.
The locals recommended swimming only at the resort pool. But we paid for a cab to drive to a beach, where he knew we could swim. It was no one there on the beach, and the water was not very clean. So, we understood, maybe too late, the recommendation.
We did not know how to go back, so, we stepped to the nearest resort and saw a shuttle ready to go to the train station, and from there, the plan was to take our shuttle to our resort. We climbed in that shuttle without asking permission. We saw 4-5 employees from the resort coming out, and we thought they will kick us out. But when the shuttle started, they all bowed toward us.
The next day, we took a ferry for fishermen since we wanted to visit a remote island. No one told us that it is not for tourists.
The next day, we took a ferry for fishermen since we wanted to visit a remote island. No one told us that it is not for tourists.
We reached an island where, my guess, many inhabitants never saw tourists . Whenever we approached, they entered their house. The island had about 2 km diameter.
We found a beach (of course, no one there) and used it for ourselves all day. The sea pushed some algae on the beach. A woman emerged from the forest, ran to pick it up, and ran back. It was so fast I could not take a picture of her.
On our way back, we crossed over the top of the hill, a bamboo forest. All villagers knew about us by now because when we crossed the settlement, they exited their homes, pointing desperately toward the lagune. Kind of, “Hurry up, the last boat to the main island will depart soon.” We knew that, but I liked them trying to help. I am sure the ferry would not have departed without us, the villagers would not let them.
Overall, I found the Japanese to be welcoming and friendly, and even in remote places they knew a functional English.
