8-Day Japan Trip

Finally, after going through a complicated approval process, I'm going to Japan.

Following the East Japan Holiday 8-day all-inclusive tour, alright, here we go. The flight was a little after 8 am on May 13. We arrived at Toyama Airport a little after 11 am local time. The airport was very small. Going through customs was quite troublesome—fingerprints and photos. Fortunately, there weren't many people, so we passed through quickly. Our bus could seat over 40 people; it was very large and very clean. Our driver was an elderly gentleman, very neat and kind, and would greet you whenever he saw you.

First stop, we went to the Gassho-zukuri village. They live deep in the mountains. The houses are entirely handmade without using a single nail. Truly amazing. When a family builds a house, the whole village comes to help. Few Chinese tour groups arrange this attraction. We went to the home of the village head. It was a very old wooden house. The village head sat by the fire, wearing traditional clothing, and explained the history of the village, as well as the structure and principles of the houses. After the explanation, he performed a traditional local dance, the Kogiriko folk song. Accompanied by the ancient and monotonous sound of the instrument, he held a local traditional instrument and danced. Everyone started snapping photos and recording. There was also a small shop on the first floor, actually just one clerk managing two counters filled with small local Japanese items. Everyone felt a sense of novelty and stopped to look. Leaving the village head's house, I have to mention their restroom—it was so clean, with a small flower vase as decoration. The guide told us that very few people maintain it, but because everyone is very careful, it stays well-maintained. At the entrance, there was a small general store with very fitting decorations. We bought a matcha ice cream; it was rich and delicious.

Next, we went to the famous Kenroku-en Garden. Due to time constraints, we only saw a small part of it. We saw many students and local company employees entering the garden, probably for school trips or company events. Kenroku-en is like a giant bonsai; many places were meticulously arranged and trimmed. You could take good photos from every angle. Leaving the garden, we went to Higashi Chaya District. By then it was getting dark and a little rainy, so the street was somewhat quiet, but the shops on both sides were still open. We looked at a few accessory shops; the hair ornaments made of paper and curtains were really ingenious and exquisite. Since there were no geishas coming and going, I just took a photo in front of a tea house to console myself. Haha... In the evening, we went to Nagamachi Samurai District. It was a samurai residence. Since we couldn't enter, we only looked at the exterior. It was located on a very quiet small street, quite large, with yellow walls enclosing the old garden. Very serene. Dinner was a set meal; the oil mackerel sashimi was delicious, melting in the mouth. We stayed at Kanazawa Hotel. The room was compact but very clean. Arriving in Japan for the first time felt very fresh. Apart from strolling around, we noticed that the food streets were open until 10 pm, but the department stores closed at 8 pm. In the evening, we saw that sashimi and set meals were heavily discounted. Since we were too full, we just swallowed our saliva and left. The food looked really fresh; it made my mouth water.

Day two: hotel buffet breakfast, Japanese and Western style—bread, rice, miso soup, vegetables, fruit, milk, juice, very abundant. We drove to Kyoto to visit the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple. The entrance was bustling with people, many tour groups, and many locals. We also encountered several groups of students on school trips, led by teachers, visiting in an orderly manner. Having just returned from Mount Wutai, gold didn't excite me much. Another ice cream—this time a bit sweet... At noon, we went to Nishijin Textile Center. Wow, there were a lot of children there again, and many tour groups. The center sells items related to kimonos and also rents them out. 3600 yen per day. Models displayed many beautiful kimonos. We took tons of photos. Lunch was at a restaurant next to the center. Then we went to Heian Shrine. We washed our hands in the pond at the entrance, as if it would bring good luck. This is an imperial shrine, backed by mountains. Many areas are not open to the public. There were many local Japanese people, and you could draw fortunes. The surrounding scenery was very beautiful, with locals walking their dogs from time to time. It seems there are many dog lovers in Japan too. In the evening, we went to a large shopping mall nearby for dinner, passing by a local bar street. It looked a bit like stilt houses built along the river, very pretty. Everyone seemed very relaxed. Dinner was a Chinese buffet. Haha, Japanese-style. In the evening, we stayed at a hotel in downtown Osaka. Oh, here department stores also close at 8 pm, but there is a lot of entertainment. At night, we saw that all-you-can-eat自助餐 was only 1500 yen after 11 pm. Unfortunately, we were full, so we could only sigh with envy. The people in Osaka were indeed very fashionable; you could see men and women wearing makeup everywhere. The central streets were well-connected. The subway was like a maze. We went to a drugstore and bought some things. The shop owner was very polite. My roommate was very interested in their kimono-style pajamas and took lots of photos.

Day three: After buffet breakfast, we went to Osaka Castle but didn't go up to the donjon. The place was very scenic, with a wide moat, and many tour groups. It's hard to imagine they buried things underground to be retrieved 500 years later for future generations. Interesting. We saw a very interesting old man resting leisurely with his parrot. Dogs of all kinds were around—a feast for the eyes. We didn't see cherry blossoms, but we saw the trees. Then we set off for the famous Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi area. Wow, fashionable people gathered, tour groups gathered, locals gathered. Drugstores were crowded. Food shops were crowded. Electronics stores were crowded. Very lively. No matter how much time, it's never enough. I'm a shopaholic. I want to shop... No choice, suppressed. Next time I must shop to my heart's content. 1.5 hours... not enough... We had a sushi set meal at a Japanese restaurant. It was delicious, finished in 15 minutes to shop more. Next, we went to Toshodai-ji Temple in Nara. This was also a distinctive itinerary that few Chinese tour groups do. A very beautiful and ancient building. I recommend the yuzu and mandarin fruit wine sold there. Very tasty, local specialty. After leaving Nara, we never saw it anywhere else. 1470 yen. Special mention: there is a very old wooden sculpture in the temple. Finally, we went to Nara Park. Oh, what a wonderful place. Many deer, not afraid of people at all, begging for crackers. Todai-ji Temple there was also bustling with worshippers and visitors. Many tour groups too. In the evening, we had a barbecue buffet. Oh, it was pretty good, especially for meat lovers. We stayed at the airport hotel, which was quite new and by the sea. The breakfast buffet品种 was average.

Day four: In the morning, we went to Heiwa Park, which is said to offer a full view of Mount Fuji, but there was fog that day, so we didn't see it. Saw many tour groups; it's also a famous spot. We drove through the mountains; the scenery on both sides was nice. Next, we went to Owakudani Valley. The sulfur smell was very strong. They also sell longevity black eggs, 500 yen for 50. It's said that eating one adds 7 years to your life. Not interested. There was an aerial line carrying baskets of eggs to soak in the sulfur water. There were tons of tour groups—European, American, Korean, and local Japanese. Haha, very popular. My roommate saw a Hello Kitty at the entrance of a small shop and took tons of photos. Lunch was at a restaurant near Mount Fuji. Many tour groups. Next, we went to Lake Ashi. This lake holds great significance for the Japanese people. The water was very clear. The carp gathered as soon as they saw people, not afraid at all. We rushed and finally entered the Mount Fuji scenic area at 5 pm. Luckily, we could go up to the highest point, the 5th Station. To be honest, Mount Fuji looks better from a distance. Haha, up close, it's just like that. But since we arrived after 5 pm and the sun was about to set, we saw the sunset glow reflected on the sea of clouds from Mount Fuji. It was a different feeling. Worth it, but it was very windy and cold on the mountain. 30 minutes froze me. Local Japanese people parked their cars and stayed inside to watch the sunset. Smart. We were in a large bus, so no choice. In the evening, we stayed at a hot spring hotel at the entrance of Lake Kawaguchi. Beautiful is the word. The hot spring hotel was much bigger than the business hotels we stayed in the previous two days. The window faced Mount Fuji. At night, Mount Fuji, adorned with lights, became dreamy and alluring. The advantage of a hot spring hotel is that you can walk around in yukata. Yeah! Wearing the yukata for the buffet dinner was enjoyable. The variety of food was great. After dinner, we took a walk and discovered that this area is full of such hot spring hotels. We went to soak in the hot spring, following Japanese customs: wash clean, then soak in the large pool to relax. Outside, there was a small pool where we could soak and look at Lake Kawaguchi across the way. This must be what happiness feels like. Another great thing about hot spring hotels is that many brands put their products in the bathroom for guests to use. If you like them, you can buy them directly at the hotel's small shop.

Day five: Early morning, I took photos of Lake Kawaguchi in the morning and the reflection of Mount Fuji. Beautiful, in one word. After buffet breakfast, we set off for Yokohama, visiting Minato Mirai 21, Yamashita Park, and Chinatown. Lunch in Chinatown, Chinese food, round table. In the afternoon, we visited the Imperial Palace's Nijubashi Bridge. The sun was huge and extremely hot. I imagined how the poor emperor can't just come out casually, sighing that being an emperor isn't easy. Then we went to the famous Senso-ji Temple. It's a gathering place for small goods. A must-visit for many tour groups. A bit like our Chenghuang Temple in Shanghai. We bought ningyoyaki, took a few photos, but time was too short. We left, saying we'll come back next time. In the evening, we went to Tokyo. At sunset, we had a buffet at a place with a view of Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge. We encountered another group of students. Haha, we kept running into them. In the evening, we stayed in Odaiba, with a view of Tokyo Tower. The area seemed lively, but we were too tired to go out, so I don't know.

Day six: After a hearty breakfast, we set off for Akihabara, the hub of all kinds of electronics. Then we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku for a visit. My roommate found a fun thing: a machine that puts your photo onto a keychain doll. Next, we went to the busiest commercial street, Shinjuku district. The entire street was lined with big-name brands, similar to Huaihai Road in Shanghai. People were dressed in suits and ties. Occasionally, we saw one or two wealthy ladies in expensive kimonos. There was a Fancl event, and everyone bought a lot. In the evening, we stayed at the Nagano Kurobe Tateyama Hot Spring Hotel, a family-style hotel with few staff but everything in order. On the way, we saw late-blooming cherry blossoms. Though not many, they were beautiful. When we saw our room, everyone cheered. The Japanese-style room was not only large but also well-decorated and very beautiful. Let me use the word beautiful—it really was, with a good layout, facing an apple orchard across the way, full of small white blossoms against the green valley. Very beautiful. At dinner, everyone appeared in yukata. A set meal of about 13 dishes arrived, colorful and very appetizing. And it turned out to be delicious. After dinner, we took a walk and took a few more photos of the Japanese-style hotel. When we went to soak in the hot spring, we found that because it was in the suburbs, the outdoor bath was quite large, surrounded by flowers and plants, creating a garden view. Very beautiful.

Day seven: Woke up early and had a set meal for breakfast. It was the first time I had a set meal for breakfast, but it tasted good. After soaking in the hot spring, feeling refreshed, I took some photos of the late cherry blossoms, and then we set off for Tateyama to see the snow walls. This is a unique activity. Few Chinese tour groups organize it. We put on thick clothes and arrived at Tateyama. We changed six different means of transportation along the way. First, we took a vehicle to Kurobe Dam. The dam water was emerald green, contrasting with the snow-covered mountains, very dazzling. The weather wasn't good; it started to rain heavily. We stopped at a few viewpoints for photos and then went to lunch. After lunch, we arrived at the entrance of the snow walls. Wow, what heavy rain! My Arc'teryx jacket was put to the test. I suggest that if you encounter such weather, you must cover yourself well from head to toe. An umbrella is useless because the wind and rain mean rain doesn't fall vertically but hits you at a 70-80 degree angle. Only waterproof jackets and pants work. After seeing the snow walls, we started descending. The mountain was rich in vegetation. It took about 50 minutes to reach the ground. We took a cable car to Toyama Prefecture. At Tateyama, you must buy the star-brand empty milk almonds. They taste great, but cash only, no credit card. 1050 yen. Definitely buy them, because you won't find them anywhere else. In the evening, barbecue buffet, stayed in central Toyama, opposite the Toyama History Museum. Their local nightlife was also quite rich; the bar street was bustling.

Day eight: In the morning, we went to a large supermarket to do some last-minute shopping, then headed directly to the airport. Airport security was strict. I suggest checking as much luggage as possible to avoid trouble. The airport duty-free shop was very small; you can buy some small items there. The lunch on the return flight was pretty good. In the afternoon, we returned to our warm home.