My first trip to Japan

What started out as a task on my Kettle List, has become part of my life plan! Here are a few of the highlights of my first trip to Japan.

My first trip to Japan was, bar none, the greatest holiday I have ever been on. Even now, I still haven’t completed my work through of the 800 plus photos and pieces of video footage I took (and YouTube didn’t help, killing off their easy to use editor!)

The completed videos and articles are added below, and I eventually hope to add to them, either by finally getting up to date with my editing or by visiting again and getting more pictures. My preference is for the second one, and as time passes, is far more likely.

Getting there

My post on packing and getting ready for my trip can be found here, including a link to my packing video. I think the way I packed all of my clothes into hand luggage was fairly impressive- although the ‘Heidi‘ method also proved very useful.

The flight itself was quite good, I drew the lucky straw and got to sit on my own between two strangers. My Mum had to sit with ‘the kids’ – the kids being my 18-year-old daughter Harri and her then-boyfriend Jack. (She is almost 21 now, and times change!)

I got to watch 3 films on the way, and cried during every one of them. If you get a chance to see ‘Kimi no Na wa’, I heartily recommend you do so – but bring tissues!

Kansai airport is located on a man-made island, just southwest of Osaka. We were able to get a train straight to Namba parks, where I would finally meet my friend Yumi in real life, after 2 years of Skyping and messages. Another train and a bus got us back to her house in Nara. Once there, we set up camp; we had made it to Japan.

Visiting Nara

Our first days out were in Yumi’s home town of Nara. It lies a train journey from both of the major tourist destinations of Osaka and Kyoto. If you are visiting the Kansai area, Nara is certainly worth the visit. Aside from its park and wildlife, there are a number of historic shrines and buildings, as well as great shops, restaurants and even an owl cafe.

This was one of my Mum’s favourite places in Japan; she loved the idea of bowing, polite deer, courteously asking for biscuits from you.

Tōdai-ji Complex

My trip to the Tōdai-ji complex included seeing the world’s largest bronze Buddha.  It was a great start to another of my Kettle List task: #35 -Visit 50 places of worship and afforded us some great photos.

Osaka

Yumi works in Osaka and makes the train journey to Japans 2nd largest city every day from Nara.  It is where I hope to eventually get a job as an English teacher, if at all possible, as I understand that it is a better idea for someone less fluent in Japanese – definitely me!- to stick to the larger cities until you have gained more knowledge and skills.

While we had been able to take a small look around the place when we first arrived at Namba Parks to wait for Yumi, it was on a return visit with our expert guide that we were able to really see things

We were able to dress up at Osaka Castle and get some cool shots of Harri and I in Japanese costume, while our visit to the food market saw us try ‘Takoyaki’ – Deep-fried Octopus.

I am optimistically considering this my first trip to Japan, as I have every intention of returning. Potentially with better Japanese language skills, and the ability to stay longer.