Monthly Archives: May 2014

Thoughts on Japan

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I flew this morning on Peach into Seoul Incheon for my connecting flight later this evening to Bangkok. Last night I stayed in a business hotel and, as expected, their shuttle to the airport was very efficient.

People

Having spent a week in Japan, I really wish I had stayed longer.  I feel I have just scratched the surface of things to see and areas to visit.  But my favourite thing about Japan is the people.  Everyone that I met was so helpful and outgoing.  Even people that hardly spoke any English struggled through with hand gestures and pointing (and my terrible few phrases in Japanese) to help me get to where I was going.
In Kobe a sushi chef suggested sushi and sashimi for me since they did not have an English menu or any pictures.  All the while he took the opportunity to practice his English and learn about where I was from and where I had been in Japan.
The transportation was also amazing.  I think Japan may be the only country in the world that rivals Swiss rail! Everything departed and arrived on time and the Shinkensen was very fast.
Prices
Before I arrived I was somewhat concered about the cost.  Most people told me that Japan is very expensive.  While it is true that the Shinkensen is expensive, a rail pass can help to ease some of the cost.  
I found private rooms in hostels to be $35 – $40, a price similar to what you would pay in Canada.  A nice business hotel came in at $85. It was a small room but had everything you need.  
Food is very variable.  If you eat in local restaurants and eat Japanese food then I found it quite resonable.  I can easily eat lunch for under $10 and dinner for under $20, much less if you just wanted ramen.  Once you look for western food though, you should be prepared to pay double or more.
I think considering the standard of living in Japan, the prices are resonable.
So all things considered, I think I should plan a trip to go back.  I hear there is good skiing in the Winter!

Miyajima

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Hiroshima is close to some other interesting places in Japan, one of them is Miyajima.  It’s famous for its Tori, or gate that seems to be floating in the water at high tide.

To get there you can take a train and then a ferry, both of which are included if you have a JR rail pass. 
If you had no rail pass, you could take a ferry right from outside the memorial park in Hiroshima, it’s a bit more expensive, but much faster.
Besides the gate, there are a few temples and a mountain they you can either hike or take a cable car up.  I chose to hike it and there are awesome views from the top.  There is a little coffee shop on the top with resonable prices considering the location!
At low tide the gate appears to be stuck in mud, but you can walk around it at that point so you can get up close pictures.
There are a few pagodas on the island, but this was the tallest.  There was a small entrance fee to get into the temple and access the pagoda.

Hiroshima

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Hiroshima is quite a bit bigger than I expected.  As expected, though, it has lots of foreign tourists.

Most people come to see where the first atomic bomb was dropped.  Some of the buildings that survived the blast were left standing.  Even more have been repaired and are still in use.  There is a museum which describes the history of the war and the events that transpired here.  It is fairly graphic, but is a must see when in Hiroshima.
The museum is in the background and in the foreground is a flame that is said never to be extinguished until the last nuclear weapon in the world is dismantled.  The park here is quite nice with lots of places to sit and reflect.  It’s open 24 hours and it is well lit at night.