FUN-video: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Movie Trailer

April 26, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-video: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Movie Trailer 

FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! Part 2

April 26, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! Part 2 

Uniquely UNESCO & Totally Templed!

  • The big “trip attraction”… Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera…one of the 21 places vying for the New 7 Wonders of the World. We have now officially made it to 20 of them! Don’t think Timbuktu is ever gonna happen. Japan has 21 UNESCO World Heritage sites & we saw a total of 10. Plus we made it to a grand total of 17 Temples/Shrines.
  • We found Scottie, our travel agent at Experience Japan Travel, through Zicasso. He lives in Kyoto and is a Kiwi by birth. So know language barrier! He did a fabulous job of creating a customized itinerary based on our desires. He can be reached at scott@experiencetravel.com.

 

FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! “Cherry Fest”

April 26, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! “Cherry Fest” 

Cherry Blossoms are to Japan what Beer is to Germany…a reason to party! And “Cherry Fest” starts as soon as the first blossoms appear. They draw thousands of people who flock to parks, gardens, and riversides to eat, drink & be merry under the flowers.

Nice & sweet at just 14 days…we started & ended in Tokyo with visits to Yokahama, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Osaka, Himeji, Kyoto, Nara, Uji & Hakone.

FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Hakone

April 24, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Hakone 

  • Today’s Treat

…see Mt. Fuji via the local train…

…to the Hakone Cable Car…

…to the Hakone Ropeway…

…to the Pirate Ship Cruise.

Arrived to blustery wind & rain…

…so just not gonna happen!

  • Alternate Plan B

…take short 15 minute walk…

…to two temples…

…both closed…

…try one more another 10 minutes…

…spectacularly beautiful built into the mountain…

…with waterfalls on each side…

…but alas it too was closed.

  • Alternate Plan C

…booked a massage!

FUN-fact – When the wind blows…the spent cherry blossoms…mimic a snow flurry…as the petals flutter to the ground.

More FF – We were on our own without a guide the last 2 days and managed to get on & off all trains and get where we needed to go just fine!

FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Nara & Uji

April 21, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Nara & Uji 

Another Uniquely UNESCO day!

  • Kasuga-taisha…Shinto Shrine famous for its 3000 stone lanterns…

..that line its approaches & bronze lanterns that hang from its buildings…

…only lit twice a year… during festivals in February & August.

FUN-fact – The path to Kasuga Shrine passes through Deer Park where they are able to roam freely & are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods that inhabit the shrine and surrounding mountainous terrain.

  • Todaiji Temple… world’s largest wooden structure…

…built in 743 & houses the 49 foot gilt bronze Great Buddha…

…cast in 749…also the oldest & largest of its kind in the world…

…& loads more deer roaming the grounds.

  • Byodo-in…together with its garden…

…the temple represents the Pure Land Paradise…

…& was influential on later temple construction…initially built in 998…

…as a countryside retreat villa for a powerful politician…not as a temple.

  • Phoenix Hall constructed in 1053… named for its shape & two phoenix statues on roof…is featured on the back of the Japanese ten yen coin.
  • Uji City… famed for its green tea…sits between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto.

More FF – All three temples today were UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Early wisteria blooms at Byodo-in!

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