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Japan

Arashiyama Bamboo forest

The morning began with a bus ride to Arashiyama which is located on the western outskirts of Kyoto. It is a historic district known for its natural beauty, mountain scenery, temples, river views, and, of course, the famous Bamboo Grove.

We began with a relaxing walk through the pathways leading to the Bamboo grove. 

It was beautiful seeing the cherry trees in bloom and the lush greenery of the area.


We came to a pond with a brass frog sitting in the centre.

The superstition is that a tossed coin that lands on the Frog will bring you luck. So of course Shelley tried her luck and came close. 

Shelley tossing a coin in the pond

The highlight of our day was walking through the famous bamboo grove. The bamboo trees were spectacular and very impressive. They stretched endlessly into the sky, creaking softly as the wind moved through the stalks.

Even with other visitors around us, there were moments where everything felt surprisingly quiet and peaceful. The air seemed fresh and clean. We later learned that the bamboo groove releases 35% more oxygen than any tree in the world. 

We took our time exploring the pathways, stopping to take photos and simply soak in the moment. Looking up was surreal. the way the bamboo trees seemed to stretch endlessly towards the sky.


It was amazing to learn about the bamboo tree and some of the unique features it has. They are the fastest growing plant in the world. It was hard to believe that they can grow up to  47 inches in only 24 hours.  Apparently each line on the trunk of the bamboo tree represents one days growth. 

A new bamboo shoot reaches its full height in less than a year. and some  bamboo species can grow up to 150 feet.

After walking through the groove and experiencing the beauty of these trees. We wandered through the surrounding town and discovered charming little streets filled with shops, and traditional storefronts. What made the day so special wasn’t just the bamboo forest itself, but the overall atmosphere of the area. Arashiyama felt uniquely Japanese and incredibly peaceful.

“Shinrin-yoku”

Japan

Visiting Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō and The Great Temple

We went to visit the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō at Tōdai ji which was quite something to see. The day was a bit wet with on and off light rain  showers.

Shelley at the front of the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō bronze Lantern
The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō

The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō is located in front of the Great Buddha Hall.  The ancient octagonal bronze lantern dates back to the 8th century, making it over 1,250 years old. It was created during the founding era of Tōdai-ji, around the same time  as the temple.

Ray and Shelley in front of the Buddha Temple

We went inside the temple and the Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),  loomed in front of us. It is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

The Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),

The Buddha rises about 15 meters (49 feet) tall, weighs roughly 500 tons, and sits within the huge Great Buddha Hall. 

 

The photos don’t reflect the scale. The Buddha’s sheer size of the statue makes you feel small. 

We walked around the temple looking at the Buddha and other buddha idols from different angles. 

Outside of the temple is a small wooden Buddha and it was being touched by some of the visitors. We went over to check it out. 

Wooden buddha

The wooden buddha is called the Pindola and he was one of the disciples of Buddha. It is believed in Japan that when you rub a part of wooden Pindola and then rub the same part on you. That injured or troubled area of your own body will bring healing. So of course Ray had to try it.

Ray’s knee has never felt better since.

時は矢のごとく過ぎ去る。

Japan

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called the Carp Castle, was originally built in 1591 but was destroyed in the atomic bomb of 1945. It was later rebuilt in 1958 as a complete replica of the original.

Hiroshima Castle located in the heart of Hiroshima

The castle is surrounded by a moat which makes it a buffer to the hustle and noise of the city.

Walking across the bridge into the castle felt a little like walking from the city into the past.  

Bridge leading in the Castle

There were several things that really stood out for us. As we walked along a path towards the Castle there was twisted tree which had a plaque. We stoped to discover that this tree had survived the Atomic Bomb of 1945.

Tree that survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima 1945

We could see the castle on the hilltop which was quite stunning to see with the cherry trees in bloom at the base of the hill.

Hiroshima Castle

We walked up the hill to the castle and admired the details of its reconstruction. It looked like it had been there for centuries. 

We walked around the castle admiring the architecture and design. We eventually came to the temple area. 

entrance area to the Temple

We did not go into the temple but looking in we could see the ornate design and beauty of it. 

View of the interior of the Temple

It was an enjoyable day exploring the castle and the weather was perfect.  

戦争の灰の中から生まれ変わり、平和を尊ぶ

Japan

Wandering Dotonbori District, A Perfect Afternoon

We spent an afternoon wandering through the Dotonbori area of Osaka Japan. It is a vibrant area with food and restaurant shops and it actually felt like we were stepping into a living postcard. The shops and stores all had unique signs and vibrant colours.

Shelley and I set out without much of a plan, we just wandered the narrow streets of the district.  The streets were vibrant with bright creative signs overhead, lots of locals and tourist weaving past one another.

The vendors shouting and calling out trying to entice you to buy their food. We took our time, letting ourselves get pleasantly lost among the narrow side streets and bustling main paths. Of course, it wasn’t long before we decided to sample one of the local foods called Takoyaki.

They make different types of Takoyaki which is a popular Japanese street food. It is generally made of small, round balls of batter filled with diced pieces of octopus or other fish. We bought the traditional Takoyaki with octopus to try.

Shelley having some Takoyaki

We continued exploring and looking at all the different signs and advertising. Some of the signs were three-dimensional and very creative. There were everything from dragons, octopus and crabs to other unique signs.


At one point, needing a bit of a break, we found a small outside bar tucked away along the Tonbori River.

Tonbori River in Osaka

It was the perfect spot for us, we could relax but still watch all the people and excitement of the area.

We grabbed a couple of drinks and sat for a while, watching the tour boats go by on the water.

One of the many different tour boats on the Tonbori  River

Each tour boat was unique and everyone would wave to all the people on the banks of the river.  After resting up we slowly made our way back towards our hotel.  The Dotonbori district was more than we expected  and we had a great afternoon exploring the culture and foods. 

私たちの人生のあらゆる瞬間は、無視するのではなく、楽しむべき奇跡なのです。

Japan

Our first day In Japan

Shelley and I landed in Tokyo after our 15 hour flight with a mix of excitement and also tired from our flight. We made our way to the hotel and checked into our room. We unpacked, freshened up, and took a moment to look out over the city. Tokyo stretched endlessly before us, below near our hotel was a Japanese Garden.

View from our hotel room in Tokyo
View of Japanese Gardeon from our Hotel.

Even after the long journey, we felt an energy in the air that made it impossible to feel tired for long. 

We decided to spend our first day exploring the traditional Japanese garden near our hotel.  The noise of the city softened into the background. The water falls and beautiful Koi fish made it peaceful and relaxing.

Shelley in the Japanese Garden in Tokyo


We wandered without any real plan, stopping often just to admire the details in everything around us.

That evening, we kept things simple, choosing a nice meal at the hotel and rest over rushing into more sightseeing.

It gave us time to reflect on the day and build anticipation for what was to come. 

We enjoyed some Japan beer, a nice meal then headed off to get some well deserved rest before the start of our adventures in Japan.

“その瞬間は二度と繰り返されないのだから、一つひとつを大切にしましょう。”