Tag Archives: Ray Chaput

Japan

A Day in Hatsukaichi

We began our day heading to Hatsukaichi, to explore one of Japan’s most iconic and spiritual destinations. The journey itself felt like part of the adventure, with glimpses of the Seto Inland Sea and mountain scenery welcoming us along the way.

We took the ferry to Miyajima. The short ride across the water was beautiful, especially when the famous floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine came into view.

The floating Torii Gate

Rising from the water is the Great Torii of Itsukushima vermilion gate. It is one of those sights that photos just don’t do it justice.

We arrived at the dock and walked onto the walkway.  What makes the 12th century shrine so remarkable is that it is built on pillars over the tidal flats. We arrived at low tide and so we could see the pillars embedded in the sea floor supporting the Shrine complex.

It literally stands above the sea rather than on solid ground like most shrines.

The shrine structure was designed this way out of respect for the island itself, which was considered so sacred that common people were once not meant to set foot directly on it.

After visiting the shrine, we spent time wandering the island.

Miyajima island has plenty of deer that roam freely. They would walk along looking inocente and if you were not careful they would take your snack. 

One of the many deer walking amoung the tourist on the island

There were shops and restaurants along the narrow streets. We enjoyed exploring the different shops and looking at the local handcrafted items.

shops along the streets of the island

What was really an extra enjoyable experience was walking down some of the streets away from the tourist area.

We enjoyed seeing the Cherry trees in full bloom.  We had a quiet walk and enjoyed the peace and serenity of the island. 

Sometimes the best travel moments aren’t the big landmarks but the small ones. 

“Ichi-go ichi-e”

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

Umeda Sky Building in Osaka

The Umeda Sky Building is a two-tower skyscraper in Osaka, Japan.

We were able to go up the 40 story towers to the interconnected  glass bridges with escalators and elevators that cross an open atrium space.

View of the bridge that connects the two towers form the ground.

The journey up was part of the experience itself. After stepping into the sleek elevator, we were whisked high above the city. Then we then took the floating escalator that seems to hang in midair.

View of the escalators that connect to the observation area.

Once we reached the open air observation area we enjoyed some time exploring the views.

View of the sky deck which is 360 degrees around the top of the building.

Below we could see Osaka stretched out endlessly in every direction.

View of Osaka from the Sky deck

We walked around the observation deck slowly taking in the views of Osaka. It was the kind of moment that makes you pause and simply appreciate where you are.

Afterwards we headed down to the elevators and back to the ground. 

“人生は「今」にある”

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

Drums of Japan

During our time in Tokyo, Shelley and I had the chance to experience something unique. We went to one of the oldest traditional drum making factories in the city. It turned out to be a lot more fun than we thought.

We were given a presentation by a dynamic and interesting Drummer who explained how they are made. The drums we learned about are known as “taiko,” and they are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. 

It begins with the wood. Craftsmen carefully select large logs, often from trees that have been grown for decades. The wood is hollowed out to form the body of the drum, a process that requires both strength and precision. This is still done by hand in the traditionally methods.  

We learned about the parades and the different drums used for different events. Some of the statues and ornamental dress they wear and how it is all tied to tradition.  

After learning about the process, we were able to take part and learn some of the basic rhythms used in traditional Japanese festivals. At first, it seemed simple, but once you start, you realize how much coordination and timing it actually takes.

 

Shelley jumped right in and gave it a go. It didn’t take long before she was fully immersed, laughing and enjoying every beat. 

By the end of the session, we were both smiling and glad we had decided to try it. It was an experience and a glimpse into the Japanese culture and history.

“音楽は気持ちを動かします”