Marjolein in Japan
20 Jan 2008
Marjolein comes to visit us in November. Lenette had just been to Taiwan and came back to Tokyo when Marjolein was ready to leave the city. In the afternoon we visited the Asakusa temple and the next day we leave for Tsukuba.
We are lucky with the weather, clear blue skies and the leaves on the trees are a firey red, a beautiful picture.
We follow the tourist route: cable car to the top, enjoy the view and walk down.
The next day we go to Mito. The Kairakuen garden is one of the most famous gardens in japan. Since we are in the neighborhood, we have to visit it. There are more then 3,000 plum trees in the garden. That will probably be a beautiful sight during plum blossom season. Unfurtunately that is in February, so we have to do with almost bare trees. There are various traditional Japanese buildings in the garden. They are beautiful, all through the year...
Then it's time to go to Nikko. Nikko is especially famous for its Toshogu temple complex. It is a national holiday, and togethere with busloads of Japanese tourists, we walk through the complex. It is Lenette's third time visiting this temple, but it is still impressive.
Outside the temple comples are various hiking trails. Unfortunately for the Japanese group traveller, there is no walk included in the program. This means that we can enjoy the scenery in peace.
Last stop is Aizu-Wakamatsu. We try to cram in as many experiences as possible, in a short time. Dinner in a local okonomiyaki restaurant is part of the program. This restaurant takes the slogan "homey" very literally. The okonomiyaki tastes great.
A walk along the five-color-lakes near Aizu-Wakamatsu is of course also part of the program. The temperatures here are a lot lower than in Tokyo, and there is snow.
Luckily we have an extra bike, so we can bike through Aizu-Wakamatsu. A lot nicer than driving the car, and faster than walking. We don't have to go far to be in the middle of nature and visit a beautiful small waterfall.
Via the famous Aizu-Wakamatsu Tsuruga kasteel we ride back home. There is a kimono which you can try to make you feel like a Japanese lady. It looks very good on Marjolein.
For a final Japan experience we take Marjolein to a ramen restaurant. You have to eat ramen by Ramen moet je naar binnen slurpen. Iets wat wij juist van jongs af aan hebben moeten afleren...
We are lucky with the weather, clear blue skies and the leaves on the trees are a firey red, a beautiful picture.
We follow the tourist route: cable car to the top, enjoy the view and walk down.
The next day we go to Mito. The Kairakuen garden is one of the most famous gardens in japan. Since we are in the neighborhood, we have to visit it. There are more then 3,000 plum trees in the garden. That will probably be a beautiful sight during plum blossom season. Unfurtunately that is in February, so we have to do with almost bare trees. There are various traditional Japanese buildings in the garden. They are beautiful, all through the year...
Then it's time to go to Nikko. Nikko is especially famous for its Toshogu temple complex. It is a national holiday, and togethere with busloads of Japanese tourists, we walk through the complex. It is Lenette's third time visiting this temple, but it is still impressive.
Outside the temple comples are various hiking trails. Unfortunately for the Japanese group traveller, there is no walk included in the program. This means that we can enjoy the scenery in peace.
Last stop is Aizu-Wakamatsu. We try to cram in as many experiences as possible, in a short time. Dinner in a local okonomiyaki restaurant is part of the program. This restaurant takes the slogan "homey" very literally. The okonomiyaki tastes great.
A walk along the five-color-lakes near Aizu-Wakamatsu is of course also part of the program. The temperatures here are a lot lower than in Tokyo, and there is snow.
Luckily we have an extra bike, so we can bike through Aizu-Wakamatsu. A lot nicer than driving the car, and faster than walking. We don't have to go far to be in the middle of nature and visit a beautiful small waterfall.
Via the famous Aizu-Wakamatsu Tsuruga kasteel we ride back home. There is a kimono which you can try to make you feel like a Japanese lady. It looks very good on Marjolein.
For a final Japan experience we take Marjolein to a ramen restaurant. You have to eat ramen by Ramen moet je naar binnen slurpen. Iets wat wij juist van jongs af aan hebben moeten afleren...