Day 20: Sayonara

Every thing has an end, and I am now at Narita airport writing this last post. I am so happy that I've finally got to explore Japan during the short yet splendid cherry blossoms season. Thank you for following my adventure, I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. 

I have to say that I am so proud of my planning skills that helped me organize my time so efficiently during my trip! :) I also have to thank my husband to live this experience with me and to give me constant support during this trip, especially when I'm stressing about not catching the trains! :)

Sayonara Sakura, Sayonara Japan! I will be back! ;)

Some interesting facts

My top cities:

1- Tokyo: for its diversity

2- Kyoto: for its beautiful landscape

3- Osaka: for the everywhere food

My top meals:

1- Sushi breakfast

2- Fresh shrimp tempura (not in blog)

3- Kobe beef

My top attractions:

1- Shinjuku Gyoen

2- Bamboo Forest

3- too many...

What I've learned during this trip:

- Japanese love to use transparent umbrellas 

- Japanese serve meal to men first

- Japanese all wear uniforms or suits for work 

- Japanese people (and trains) are extremely punctual

- 5 persons out of 10 wear a mask on the street 

- 8 girls out of 10 wear beige tights

Words we hear the most: 

- arigatou gozaimasu

- sumimasen

- gomenasai

- ...kudasai

Websites and applications that were extremely useful for my trip:

- www.japan-guide.com: the most complete guide for japan trip planning

- www.hyperdia.com: to find routes/schedules for subways and trains

- CityMaps2Go Pro (App): the best offline map ever

- Learn Japanese (App): to find relevant words to accompany the body language 

- PlayMemories Mobile (App): to upload my Sony camera photos to my phone

Day 19: Return to Tokyo

Today is basically a travel day. We left Miyajima at 8:40 AM, and after 10 minutes of ferry, 25 minutes of local train and over 4 hours of bullet trains, we are finally back to Tokyo. After checking in our hotel, we headed to Akihabara, famous district for its many electronic shops.  

Our lunch in the shinkansen

Akihabara

Now, I have to pack my luggage! *cries*

Day 18: Miyajima

This morning, we went to a museum which Fendy has been anticipated to go to since the first day of our trip: Mazda Museum. We even got the chance to visit the current car assembly plant, but too bad we can't take picture inside the plant. It is really amazing to see how a car is constructed from A to Z.

Then we took the ferry to go to Miyajima, the Shrine Island. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place. We walked with the deers, climbed the mount Misen, and watched the beautiful sunset in front of the Itsukushima Shrine's giant floating torii gate.

Day 17: Hiroshima

Today, we went to probably the saddest museum in our life: the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. When I was listening to the stories about the brutality of the Hiroshima bombing, my heart was tearing up. But when I think about how the Japanese were so cruel to the Chinese during the war, I feel less pity. Anyhow, these are all the past and I just wish there's peace in the world... one day.

Day 16: Falling Sakura

Today is our last day in Osaka, and the only sunny day since we arrived. We decided to go for cherry blossom viewing, but the flowers started to fall already! :(

Nishinomaru Garden in Osaka Castle

Kema Sakuranomiya Park

Day 15: Kobe beef

Today, we went to Kobe city to taste the world's top quality beef: Kobe beef.

Our chef preparing our delicious meat

Tajima beef A4 tenderloin

Kobe beef A5 sirloin

The kobe beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender! I just wish it was a bit thicker though. The A4 beef was tasty too but was obviously less tender than the kobe one. Fendy was a bit disappointed because he found the kobe beef too fat, but that was my favorite part of it! :D

Day 14: Osaka - Dotonburi

Day 13: Shrine, Castle and Temples

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Nijo Castle

Kodaiji Temple

Kiyomizudera Temple