Richard van Wayenburg: Japan Mega thread

Here are some highlights of our trip to Japan last spring.

I've posted a lot of Japan photos, so I wanted to put all my favourite memories in to one massive post.

I hope this is somehow helpful to people looking into travelling to Japan but it's also a great way to remember a wonderful holiday.

Japan is so rich in culture and amazing places to visit. Check out the photos below and explore my previous Japan posts dating back to April.

I've linked my previous Japan posts at the bottom of this post.

Sagano Bamboo Forest near Arashiyama

Sagano Bamboo Forest

The Red Torii (Fushimi Inari-Taisha)

Fushimi-inari and the Golden Pavilion

Monkeys in Arashiyama

Monkeys of Arashiyama

Boats on Oi River - Arashiyama

Arashiyama in the rain

Golden Pavilion -

Fushimi-inari and the Golden Pavilion

Ryoanji - 500 yr old rock garden

Gion - Maiko

Wandering the alleys of Gion

Kiyomizu-dera - Monk and shoppers

Kiyomizu-dera

Alice in Wonderland

Our adventures with Alice in Wonderland

Tokyo Markets near Ueno Station

Our first days in Japan. Tokyo, Ueno

Night shopping in Akihibara

Below is a shot from an awesome Mall in Odaiba with an awesome ceiling and crazy shops. Rachel bought a Hello Kitty bag here. But not at the Hello Kitty arcade, yes there is a Hello Kitty arcade... I believe it was call cute world or something Hello Kittyish.

Tokyo Skyline

A city at night - Tokyo lights

School children in Tokyo

Shibuya crossing

Shinjuku crossing

Miyajima

Miyajima and the floating shrine

Hiroshima

Japanese Fashion

The Mazda Factory
The tour of the Mazda factory is free! and in English! They take you on to the production floor and show you the robots helping humans to make cars! ROBOTS! OMG!

For car buffs... this is a rotary formula one or something, the only rotary that won stuff at some place.

Lake Ashinoko
The lake has a good view of Mount Fuji. Unfortunately the weather only allowed us fleeting glimpses of Fuji, like a ninja hiding in the clouds.

Lake Ashi

Prayers by lake Ashinoko. The path around the lake leads you through a historic outpost and through an amazing Japanese Garden (pretty much all gardens in Japan are amazing) and to this shrine.

Hikone Castle
Less that an hour train ride from Kyoto this is worth a visit :)

Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle

Ryokan - Hakone, Tonosawa
We stayed in this cool, traditional Japanese inn.

Taro's cooking class - Kyoto

Taro took us into his home and taught us how to cook traditional, everyday Japanese food. I cooked some kinpira tonight!

Maruyama park and Harus cooking class

Maruyama park and Harus cooking class

YAKITORI!!! in Maruyama park. Yum!!! affordable too. Grab some skewers, grab a beer (from a vending machine even) and sit under the cherry blossoms to enjoy.

Maruyama park and Harus cooking class

Kyoto - Hanami - Maruyama Koen (park)
During the cherry blossom festival this park is crazy busy with people meeting friends, getting drunk, enjoying the food and generally having an amazing time. I so want to go back. If you have the chance this is a great experience!