06 Nov 2013
As the Saturday evening traffic began to engulf Sydney, an excited group of young people gathered at the Departure Gates at Kingsford Smith Airport. Our intrepid group, consisting of seventeen students and three adults, was about to embark on an amazing ten-day journey to "The Land of the Rising Sun": Japan.
After an uneventful stopover in Taipei, early on Sunday afternoon we finally arrived at Narita International Airport. The ninety-minute bus ride from the airport took us from smooth-flowing expressways into the pulsing centre of Tokyo itself. We drove over multi-level expressways and past amazing sights such as the newly completed Tokyo Skytree, the tallest building in Japan. The coach finally deposited us safely at the door of our traditional ryokan (Japanese inn).
The ryokan offered our group their first taste of traditional Japanese life; changing into slippers in the genkan, sleeping on futons on the tatami mat floors and eating spectacular homemade Japanese meals. The bathing arrangements also presented some interesting challenges! Our ryokan featured deep baths like swimming pools for soaking and relaxing after a long day's sightseeing.
Our brief stay in Tokyo meant we had a packed schedule. We actually managed to see the ancient shrine, Meiji Jingu, Harajuku (home of youth fashion) and Asakusa (old fashioned downtown Tokyo) on our first day. The following day at Tokyo Disneyland was another day packed with exciting new experiences. .
Our first trip on the Shinkansen (bullet train), took us from Tokyo to Kyoto: The ancient capital of Japan. Our three days there seemed barely long enough to see all the wonderful historic sites, however, we did take in the Ryoanji (stone garden), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and the Toei Eiga Mura: A samurai and ninja-themed film park. We also took a brilliant day-trip to the former capital of Nara.
On the next leg of our journey, we travelled deep into the heart of Wakayama prefecture to Mt. Koya, the home of Japanese Buddhism. Walking through giant groves of cedar to the ancient temples of the Shingon sect was a unique experience; we stayed the night at a local monastery and rose early to attend the prayer session held by the head monk in the adjoining temple. The Buddhist vegetarian meals were a highlight of the trip! Thanks to our dedicated tour guide, Mr. Nakai, we met the next Shinkansen to our final destination, Hiroshima.
Our day trip to the famous Miyajima Island was delightful, the place famous for its ‘floating torii' (shrine gate) and wandering deer, did not disappoint. We all rode the cable car to the peak of Mt. Misen, which afforded an astonishing view of the Seto Inland Sea. After some of us hiked down the mountain, we returned to Hiroshima for our Farewell Okonomiyaki and Karaoke Party! The visit to the Peace Memorial Museum on our last morning was perhaps, the single most important destination on our trip.
Thanks to all those who followed our adventures on our Facebook page and ‘liked' the photos we posted during the trip.
We returned to Sydney, footsore and a little weary, perhaps, but having shared in so many amazing experiences. Well done to all the HHHS Japan Tour-ists of 2013. You were both responsive and responsible, and made all of us very proud!
Clare Talbot.