At the end of October we headed out on what we consider to be our first REAL holiday since arriving in Japan. We spent ten days exploring Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto. I have been to Kyoto once before, but not Mark. Japan is BIG for fall foliage but apparently we needed to go a bit later to see it at the peak. I don’t know… it was pretty damn glorious!! AND - it was also Halloween when we were traveling! This added lots of interest and fun to our trip!!
Shout out to my husband here! The amount of time he spent figuring out flights, trains and hotel rooms is incredible. Consider for a moment that most Japanese hotel rooms are small - really, really small. Our hotels were amazing and not small (thank goodness - cus neither are we)!
We did not take our car. We took the train from Kamikawa straight to Sapporo - we can do this because Kamikawa is next to a major mountain resort; Sounkyo. YAY!
We flew from Sapporo to Kansai Airport - it is located between Osaka and Kyoto on a man made island!! Mark remembers what I big deal it was (when he was a kid) as it was quite progressive! We took the bullet train or Shinkansen from Osaka to Hiroshima and again from Hiroshima to Kyoto. We learned about the “green car” - spacious and lovely! So once we hit Hiroshima - it was the green car from then on! Of course we also took a regular HELLO KITTY train from Kyoto to the Kansai Airport when our holiday was over. So much fun!!
We had some crazy experiences! At Universal Studios Japan, I threw up on a ride in Harry Potter World! Yup! During Covid restrictions - in Japan - nice! I was SOOOOO looking forward to Harry Potter World but, sadly, that was our only ride! We did hit a great lunch place where they served BUTTERBEER! We spent an entire day there exploring, I think we walked 20,000 steps that day alone! Over the course of the ten day trip, we managed around 115 kms! I bought myself a SNOOPY hat!! Oh - and of course - I lost my phone at a SING 2 performance!! It fell out of my pocket! When we made it back to the performance venue, we had to show one of the workers where we sat and fill out a bunch of forms… of course they found it for me (insert shit eating grin here)!!
When we arrived in Kyoto none of the taxi’s would take us to our hotel!! We had to wait for an International Taxi at a different taxi stand! True story!! It is a popular tourist destination so that must be part of it! Still…
One of the most famous and popular Japanese foods in Osaka is Takoyaki (octopus balls). When we were leaving from the Kansai Airport, Mark was in a hurry and just pointed at some food - he ended up with Takoyaki. He bit into the first one and grease came flying out of his mouth and across the table. He wasn’t fond of Takoyaki! Perhaps he should have tried it somewhere else? Regardless, if you know my husband, you know he doesn't waste anything but I can tell you that he did not eat his remaining Takoyaki!!
Our next adventure is in just over 2 weeks! We are heading down to the most southern part of Japan; Okinawa! Did I mention we don’t like winter? We are heading out on December 26 for ten days (again).
I am going to post pics from our last adventure in the “Out and About” section of my blog. I have to say, every time I write the title, “Out and About”, I think about the stereotype that we in Canada would say “Out and A Boot”!!!! Not true, people!!!!
Enjoy the photos!!
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