Blossoms, bullet train and beyond: exploring Japan by Land and Sea.

[Pushka]

 

[Quickstatus]

Pity they are so fleeting and ephemeral but on the other hand maybe it can't be any other way

 

[RooFlyer]

Pity they are so fleeting and ephemeral but on the other hand maybe it can't be any other way

If you’re on a cruise to the north the Sakura will be - I don’t know - a week or two behind Tokyo so should be fairly perfect there. and less crowded.

 

[Pushka]

If you’re on a cruise to the north the Sakura will be - I don’t know - a week or two behind Tokyo so should be fairly perfect there. and less crowded.

Yes. Hakodate and Aomori will be in full bloom. Start of Golden week as well. We will lose them as we head south then the northern track will be great timing.

 

[RooFlyer]

Start of Golden week as well.

Oh. What tours do you do there - ship/private?

 

[Pushka]

So cute.

 

[Pushka]

Today was our visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine. It is the 11th April, just a day for us. Used the JR line this time and quickly found the entrance. Not particularly crowded.

Meiji Jingu is dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and his consort Empress Shoken (1850-1914)

The first Tori gate we've seen so far. I'm mostly going to be using MrPs photos, taken with a canon.









Until we reached the entrance to the Shrine.

Immaculate keeping of the grounds.









I cleansed according to requirements.

 

[Pushka]

i noticed a sign dedicated to Empress Shoken, then noted the date she died - April 11. And a Shinto ceremony would be held for her. Seems I stumbled on had made excellent plans to visit on a special day.

We could hear the was a Shinto service in the main shrine. We were allowed to walk to the open air only if we prayed in a certain manner, and then we had to move off. It was a religious service after all. The attendees filled the hall. Mostly black suits.

We were free to explore the various sites around the shrine.







I duly wrote a wish together with a coin and donated it, the packets are then presented during a ceremony at the Shrine for blessing. I also purchased special blessings for the five family members as a gift on return.

 

[Quickstatus]

I duly wrote a wish

Any wish for ocean view room?

 

[Pushka]

We had just walked down the steps from the shrine when we noticed the guards had started corralling people away from the central square. Then a parade of beautifully dressed girls walked across the promenade. They were on their way to place offerings to the late Empress.

 

[Pushka]

From within the Shrine started a drum roll that increased with frequency until it stopped.

MrP had moved away from the madding crowd and noticed some things were happening to the side

 

[Pushka]

Then the Shinto priests started emerging from the Shrine and stopped by here for supplication(!) and then followed the path of the young women.







Take note of the woman in blue on the corner at the edge.



Yep. She tried to follow them on their path. But not for long. There's aways one in every crowd right?



But no. We had two.



Thankfully the crowd wasn't that heavy, but everyone was silent over this period of about 10 minutes.

 

[Pushka]

After the Shinto priests had moved, the officials followed.



The guards then allowed everyone to walk freely again. We realised as we had exited that the crowds had been held back waiting for the procession and they were significant. Also, the shrine of the Empress I had noticed earlier was now being guarded.

 

[Mumanddad]

We're currently on a Japan cruise with Holland America. Left Hakodate last nght and the cherry blossoms there and in Aomori are not out yet, but we saw fulll blooming in Busan, Kanazawa, and Nagasaki. The immigration processes on the ship weren't too bad. If going ashore independently, make sure you get near the front of the queue to get off. Also don't miss the wharf farewell performances just prior to sailing at most ports.

Did you get to see Team Lab Borderless? We also stayed at the Citadines and trained it into Tokyo to see it, well worth the trip. We did a small group independent tour in Busan, one of the best tours we have done.

Enjoy.

 

[Pushka]

So, later yesterday we went to Shibuya crossing to see what the fuss was about. Ummm. It seemed quiet.

These guys were having a great time. @jukebox333 - same as you?





We went upstairs to Starbucks to get a view it was packed and some very rude pushy people. Not locals. We are wearing masks in the stations and subs and we wore them here. Coffee tasted horrible.






We were pretty much done by then and made plans to rest up a bit and take the 5pm canapés for our meal, and then venture back into Shinjuku. But nature conspired against us.

The canapés were pretty much tiny snacks mainly seafood and even MrP wasn't impressed. Champagne, wine and G&T were good though. And then we could see black skies. Thunder. Lightening and heavy heavy rain. Ok, plan B, we needed food and we couldn't go out, leaving only the restaurants here. Not in the mood for a lavish spread we dismissed the first couple. Like, $150 AUD pp. just food. Nup. So we ventured a little further and discovered a fab little Japanese restaurant on site. Beautifully dressed women in kimonos.

We were ushered into a private room. Not sure why, there were plenty of seats in the main area and we were nicely dressed and better than those we could see. Not to worry.








This was spring vegetable tempura. I enjoyed it and was able to say in Nihon-go that it was very tasty but then asked what the vegetables were. Two looked like I was eating a daisy! The staff member thanked me then asked me to wait and came back with her phone to show me the picture of the vegetable. Of course I can't remember the name, it was very unfamiliar to me. We had a really good laugh about, she was pleased she was able to help and I was happy with the language I'd used. Then she asked about desert, to which I said Genki desu and she thanked me again.




Chicken teriyaki was apparently excellent. The miso soup was wonderful. Yum. And not a spoon or fork used in the process.



It was a lovely dinner and good fortune was with us after all. My omomori is working. @Quickstatus - that cost 1000 ¥. It's now on my bag. I've joined the masses.

 

[Seat0B]

Any wish for ocean view room?

patience, Grasshopper, and all will be revealed.

 

[Seat0B]

What beautiful photos you are including @Pushka.

As I've remarked before, after 8 ski trips to Japan, and another one in the works, I am feeling the need for a non-Winter trip in my future. I'll just do it vicariously for now.

 

[jukebox333]

So, later yesterday we went to Shibuya crossing to see what the fuss was about. Ummm. It seemed quiet.

These guys were having a great time. @jukebox333 - same as you?

View attachment 439116

View attachment 439117

We went upstairs to Starbucks to get a view it was packed and some very rude pushy people. Not locals. We are wearing masks in the stations and subs and we wore them here. Coffee tasted horrible.


View attachment 439118

View attachment 439119

We were pretty much done by then and made plans to rest up a bit and take the 5pm canapés for our meal, and then venture back into Shinjuku. But nature conspired against us.

The canapés were pretty much tiny snacks mainly seafood and even MrP wasn't impressed. Champagne, wine and G&T were good though. And then we could see black skies. Thunder. Lightening and heavy heavy rain. Ok, plan B, we needed food and we couldn't go out, leaving only the restaurants here. Not in the mood for a lavish spread we dismissed the first couple. Like, $150 AUD pp. just food. Nup. So we ventured a little further and discovered a fab little Japanese restaurant on site. Beautifully dressed women in kimonos.

We were ushered into a private room. Not sure why, there were plenty of seats in the main area and we were nicely dressed and better than those we could see. Not to worry.
View attachment 439120

View attachment 439121

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View attachment 439123

This was spring vegetable tempura. I enjoyed it and was able to say in Nihon-go that it was very tasty but then asked what the vegetables were. Two looked like I was eating a daisy! The staff member thanked me then asked me to wait and came back with her phone to show me the picture of the vegetable. Of course I can't remember the name, it was very unfamiliar to me. We had a really good laugh about, she was pleased she was able to help and I was happy with the language I'd used. Then she asked about desert, to which I said Genki desu and she thanked me again.


View attachment 439124

Chicken teriyaki was apparently excellent. The miso soup was wonderful. Yum. And not a spoon or fork used in the process.

View attachment 439125

It was a lovely dinner and good fortune was with us after all. My omomori is working. @Quickstatus - that cost 1000 ¥. It's now on my bag. I've joined the masses.

The mob I used was Japan Karts. I think they gave a slightly longer circuit from memory.

Sorry I missed the start of your TR, am following now.

Right now doing 300km/h returning to Kyoto from Okayama

 

[Pushka]

The mob I used was Japan Karts. I think they gave a slightly longer circuit from memory.

Sorry I missed the start of your TR, am following now.

Right now doing 300km/h returning to Kyoto from Okayama

View attachment 439150

Our first Shinkansen is tomorrow. Tokyo to - KYOTO. Missed you by that much. . And weather looks truly rubbish tomorrow. No Fuji.

This morning we did our first luggage transfer. Yamamoto transport. Will be in Kyoto hotel by 12 noon. Hoping.

I'd bought tickets for PlanetLabs Borderless. Took around 50 minutes by trains to get there including an interesting driverless monorail thing at the end. Walked to the end of the station and saw the sign. Oh carp I said to MrP. Major Fup. We'd gone to the wrong one - Planets. At this point MrP took over as he does when I have a melt. It's the way we work. I'd sorted out that we needed to return but thankfully only on the last monorail thing which was around 20 minutes, then a quick train to Borderless. Thank god I'd purchased a non timed entry.

Finally got there. Went straight in. Crowds not all that bad. It's a total brain thing for me, I wasn't able to work out what was a wall, a Mirror or a passageway. Fascinating. But some beautiful rooms, especially the glass baubles. Brilliant. It's hard to take photos as everything is constantly moving.








In this one, MrP has taken the photo but also captured me in the background.





In this one I've captured me.






This one was very much like a Monet painting with almost a brush stoke effect.

 

[Aeolus]

Our first Shinkansen is tomorrow. Tokyo to - KYOTO. Missed you by that much. . And weather looks truly rubbish tomorrow. No Fuji.

This morning we did our first luggage transfer. Yamamoto transport. Will be in Kyoto hotel by 12 noon. Hoping.

I'd bought tickets for PlanetLabs Borderless. Took around 50 minutes by trains to get there including an interesting driverless monorail thing at the end. Walked to the end of the station and saw the sign. Oh carp I said to MrP. Major Fup. We'd gone to the wrong one - Planets. At this point MrP took over as he does when I have a melt. It's the way we work. I'd sorted out that we needed to return but thankfully only on the last monorail thing which was around 20 minutes, then a quick train to Borderless. Thank god I'd purchased a non timed entry.

Finally got there. Went straight in. Crowds not all that bad. It's a total brain thing for me, I wasn't able to work out what was a wall, a Mirror or a passageway. Fascinating. But some beautiful rooms, especially the glass baubles. Brilliant. It's hard to take photos as everything is constantly moving.

View attachment 439151

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View attachment 439153


In this one, MrP has taken the photo but also captured me in the background.

View attachment 439154

View attachment 439157View attachment 439158View attachment 439159View attachment 439160

In this one I've captured me.

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This one was very much like a Monet painting with almost a brush stoke effect.

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TeamLab Planets is a different experience and worth going to as well if you get a chance to.