Conquering Himeji castle by noon

Waking up after all the walking sure was difficult. We had to leave our Okayama hotel, the town, the prefecture and its comfortable climate. After dragging our feet, had breakfast, we had arranged for a taqbin pickup from the hotel reception so that our luggages be sent to our Kyoto hotel, where we had a booking 2 days later.

Liberated from four wheel cases, we hopped on the shinkansen to Himeji and its white castle, to enjoy the sunny weather and climb the glorious embodiment of martial architecture. I forgot it was such a long walk from the station, but the glimpse of it gave us hope as it grew bigger on the horizon.

 

 

 

All that white against the blue sky made it feel like summer. As always, I marveled at the sloped stone wall, at the gravel gutters, and as we climbed sinuously to reach the dungeon (where there is a small shrine) and overview the area, I admired the viewpoints and the defenses of the castle.

 

At the end of the long boulevard was the train station

At the bottom of the castle, after passing by the stone and area for seppuku, we still got some time to appreciate the chrysanthemum displays, even in the forms of bonsai.

But soon we had to grab lunch on the way back tot he station, in a small second floor restaurant overlooking the main street. And off we hopped on the shinkansen to Kobe, where more shopping and relief awaited.

 

Japan 2015 - logistics of travelling with parents

This was the highlight of the year, and one of my greatest life achievement: Between two jobs, I took my parents to Japan. I could afford so with the sudden exchange rate crash at the beginning of the year (airfare was suddenly 20% cheaper).

 

And so the whole year was excitedly spent in planing for this autumn trip. This would be my first trip with company in Japan, and I had to budget for 2 hotel rooms most of times, or a double or large room in minshuku. The Japan rail pass was of course used for all transportation, and the main meal of the day was breakfast, usually included in the accommodation.

The challenges were many:
-keeping a comfortable pace of traveling as there are much to see, and we have different rhythms
-selecting sights and activities that capture the local customs and spirit (zen, megalopolis, matsuri, onsen, food)
-satisfying their interests (Japanese gardens, industries, temples, markets, castles, trains, etc..)
-trying to experience something I have not experienced or seen yet.

Of course the trip sightseeing was great, but what was amazing and unexpected was also how I discovered and enjoyed my parents reactions. It was my parents' first trip in Asia and I was not aware of their expectations or prejudices. So it was with much amusement, laughter and sometimes incredulity that I experienced their wide eyed reactions or comments.



Resources and tips:
Thanks to Japan tourism website, all the major sights were covered using the Japan railpass for 2 weeks.

Since my previous trips were all traveling south from Tokyo, this time the itinerary was from Hiroshima traveling to Tokyo on Honshu island, with a quick side trip to Shikoku island. We would cover one city/town per day in average, and no more than 2 planned activities to allow for leisure exploring and getting lost, covering architecture (temples, castles), town histories, Japanese gardens, and Japanese factories.

We planned to but did not send our luggage (one suitcase and rucksack each) from the Kansai airport to the hotel by TAQ-BIN upon arrival, while we find our way. But we used the service from Okayama hands free travel counter in the train station to our hotel in Kyoto, and again from Nagoya to Tokyo. We traveled on a rucksack only to the onsen as there were bus travel from Kobe.

I also made sure we were not changing hotel everyday, but settles in a strategic town and explore the surroundings in daytrips:
Hiroshima based
Okayama based
Kyoto based
Nagoya based
Tokyo based


What to pack? For the season layered warm clothes are best. Of course my parents had to pack their medication. But other than that we could find everything else from the many kombini (convenient stores).


Itinerary
Landing in Osaka Kansai airport
Hiroshima - peace park and eating historical street food in Okonomimura
Miyajima - Itsukushima shrine and old town
Okayama - Kourakuen
Takamatsu - Ritsurin koen
Kurashiki - merchant warehouse and strolling along canals
Himeji - climbing a martial architecture world heritage castle
Kobe-Arima onsen - buying a suit and omotenashi experience in 7th century onsen town
Kyoto - history and culture strolling in the west capital
Osaka - Shin Osaka and wet market
Nagoya - minshuku stay and impromptu Toyota museum visit
Shizuoka - views from Nihondaira ropeway to Kunozan Toshogu shrine
Tokyo - Eating sushi in Tsukuji at 4am and Kagurazaka matsuri
Leaving from Narita airport

Accomodations
Hiroshima: Chisun Hotel Hiroshima
Okayama: Okayama Koraku hotel
Arima onsen: Hana Koyado
Kyoto: APA Hotel Gion
Higashiyama airbnb (Kyoto Amanogawa)
Nagoya: Kyoya Ryokan
Tokyo:
Mercure Ginza
The B Ikebukuro