Japan Attractions Day 3 - 12th Apr 2009 Yuge – Shin Osaka – Nara

Japan Attractions Day 3

Yuge....................

We took an early morning walk around Yuge and passed by the beach, a popular Japan place of attraction in the summer and which can get quite crowded.

The lovely beach

We also passed by many traditional Japan houses and we noted that the Japanese love beauty as well in the form of nature as most to the Japan houses had beautiful flowers in their little garden.

There is also two parks close by where you can visit.

Yuge scenery

We admired the lovely and colourful flowers that were starting to bloom as well as the sakura blossoms.

We visited a Japanese cemetery to pay our respects.

Typical Japanese cemetery

After paying our respects, we paid a house visit to an aunt who was living close by. Here we had a great view of how traditional Japan houses look like. Japan homes seem to be small, yet cozy and with character.

Traditional Japan homes

A temple we passed by

An adorable little cat ...

After the early morning walk, we went back to Yuge Lodge for our set breakfast which included egg and ham.

Typical Japanese breakfast food

Enjoying breakfast with a view ...

After checking out at 0930hrs, the hotel limousine sent us to the ferry terminal where we managed to catch the 1000hrs ferry to Innoshima.

Waiting for the ferry...

The ferry to take us to Innoshima

Here we waited awhile for the 1100hrs bus to Fukuyama where we arrived just after 1200hrs. We had lunch at a ramen shop, Teuti Seimkenya, where the ‘tan tan mian’ costs JPY420 (USD4.3) and the ‘miso ramen’ costs JPY350 (USD3.6). Both were nice and hot especially in the cold weather although somehow the ramen (noodles) seemed to be a little saltish.

Tan tan mian ...

Miso ramen

Teuti Seimenya ...

From the JR Fukuyama station, we could see a Japan castle, the Fukuyama castle. The majestic looking Japan Fukuyama Castle

Here, we caught the 1240hrs shinkansen (bullet train) to Shin Osaka and arrived slightly more than an hour later.

We had to look around for the correct exit to our accommodation for the night at Viainn Shin Osaka, less than five minutes walk from the JR Shin Osaka station. One problem here is that there was a lot of refurbishment going on and there were no lifts. Thus we had to carry our luggage down the flight of steps.

As it was only 1410 hrs and the official check in time is 1500 hrs, we left our luggage at the hotel and proceeded on our Osaka sightseeing. Instead of following some guided Osaka tours, since we had the JR pass for seven days, we made full use of it. We took the JR train from Shin Osaka station to Nara station. From there, we took the city loop bus which cost JPY210 (USD2.2) to bring us to Nara Park.

Nara Park is a large and pleasant park in central Nara which was established in 1880. It is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum, a museum specializing in Buddhist art.

Most Osaka tourist like to visit the park to view the historical area of the Taidoji Temple as well as the Nara Deer Park.

Nara Park

Nara Deer Park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, Nara's deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated a National Treasure, Japan World Heritage.

We were most blessed when we managed to see the sakura in full bloom here in Nara Park as well. They made for many beautiful and memorable pictures and provided lots of wonderful opportunities for professional and amateur photographers alike.

Todaiji Temple is one of the seven listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", another one of Nara Japan World Heritage.

After fully absorbing and enjoying the views of the sakura, we caught the bus back to the JR station and took the JR train to Namba where we had dinner at McDonalds.

Sakura in Nara - full bloom

On a local express train ...

We realized that there were some burgers available only in Japan and which cannot be found anywere else e.g. teriyaki burger, ebi (shrimp)fillet-O and pork cutlet with cheese. At an average of JPY620 (USD6.25) per value meal, they came with a greater choice of drinks such as ginger ale, QOO white grape and Fanta Grape.

Chicken fillet ...

... Pork cutlet with cheese

After dinner, we took the JR train back to Viainn-Shin Osaka to retire for the night.

Japan Attractions Day 2 – 11th Apr 2009 – Hiroshima – Yuge

Japan Attractions Day 2

Sunset on Yuge Island

Japanese breakfast food was quite interesting. Here we get a breakfast which comprised a variety of bread, onigiri (triangular shaped rice cakes), salad and miso soup. It was a good Japanese breakfast and you could eat as much food as you wanted.

Dining area

Japanese breakfast food
Onigiri

Salad

Bread

Miso soup

Hiroshima sightseeing:- Home to two Japan World Heritage sites, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima city makes for an interesting travel.

After breakfast, we started our Hiroshima sightseeing by taking the JR train from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima Station. Crossed the underpass where we caught the JR ferry to Miyajima Island. We found that Hiroshima travel is easy with our Japanese Rail pass..

Miyajima Island is also known as the resting place of the gods. The ferry to Miyajima is also operated by JR, thus we did not have to pay any extra fare.

Miyajima Island, Hiroshima sightseeing

The Itsukushima shrine was originally constructed by worshippers in 593 using the Shinden style of architecture and later restored to its current splendour in 1168. The bold and unique structure sits on the water with the sea spread out in front of it and the virgin forests of Mt. Misen, the island's highest peak, forming its backdrop.

Bugaku, an ancient court dance, held on the Taka-butai (high stage), designated as a National Treasure, of the Itsukushima Shrine

Otorii Gate, the symbol of Miyajima, stands 16m high with supporting columns 10m in circumference. It stands on the ocean bottom supported by its own weight.

Momijidani Park is famous for the beautiful red colours of the maples and other tree varieties in autumn. There are various walking trails throughout the park which are lined with cherry blossoms in the spring.

Mt Misen sits at 530m above sea level and is the highest peak on Miyajima. Here you get spectacular views from the summit. There is a ropeway that takes you from Momijidani Park at the foot of the mountain to the summit if you do not feel like walking up.


View from Mt Misen

Meanwhile keep an eye on your personal belongings as the deer on Miyajima are wild and love to eat paper and cloth.

Free roaming deer

Souvenirs you can get from your Hiroshima travel:-

• Momiji manju (cake in maple-leaf shape with filling) - This is one of the most famous local confections of Hiroshima. These little cakes come with a variety of filling such as chocolate, cream, cheese, custard, green bean paste and the traditional sweet bean paste.



Momiji Manju Production


• Miyajima Crafts - Representative of the craft on Miyajima is the wooden ladle. The wooden ladle, with the hope of defeating the enemy, is commonly used as a good luck charm at sporting events. Other popular crafts symbolic of Miyajima are wood turning and Miyajima wood carving.




• Miyajima Pottery - Miyajima Pottery is said to have originated towards the end of the 18th Century when sand from the Itsukushima Shrine was mixed to make clay vessels for festive ocasions. The rustic and warm colours of the earthen pottery bells and other ornaments are also popular items.
  
  

After Miyajima Island, we took the JR train to Tokaichimachi station where we transferred to a streetcar which costs JPY150 to the Atomic Bomb Dome station. From here, we crossed the road to the Atomic Bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park.

The streetcar

Atomic Bomb Dome - As one of the few remaining buildings left standing after the dropping of the Atomic Bimb, the dome stands as a symbol of world peace and is not registered on the World Heritage List.

Hiroshima River Cruise

Peace Memorial Park serves as a reminder of the horrors of war and the need for enduring world peace.

Children's Peace Monument

Fountain of Peace



From Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, since we were not far off from a Japan castle, we walked to Hiroshima Castle. This castle was completely destroyed in the wake of the Atomic Bomb but was later restored in 1958 to mark the 400th year of the castle's existence.

A Japan Castle in Hiroshima

In the grounds of the Hiroshima Castle

The moat surrounding the Hiroshima Castle

A tree that looks like a bonsai

The Hiroshima weather we experienced was odd. It was hot with the sun shining, yet when the wind blew, it was cool. Fortunately, we came prepared.

After our Hiroshima sightseeing, we made our way back to the hotel where we caught the 1515hrs shinkansen (bullet train) from Hiroshima, travelled to Fukuyama and began our train sightseeing for the day. As the train passed by the various areas, we managed to spot more beautiful sights including the sakura in bloom.

View of the Fukuyama Castle from the JR Station. Spot the lovely sakura in bloom in the foreground

We then walked to the bus station approximately five minutes away to catch the bus to Innoshima, a 66 minutes ride. Here we took the ferry across to Yuge Island, also known as the Shining Island, and arrived at approximately 1515hrs. The hotel limousine picked us up a few minutes later from the ferry terminal.

The ferry to Yuge Island

We were just on time to view the sakura, also known as cherry blossoms, which was in full bloom upon our arrival. This is something that you will want to experience at least once in your lifetime if you are a nature lover. The sakura season lasts for just two weeks once they bloom and is dependent on the weather. The warmer the weather, the earlier the bloom. We were thus fortunate to be able to experience the sakura season in full bloom.

Upon checking in to Yuge Lodge, a traditional guest house where you leave your shoes at the lobby entrance and change into the slippers provided, we proceeded to the eating house for the set dinner which costs JPY1800 (USD18.6). It was a typical Japanese meal and comprised sashimi, tempura and fish as depicted in the photo.

Set dinner in Yuge Lodge

With friends and relatives

Yuge Lodge is the only accommodation you can find on this tiny island. There is only one Western style room here and the other rooms are all Japanese styled rooms where you have a tatami mat and sleep on a futon which is laid on the tatami mat. This is something that you might like to try to gain an experience of what Japanese life is like.

Japanese style room

Move the table aside and place the futon bedding on the tatami mat

A typical yukata (similar to a bathrobe) that is provided in Japan

For the Japanese styled rooms, you share a common toilet and bathe in a public bath or what is known as the 'ofuro' which consists of various types of hot pools, similar to a spa.

Here there are separate public baths for males and females

There is a lounge area where you can entertain guests as well as a computer with internet access for guests to use.

A Japanese styled room at Yuge Lodge costs JPY4200 (USD43.4) per pax. The set dinner costs JPY1800 (USD18.6) and set breakfast costs JPY800 (USD8.3). Thus the total for a room including dinner and breakfast cost JPY6800 (USD70.2) per person.

This was an interesting day from Hiroshima sightseeing of Japan world heritage sites to Japan castle to train sightseeing and finally a little island in Japan.

A bicycle park in Japan a common sight to see people riding bicycles everywhere