Hello everyone and welcome to the first post of my Japan Travel!
In case you weren't aware, I was in Japan between Nov 2nd and Nov 17th
Half this time was in Tokyo and the other half was in Osaka!
I guess I should start with a little information about my travels
and to be honest, I almost didn't make it there at all
Whilst in Amsterdam airport for our connection, everything just hit me
and I went into a panic over drive, it was horrible
I managed to calm down and get on the plane and then it hit me again
I wanted to get off, even thinking back about it makes my heart beat faster
The staff didn't let me off, I think they thought it was just flight nerves
and to be honest, I almost didn't make it there at all
Whilst in Amsterdam airport for our connection, everything just hit me
and I went into a panic over drive, it was horrible
I managed to calm down and get on the plane and then it hit me again
I wanted to get off, even thinking back about it makes my heart beat faster
The staff didn't let me off, I think they thought it was just flight nerves
I don't think they realised or fully understood that it was so much more
I was so anxious about the whole trip and I didn't think I could do it
So I spent the whole flight just crying and sleeping and it made me very sick
The staff we're super helpful though, even the captain came down to see me haha
I was so anxious about the whole trip and I didn't think I could do it
So I spent the whole flight just crying and sleeping and it made me very sick
The staff we're super helpful though, even the captain came down to see me haha
They helped me make plans to fly straight back to the UK after landing
But first they let me just have some time in a waiting area once we had landed
and after some time I managed to calm down
I spoke to Rhi about all the things that were scaring me and we went through
and after some time I managed to calm down
I spoke to Rhi about all the things that were scaring me and we went through
them all methodically with solutions and answers, and everything felt OK
So, yay! I did it! ~(●´┏ε┓｀●)
and now I get to tell you all about my amazing holiday in Japan!
So, yay! I did it! ~(●´┏ε┓｀●)
and now I get to tell you all about my amazing holiday in Japan!
We stayed in Asakusa!
I was familiar with the area after staying here in 2009
It's a really nice place to be located during a trip to Tokyo
I was familiar with the area after staying here in 2009
It's a really nice place to be located during a trip to Tokyo
You really forget that you're in the middle of a countries busy capital
The streets are really quiet (mostly full of elderly people and schools on coach trips)
The streets are really quiet (mostly full of elderly people and schools on coach trips)
and the atmosphere is beautiful too ♥
We couldn't check in to your Hotel until 3pm and we had landed in the morning
So we thought today would be a good time to wander around Sensoji, the local temple grounds
We couldn't check in to your Hotel until 3pm and we had landed in the morning
So we thought today would be a good time to wander around Sensoji, the local temple grounds
This is Hondo, the main building of the site
Can you see the modern buildings in the background??
That's where our hotel was!! Such an amazing location ♥
Can you see the modern buildings in the background??
That's where our hotel was!! Such an amazing location ♥
This is inside of Hondo, it's truly beautiful
I wanted to go inside but since it was the day after Culture Day the place was a little busy
and I didn't want to feel too intrusive on those that were there to prayer
It's easy to forget these stunning buildings are actually places of worship
I wanted to go inside but since it was the day after Culture Day the place was a little busy
and I didn't want to feel too intrusive on those that were there to prayer
It's easy to forget these stunning buildings are actually places of worship
as their aesthetic is so different to the Churches in the UK!
Rhi's arm makes it's debut as she lights a candle for her recently departed Grandfather ♥
The whole place was filled with the rattling sounds of people selecting their Omikuji
We weren't sure how to use them at first but we found some English instructions and gave it a go...
We weren't sure how to use them at first but we found some English instructions and gave it a go...
Though after getting this fortune I really wish I hadn't!! YIKES!!
I randomly remember going to the public toilets after this and they were so clean haha
I know it's a weird thing to remember, but in the UK public toilets are so gross
and as I was waiting for a Western toilet to free up I overheard some other English girls
and as I was waiting for a Western toilet to free up I overheard some other English girls
saying how you can always spot the "gaijin" when it comes to toilet queues haha, so true!
Another smaller temple that was a little closer to our hotel
Here we found lots of Ema tablets which will have been here since the New Year
It won't be long now until these are burned and replaced by patrons for the next year
It won't be long now until these are burned and replaced by patrons for the next year
Another smaller shrine area, near this was a woman cleaning a small golden Buddha hehe
We were also approached by an old man whilst here, he started to point at Rhi's tattoos
and we were kind of worried, as tattoos can be rather taboo in Japan and we were on Temple Grounds
However, to our surprise he started to say "きれいな!!" which means BEAUTIFUL!!
We were so surprised and pleased by such a lovely response and he then asked for some pictures ♥
We were also approached by an old man whilst here, he started to point at Rhi's tattoos
and we were kind of worried, as tattoos can be rather taboo in Japan and we were on Temple Grounds
However, to our surprise he started to say "きれいな!!" which means BEAUTIFUL!!
We were so surprised and pleased by such a lovely response and he then asked for some pictures ♥
Thinking back to this still brings a huge smile to my face!
Old meets new
Sensoji is the oldest Temple in Tokyo, originally constructed in 645 CE
and the Tokyo Sky Tree was completed in 2012!
Sensoji is the oldest Temple in Tokyo, originally constructed in 645 CE
and the Tokyo Sky Tree was completed in 2012!
I think this perfect sums up the atmosphere of Asakusa hehe
Kaminarimon, the main Gateway into the Temple Grounds
Did you ever play Pico on Facebook?
There was an area in that game based on the Kaminarimon gate and the Sensoji Temple grounds haha
Did you ever play Pico on Facebook?
There was an area in that game based on the Kaminarimon gate and the Sensoji Temple grounds haha
After wandering around Sensoji for a while we decided to venture out a little more through the small streets
I distinctly remember there being so many places selling roasted chestnuts and of course lots of souvenirs
Of course we spotted some plastic food outside a restaurant too!
Though after being so ill from the plane I didn't feel like I could eat
I just survive on Gari Gari-kun Ice Lollies to keep hydrated haha
I just survive on Gari Gari-kun Ice Lollies to keep hydrated haha
We then discovered the Game Center and spent way too much on Capsule Machines
Can you spy the machine for figurines of Dogs taking a leak??
Can you spy the machine for figurines of Dogs taking a leak??
After this we just returned to our Hotel so we could finally check in
and thankfully it wasn't long before our suitcases arrived via Takkyubin too
I should say, that the hotel we stayed in was called the Via Inn Asakusa
and I honestly can't recommend it enough!
Stupidly I didn't take any pictures of our room but it was sooo spacious, especially for Tokyo!!
We had a view of the Temple too and it just felt so special
I honestly don't think I'd stay anywhere else if I were to return to Tokyo, it was just that good
I should really write up a review on TripAdvisor...
So that's all for Day One and I hope you enjoyed this post!
Plenty more to come and I have literally a box full of goodies that I bought haha
I should say, that the hotel we stayed in was called the Via Inn Asakusa
and I honestly can't recommend it enough!
Stupidly I didn't take any pictures of our room but it was sooo spacious, especially for Tokyo!!
We had a view of the Temple too and it just felt so special
I honestly don't think I'd stay anywhere else if I were to return to Tokyo, it was just that good
I should really write up a review on TripAdvisor...
So that's all for Day One and I hope you enjoyed this post!
Plenty more to come and I have literally a box full of goodies that I bought haha