On a trip to Japan, our Asia specialist Holly sampled some of the country’s traditional delights. In the likes of Tokyo, Koyasan and Hida Furukawa she explored temples, indulged in Japanese cuisine, cycled through cities and watched some impressive mother-of-pearl silk weaving. Want to find out more? Read on for the highlights from her trip.
- Where did you visit?
- What did you get up to?
- What made your trip special?
- Did you learn about any hidden gems?
- What’s your favourite thing you ate?
- What new things did you learn?
- What’s one thing that can’t be missed?
- What’s a top tip you’d give to clients?
Where did you visit?
I travelled all over Japan in my three weeks there: the capital city Tokyo; the little old town of Hida Furukawa; the city of Takayama, up in the mountains; the seaside cities of Kamakura and Kanazawa; the former capital, Kyoto; the temple town of Koyasan; and the popular town of Hakone, which is famous for its hot springs.
What did you get up to?
So much – I sampled some traditional Japanese food and drink during a cooking class, food tour, tea ceremony and sake tasting. I also got to see some amazing temples and gardens on walking tours and unwound during a Zen meditation. Some other quintessential Japanese activities included a swordsmith demo, mother-of-pearl silk weaking and an incense ceremony.
What made your trip special?
Going back to the place I lived for three years... 27 years ago! As well as revisiting my favourite spots, I saw some of Kyoto’s temples that I’d missed out on before. The mother-of-pearl silk weaving was also amazing – this is where they weave mother-of-pearl shells into kimono fabric to create incredible iridescent art. It was something I’ve never seen before, so it was really special to experience.
Did you learn about any hidden gems?
Hida Furukawa is lovely little town, well preserved and off the beaten track. The food is fabulous, and you can do some great cycling and cultural tours. Another secret spot was ‘Kyoto by the Sea’, which includes the amazing views of Amanohashidate and the Tango Peninsula. And finally, there’s Koyasan, not as much of a hidden gem as the other spots but it’s still not on the average itinerary and is well worth a visit.
What’s your favourite thing you ate?
Onigiri – seasoned rice wrapped in seaweed. So simple but so good, I had it for lunch almost every day. My kaiseki dinner in Amanohashidate was also amazing. These traditional multi-course meals are considered the haute cuisine of Japan and feature an array of beautifully plated Japanese dishes.
What new things did you learn?
I updated my knowledge on the logistics of Japanese train and bus travel, as well as testing out lots of great new tours.
What’s one thing that can’t be missed?
The temples of Kyoto are a really popular spot (for good reason!) that can’t be missed if you’re in Japan. Specialised tours are also great, as they get you right below the surface of Japanese culture. If you want more confidence to try traditional Japanese food, then I’d also highly recommend joining a food tour.
What’s a top tip you’d give to clients?
Make sure your mobile phone has been set up to allow you to browse the internet in Japan – this is absolutely essential for self-guided transfers. Also, pack light! Lugging heavy luggage between train stations and hotels can be a pain, and there’s limited room on the trains themselves.