Japan - The Sights

For those of you who don’t know — my husband is half-Japanese and we were finally able to visit Japan last month. We were fortunate enough to spend ten days touring and sightseeing in and around Tokyo. I loved it so much! This was the first vacation in a long time that was both relaxing and exciting.

We flew into Narita and then took a train into Tokyo. The first day was a complete blur. We did manage to visit Shabuya — a neighborhood in Tokyo known as a fashion and nightlife center. It was a busy, hustling and bustling Friday night. To be honest, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that hit the streets after school/work.

The next day we hit Harajuku, another fashion district especially known for Harajuku girls. The markets were overcrowded because it was a Saturday and we got a good feel for the way things flow on the weekends.

That same day we visited the Meiji imperial shrine and some gardens right next to the Harajuku district. This place was amazing because it provided a peaceful, restful spot in the midst of a hustling, bustling, huge city. The serenity was unbelievable.

Another sight on the agenda was the Tokyo tower — the second tallest structure in the country. The views from the top of this structure were absolutely breathtaking.

Next on the agenda was Nijo castle in Kyoto.

The view from the grounds of this castle were stunning.

We also visited an absolute must sight in Kyoto — the Imperial Palace. The emperor no longer stays in this palace while visiting Kyoto, but it is still a very well maintained property and admission to it is free plus the tours are guided, which is very helpful.

Next on our way was a stop in Nagoya and its magnificent castle. A much bigger castle than the one we visited in Kyoto and a much more impressive one, at least in my opinion.

When we got back to Tokyo, we visited the actual palace where the emperor currently resides. We couldn’t get very close, but it was still a beautiful sight.

It was very interesting to see the old and the new coexisting together. I felt like this was a theme throughout our trip — in the midst of the concrete jungle there were these oases of peaceful serenity where you completely forgot you were in a big city. Loved it.

Another place we had a privilege of visiting was the Yasukuni shrine dedicated to those who lost their lives in WWII.

On our last full day in Japan we visited the famous Tsukiji fish market. We were a bit late to the party and didn’t get to witness the auction, but there were still quite a few vendors selling their catches.

Last but not least was the Sensoji temple. It was a gorgeous sight, especially at night.