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Welcome to our blog about our holiday in Japan! See below for daily updates on what we’ve seen and done.

  • My favourite photos

    My favourite photos from the trip!

  • Best thing/Worst thing

    To finish, here’s each of our best and worst things about the trip: Best things… Keith – Best thing is easy, the Shinkansen (bullet) trains. Just incredible. Jo – Best thing was the opportunity to meet loads of different and interesting people. I had forgotten how much I love travelling. I spent hours just staring out…

  • What I have learnt…

    1) When you are completely convinced that the noise you are hearing MUST be made by an animal larger than a Cicada, it’s not. 2) Japanese teenagers think their school uniform is cool and wear it most of the time, even though they are expected to follow the school rules when wearing it. They even…

  • Accommodation Review – Gracery Hotel, Tokyo

    So, final accommodation. Another western hotel, though very nice indeed. The hotel has a massive Godzilla head statue of the terrace of the 8th floor (shameless cash in?) and is generally pretty huge. Service for the short time we were there was good, rooms seem big by Japanese standards, and beds comfortable. Views were incredible…

  • Day Twenty Gallery – Friday 10th July, Tokyo & Flight to Manchester

  • Final day

    A very early start led us to our most traumatic journey in Japan. The driver of the Green Tomato airport link was very very tired. I am grateful for the accident that slowed the motorwat to a standstill admit forced him to come off and wake up a bit. He was weaving, braking at the…

  • Accommodation Review – Ekoin, Mount Koya

    Up a mountain. Check. Near a big cemetery in a forest where the trees are between 200 and 600 years old. Check. The most sacred place in Japan. Check. Living with monks. Check. Eating vegan food. Check. Being woke up for a 6.30am morning service followed by much burning of sticks and banging of drums.…

  • Day Nineteen Gallery – Thursday 9th August, Mount Koya & Tokyo

  • What? I can’t hear you! The bloody Italians are making too much noise

    So many rude Italians. They can’t queue, they shout while they are eating and they do not act appropriately in a temple. I feel better for getting that off my chest. Breakfast was the same as yesterday and I had to bribe the children with promises of coffee shop cake to get then to eat…

  • Day Eighteen Gallery – Wednesday 8th August, Mount Koya