japan vacation
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Trip to Japan, visiting the cities of Tokyo, Takayama, Hiroshima, and KyotoTRANSCRIPT

日本の経験 The Japan Experience
Japan is a country of contrasts:Modern technology yet ancient
traditions, Millions of people yet very little violence, Extremely clean
cities yet no trash cans...
Presented by Kimiko KanoApril 29, 2010

Flight Path to Japan (with an unexpected delay…)

20 hours later… We’re finally there! Some First Impressions:
High-Tech Toilets
Unique vending machines

Where we went: 2 weeks, 4 cities
Honshu, Japan’s largest island
Distance from Tokyo to Hiroshima: ~ 420 milesJapan has 6,852 islands, 426 are inhabitedThe area of Japan is ~144,000 sq mi, slightly smaller than CaliforniaHowever, California’s population is ~37 mil, Japan’s is ~128 mil
Shinkansen trains run at speeds up to 160 mph

First stop, Tokyo “Eastern Capital”Population: over 12 million people

Tokyo Sightseeing
Tokyo Imperial PalaceHome of the Emperor of Japan
Sony Building
Bike Tour

Japan’s Main Religions: Shinto and Buddhism
Shinto: Worship of ancestors and natureBuddhism: Spiritual solace and daily guidanceMost Japanese will have a Shinto Wedding and a Buddhist Funeral
Shinto Shrine
Buddhist Temple
Water trough
Entrance gate
Buddhist Statue
Torii gate

Tokyo Shrines and Temples
Sumiyoshi Shrine on Tsukuda-jima Island
Zojoji Temple, Hanamatsuri festival
Atago Shrine, Steps of Success

Tsukiji Fish Market The largest fish and seafood market in the world
The auction price world record was a fish that sold for 2 million yen (~$174,000 ). It was a Bluefin tuna weighing 445 lb. The fish shown here is only 1/10th that size.

Fuji TV Headquarters
Tokyo Big Sight
Odaiba: An artificial island with futuristic architecture
Tokyo Big SightTokyo Big Sight
Fuji TV HeadquartersStatue of Liberty
replica
Tokyo Big Sight
377 ft Ferris wheel

Tokyo Fashion
Schoolkids
Business People
Harajuku style

Takayama – Denver’s sister city

Takayama Sightseeing
Takayama Jinya Edo Government Building
Morning Market
Sanmachi-Suji

Takayama Festival:One of the best festivals in Japan
There is both a spring and fall festival and each has a different set of floats. This festival triples the population of Takayama, normally around 95,000.

Hida Folk Village
Gassho-zukuri:Hands held in prayer
This village of traditional thatched houses demonstrates the lifestyle of rural people in medieval Japan

Sitting room turns into bedroom
Onsen – hot bath
Drinking tea in my yukata
Takayama RyokanA traditional Japanese inn featuring tatami floors, sliding paper doors, and sleeping on a futon
Dining area
Remove your shoes at the door

Delicious kaiseki mealsMeals consisting of many small dishes and featuring seasonal and regional specialties

Hiroshima: City of Peace

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Peace Memorial Park
Cenotaph – contains all victims’ names
A-bomb dome (Gembaku Domu)
Children’s Peace Monument

Miyajima Island
“Floating torii gate” – at low tide
Itsukushima Shrine
Friendly deer

Meeting Family
Family GravesiteBrad and me with my cousin, also named Kimiko

Kyoto – “Capital City”The Capital of Japan from 794-1868

Heian Shrine
This is was built in 1895 to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto. Their gardens are famous for their display of sakura (cherry blossoms).

SanjusangendoThe Temple of 1001 statues of the 1000 armed KannonAlso houses the statues of 28 guardians of Buddhism

Kiyomizu-dera
Drinking these waters gives you health, wealth, or wisdom
This temple is known for the amazing views from its veranda that juts out from the hillside

Nijo Castle:Featuring art from the Kano School of Art… relatives perhaps?
Built in 1603 as the official residence of first Tokugawa shogun. Has nightingale floors and hidden chambers for bodyguards.

Kinkakuji - The Golden PavilionAn illustration of the harmony between Heaven
and Earth

Nishi HonganjiThe main temple of Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism

Nara: The first permanent capital of Japan from 710 - 785
Like Miyajima, Nara also is the home of many deer, but they are a little more aggressive.

Todaiji Temple:The largest wooden building in the world
Pindola Bharadvaja, Buddhist disciple, master of occult powers
This Daibutsu (Great Buddha) is the largest bronze Buddha ever cast at 16 m high

Kasuga Taisha:Shrine of 3000 Lanterns

Japanese Food:Both healthy and delicious
Plastic displays
Ramen
Bento box
Yakisoba

Figuring out what to order…It was confusing at times, but we managed
It helped when there were pictures!

Regional Specialties
Takoyaki
OkonomiyakiFugu
(blowfish)Conger Eel

Seafood
Conveyor belt sushi
We ate a lot of raw fish on this trip

Entertainment: Pachinko, Karaoke, Purikura

Conclusion:Japan is awesome and I can’t wait to go back! But first I need to learn to speak Japanese…Questions or Comments?