Japan…. once again!

By Thatthep Sae-Lim. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Every time I go to Japan, I always find myself thinking of going back again. I’ve never acted on this impulsivity of just booking another Japan trip right after one another, but I did it this time around.

To me, Japan is a country I can visit a million times and still never get bored of. Unlike my previous Japan trip, it was late spring and not winter. So, the weather was just nice to walk around.

Kamikochi

Kamikochi is a remote valley located in the Chubu-Sangaku National Park. I first saw pictures of Kamikochi around ten years ago and it had been in my bucket list since. The beautiful turquoise water running through trees and nature, with the Japan Alps in the background is simply breathtaking.

If I’m being honest, this is one of the main reason this trip happened. Kamikochi only opens from April to November and due to this, I could never find a time to go there in the past ten years. Now that my exchange ended in mid-April, I couldn’t help but took the opportunity given to me to go to Kamikochi.

Nara park

Nara park is a public park that is unique and not like other parks, such that there are wild deers walking and roaming around the park. For some reasons, I suddenly really wanted to go to this park. I’ve no idea what had gotten into me, given that I’m terrified of wild animals. However, just like the wild monkeys on my previous trip, the deers are very kind. Well, unless you have treats for them.

Visitors are allowed to buy deer treats from shops around the park. Once the deers saw you bought the treats, they would come rushing to you and surround you to make sure you can’t leave. Some of them also use their deer horn to push you or nip on your leg to catch your attention and demand for treats. However, most of them would adorably bow down as a way to ask for treats.

Uji

This small town in between Nara and Kyoto is known to produce the best matcha (green tea) in Japan. As per my best friend’s recommendation, I went to a matcha dessert shop, Nakamura. I got myself a green tea parfait, which is one of the most delicious dessert I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. The combination of sweetness, saltiness, and sourness blend in very nicely. Till this day, I still miss how it tastes and long to be back in Japan again simply for it.

Kyoto

I was convinced by my friend to go back to Kyoto, after my first visit 10 years ago. I remembered feeling very neutral about this city – nothing about Kyoto attracted me then.

This time was however, different. I fell in love with the city and finally understand why my friend loves Kyoto so much. It is a relatively big city, with a lot of things to do. I really like how it is so easy to navigate and walk around the city as most attractions are very close together. I personally felt that Kyoto has a good balance of everything, whether its temples, old town, shopping centres, game arcades, and etc (as you would see in the pictures below).

Ine

Alongside with Kamikochi, Ine is the other place I very much looked forward to visiting in this trip. Once again, I was recommended by the same friend that convinced me to go to Kyoto.

Ine is a fishing village that is located at the Ine Bay, one of the UNESCO’s World’s Most Beautiful Bays. Interestingly, most locals are still fishing professionally and utlise the same unique techniques that has been passed down to them from ancient times.

I was very happy to be lucky enough to secure an accommodation in one of the traditional fishing houses (Funaya). It was a very unique experience staying in the Funaya, with a boat parked in the water literally right behind the house. I also got a chance to enjoy Kyoto local delicacy. Since it is a fishing village, seafood and produce are very fresh.

Kinosaki Onsen

Like I’ve said in one of my blogs, Japan trip is not completed without a trip to an onsen (hotspring) town. Kinosaki Onsen was the only onsen town I visited throughout this trip (which is extremely unusual for me).

Kinosaki Onsen is very well-known for its onsen hopping activity. There are a total of 7 onsens and visitors normally would “onsen hop” through all of them in a day. You can buy the onsen pass that grants you unlimited access to all the onsens in 24hrs!

Unfortunately, I was not impressed by this onsen town at all – I think it is very overhyped. It is one of the most popular onsen town in Japan, so it was very touristy and crowded when I was there. Even though it got slightly less crowded after 5pm when all the day trippers left and only overnight guests are around, I still felt like the experiences so far didn’t worth the pricey accommodation 🙁

Overall, it was a great trip. I’m really impressed with all the places I visited, especially Kyoto. As usual, I just can’t wait to be back in Japan again!!