In Japan: A Journey through clouds to Mount Fuji’s Sacred Peak
Story and Photos by Lee Daley.
In Japan, at dawn on the first day of January each year, hundreds gather at the base of Mount Fuji to witness the maiden sunrise ushering in the new year. The Ainu tribe, Japan’s ancient indigenous peoples believed the sun was one of the most powerful among hundreds of gods, actually the most important of all. To witness the annual hatsuhinode, as it is called, is to partake in a sacred act.
Japan Odyssey: Part-1, Tokyo to Kanagawa.
Story and Photos by John Sundsmo.
Wandering has always been a favorite travel mode for my wife and I. Rather than a scripted itinerary, we usually prefer a more do-it-ourselves mode of travel. However, when we began planning a trip to Japan, our inhibitions got the better of us, i.e., language, customs, culture, and logistics all seemed daunting. So, we decided to tour first, then return in the future to the special places we enjoyed. We chose a British small group tour and embarked on a Japanese odyssey with forty like-minded adventurers who hailed from Australia, Iran, Britain, Canada, and the United States. Unlike the classic Greek heroes’ odysseys, none of our companions were lost during our epic twelve-day tour through Japan.
Japan Oddysey: Part 2, Kyoto over the Inland Sea to Hiroshima
Story and Photos by John Sundsmo.
In Part-1, Tokyo to Kanazawa: By bus, we traversed the main Japanese island of Honshu from Tokyo in the east, past Mount Fuji and the Five Lakes District, through the Yamanashi wine region (the Napa of Japan) to Takayama in the Japanese Alps; then through the Nanto arts region to Kanagawa in the west (about 300 miles). Here in Part-2: By express train, we traveled from Kanagawa south to majestic Kyoto, the emperor’s home and seat of the shogun governments in the 11th to 15th centuries. From Kyoto, we wandered on the Shimanami Driveway between islands on the Seto Inland Sea, stopping on the Awagi and Oshima islands and at Kotohira on Shikoku Island before finally arriving in Hiroshima. Catching a ferry to Miyajima Island gave us a special visit to Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating Torii Gate. Again, we wandered in the South for about 300 miles.
Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part 1.
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
Impressions: “Arigato goziamsu” or “thank you” are words I heard most during my 20 days in Japan, usually accompanied by a slight bow or “eshaku,” signifying politeness. I joined an organized “cultural tour” of Japan with 13 other travelers, stopping in Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. My leading destination was Kyoto, the capital for several centuries that is known for its cherry blossoms and Buddhist and Shinto temples. I picked the dates of the tour on the off-chance that we would be there when the flowers were in full bloom, and they were.
Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part Two.
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
This article continues from Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part One, in which a cultural tour of Japan engendered a new appreciation and understanding of the complexities of Japanese traditions in craft arts, paintings, and garden design. To better appreciate the traditions of the Samurai, we walked through a district in Kanazawa along narrow streets and canals. There, they lived in traditional houses with gardens surrounded by earthen walls and gates that signified their rank. Similar to the Geisha districts in Kanazawa and Kyoto, many of the small wooden houses have been well-preserved and converted into tourist areas with restaurants and shops.
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