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.
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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