This spring in Japan I travelled a lot! In the beginning of April I had a short 5-days vacation, so I went to Kanto and Chubu. I haven’t been there in a while. I wanted to visit a friend and also do some traveling while there. After all traveling during spring in Japan is so much fun!
Spring Vacation April 2012:
On April 1st I went to Kawasaki City to see the “Kanamara Matsuri“, among foreigners also known as “Penis Festival”.
(I hope nobody is offended by these photos! I mean there were babies and kids around, too!)
I thought it was just a weird dream, but I really followed Pikachu who was following a big, pink penis!! Welcome to Japan!!
More about the festival and the tradition behind it in a future blog post.
From Kanagawa Prefecture I went to Chiba to see Chiba Castle.
And from there I was off to “Nokogiriyama“. Truly beautiful!
Need a reason to go there on top of the nice view? Nokogiriyama has the tallest / highest Buddha statue in Japan! Much taller than the famous one in Kamakura!
My hotel was in Yokohama, so I spent a bit of time there, too. It wasn’t my first time there.
Sankeien Garden, a Japanese style garden not too far from the city center. Unfortunately the cherry blossoms weren’t really blooming at the beginning of April yet.
Yokohama at night is always interesting.
A strong typhoon hit the region, trains stopped moving, but I went out to see Odawara Castle anyways.
I’m actually surprised that the photo looks so peaceful. It was almost IMPOSSIBLE to stand outside at that time.
From Odawara (after waiting for HOURS because the local train lines all stopped and I had to take the Shinkansen in the end) I went to Shizuoka Prefecture.
The next day was still cloudy and extremely windy. I started in Hamamatsu City.
In the photo you can see Hamamatsu Castle. At that time Shizuoka Prefecture’s cherry blossoms were already in full bloom! Not so in Tokyo, Chiba or Yokohama!
Hamamatsu’s Sand Dunes. Quite ridiculous compared to the ones in Tottori Prefecture – which I visited in spring 2011.
For castle lovers like me the area between Hamamatsu and Shizuoka is absolutely awesome!
I also went to Kakegawa Castle which is pretty much between those two cities.
And while I was at it I also visited Tanaka Castle in Fujieda City.
Last but not least I also visited Shunpu Castle in Shizuoka.
Now, you’re probably wondering: What about Mt. Fuji? Shizuoka is all about Mt. Fuji, isn’t it?
Uhm … not really, but of course I tried. And as always with Mt. Fuji I wasn’t lucky.
I mean … I went to Yamanashi in winter (when it’s supposed to be clear and you can view Mt. Fuji easily, but I couldn’t), climbed Mt. Fuji in summer a few years ago during a typhoon …. so why should it work out this time, right?
Although it was sunny, Mt. Fuji was hiding!!
I went to Nihondaira which is super famous for one of the most beautiful views of Mt. Fuji (cherry blossoms, ocean and the mountain), but …. Mt. Fuji was shy as always.
If you look closely enough you can make out its snow-covered peak in the photo, though. Good luck!
At least I got to see a nice festival at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine in Shizuoka City.
And this was my shorter spring vacation trip in the beginning of April. Lots of cherry blossoms in the past few months, huh? Trust me if I say you’ll get never tired of them!!
Day trips from February – April 2012:
Let’s now continue with a few day trips I did in the past few months (from February to April 2012):
Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture. A very popular cherry blossom sightseeing spot in Kansai! Spring in Japan is truly beautiful.
Takarazuka Theater in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Osamu Tezuka (the father of all manga and anime) Museum in Takarazuka.
Sasayama Castle in Hyogo Prefecture.
Giant Robot Statue close to Shin-Nagata Station, near Kobe.
The Tetsujin 28 statue was built to help rebuild the Nagata ward of Kobe after the Great Hanshin Earthquake 1995. The Nagata ward was one of the worst hit areas.
Kobe Port. I’ve been to Kobe several times by now.
Hagi Castle Ruins in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Akiyoshi Cave (one of the biggest limestone caves and very famous) in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Tsuwano’s Taikodani Inari Shrine in Shimane Prefecture.
On the last page you’ll find some cute souvenirs I bought during my recent trips, so hit the PAGE 3 button if you’re interested! :D
It looks like an awesome trip. I have lived in Sendai for a few years now, and I haven’t gone to as many places as you did on that trip.
I went to Kakunodate a few years ago, but I did not know it was a place to see cherry blossoms. I will have to visit there next year.
Really?
Well, I’m kind of crazy about traveling, so you don’t have to compare, but I’d love to live up there and explore Tohoku some more! There are still so many great things I want to see!
In autumn it must be heaven?!
Kakunodate is quite popular in spring, but if you live in Tohoku anyways, I’d go to Hirosaki instead if I were you! :D
Hirosaki is awesome in the summer. Remember a few years ago when August was so hot? It was nice up in Aomori.
I think Kakunodate would be good for me since my in-laws live in Iwate, so it would be a hop over the mountains to get there. Aomori is a little farther – but still a nice drive.
Whoahh!!! I’m loaded with your many beautiful photos. It’s as if I’ve seen the places myself, too. You really know which nice palces to go. :thumbup:
Your blog is a very good source of information for people who wants to travel around Japan like me. Thank you for sharing your experiences to awesome places.
I never knew there’s a Buddha statue bigger than the ones in Todaiji or Kamakura.
I love Yokohama’s night view so much that I had to stop by there even just for a few minutes when I went to Kamakura last time.
Your manekineko stuffs are cute. :fan: I’m into discovering new flavors of KitKat, too. :shiawase: But my first love is still the matcha flavor. :kyah:
Woah! Thank you so much!!
Being a travel inspiration for others is exactly what I want, so I’m glad you see it that way! :hearts:
You know there are SO MANY awesome places out there that people simply don’t know about although they are worth visiting – much more thand the “standard” destinations such as Kyoto or Tokyo, so I want to share that with other people and hopefully get them interested in those other places, too! :luvit:
Well, they seem to differenciate here quite a lot!
Todaiji’s is INSIDE, Kamakura’s is OUTSIDE so they wouldn’t fall in the same category anyways.
I thought I had seen the biggest Buddha statue quite a few times already as it was also written there “Japan’s Biggest Buddha Statue …” – but I forgot to read the smaller printed letters such as “biggest sitting statue that is situated outside” etc.
Confusing! :hihi:
To be honest I’m not really a fan of all the KitKat flavors. Most of the time I’m just disappointed, so I stopped trying them all. The only exception I make is when I travel and find some “limited to xy area” stuff! :ehehe:
Lots of beautiful photos, as usual! You collect castles as I collect gardens…
I am looking forward to your pictures of Tottori dunes. I only took one or two when I was there, as it was late August and terribly hot. I couldn’t stand being out in the open very long.
I was very impressed by the Akiyoshi caves. I found it a little difficult to take decent photos because of the light there, though I managed a few. And the ascent to Tsuwano’s Taikodani Inari shrine is delightful. Tsuwano in fact I thought a very pleasant small town.
Your photos from Hakodate are superb! Maybe I should plan a visit to Hokkaido one of these days…
Thanks so much!
I love gardens, too, but I don’t specifically hunt them. I certainly hunt castles and always try to squeeze in as many as possible! :satisfied:
I went there in spring, but it was still very cold, yet beautiful weather that day. I have far too many photos of that day, so you can certainly look forward to that. I also was able to see a beautiful sunset back then! :music2:
I took my tripod with me when going to the Akiyoshi Cave, so it wasn’t as difficult. I’ve been to another big cave in Gifu once without a tripod and it was almost impossible to take any decent photos, so I know what you’re talking about.
Glad you like them. I wish I had more time in Hokkaido. I’ll definitely go back there one day. Ideally once in autumn and once in February for the Sapporo Snow Festival! ^-^
I’m really thankful for all the travel experience that you have and always share with me!
I think we inspire each other a lot when it comes to travelling.
Furthermore we have been to the same places and I just love talking about our experiences.
Thanks so much, serisoulsy!!!! :luvit:
Hey there! I love your blog and your travel experiences seem fun!
I wanted to ask if you usually travel alone in Japan? I’m currently in Japan now for exchange and I want to do a Kansai-Hiroshima-Kyushu tour. I’m not sure if I can find someone to travel with me yet I’m also contemplating to do a solo trip!
Do you have any advice for me?
=)
Keep up with the amazing entries!
Hi janz! :D
Thanks so much, glad you like it! ^-^
I do travel mainly alone, yes. At this point I think nobody could keep up with my crazy schedule anymore. Or rather, nobody would enjoy that kind of traveling, I think.
I did some of my travels with friends or family members, but that was earlier on when I wasn’t THAT crazy about traveling yet. My friends couldn’t keep up with it anymore and needed a lot of resting time. My brother was the only one who could keep up with my crazy schedules.
I don’t mind traveling alone at all.
I think from time to time it’s nice because you’ll notice so many details and can enjoy your destination to the fullest if you’re alone.
I wouldn’t worry about traveling alone if you can’t find anybody to go with you. It’s really not difficult at all – and it’s safe!
I’d love to give you some (hopefully good) advice! :luvit:
When do you want to do your trip? In summer?
Anything in particular you want to know?
How much time do you have available for this trip?
You can also send me a message / e-mail instead of commenting here! ^-^
Sounds like a fun trip already! :D
Great post and Tohoku is one area of Japan that I would love to explore further. It is really famous for its unspoilt natural scenery including spectacular rocky coastline, and scores of natural hot springs.
Japan Australia
It is really beautiful and most definitely worth a visit, especially in autumn. I’ve been in Tohoku in winter and in spring now. I want to go back in autum one day! :D
Oh wow. Somehow it’s relaxing to know that I’m not the only one immensely behind on updating my travel blog :) I’d love to read about Tashirojima and Ishinomaki as it’s one of the places I want to go to next and I am/was worried about how acceptable it is to go “sight-see” in such a hard hit region. Glad to hear, that tourists are still welcome there.
Immensely is an understatement, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to catch up. ;P
I’m looking forward to hear more about your latest vacation, though!!
Well, I didn’t go there for the destroyed houses. In fact, I thought there wouldn’t be any damage visible anymore. I just went there for Tashirojima.
There are also many things how you can support the city. They sell some postcards or books and other things specifically limited to the city and the money will help to get the city back how it used to be. I’m glad I could help at least a little :(
So many awesome pictures already, so many interesting places. Simply, sugei.
Thanks! I tried what you recommended in this post, splitting it into pages. What do you think?
So far nobody complained *g*
I like it! It helps the page load faster, though some people may forget to keep going… but only the ones whe probably wouldn’t make it to the end anyway!
Thanks a lot for your opinion! :)
I just found your website, and I love it! Will take me alot of time to browse through it, though.
Hello there! :D
I’m glad to hear you love it! :happy:
Take your time, but don’t worry. The blog is still relatively new, so you didn’t miss much yet! :thumbup:
lovely…. seriously,, i wanna go to japan. i have plan for next year to go to japan.. and after read your experience in japan, it’s make me really wanna go there immediately.. :fan:
thank you for your info..
Hello and thank you very much! :D
I hope you’ll have a great time in Japan! ^-^
Wooow!
I love your photos!! So wonderful!
Especially the mountain temple one! What an incredible nature!! :sparkling:
Also I want to go to the Penis festival so badly!! It was in Kawasaki?
I always thought thats some other place further away from Tokyo?! Hmm..
The cat houses are adorable too. It such a pity.. :teary:
Cant wait to see more!!
I can only give the compliment back to you, dear! :luvit:
It is in Kawasaki, yes, every year on the first Sunday of April!
The reason why I haven’t participated before WAS that it was so close to Tokyo and thus too far away from me! ;P
hello, i’m Japanese guy who has living in Hokkaido.
i really really like to read your blog (but, this is the first comment)
In GW, I also went to Hakodate and some cities around there, but i didn’t have a time to trip to Honsyu; therefore, i envy u so much!!
I have visited 46 /47 pref, so i have to go to Okinawa asap…..it’s a long trip from Hokkaido lol
please let me know when u come to Hokkaido. i can give u information where u should go!
at last, i don’t used to use English, so maybe there are so much mistakes. i hope u can read out from this….m(. . )m
Hello! :D
I’m so glad to hear that, thank you very much!
You’ve been to 46 prefectures already? I’m the one who’s envious!!! Woah! :whyohwhy:
I’ll definitely want to visit Hokkaido again. After all I’ve only seen Hakodate so far.
Thanks!
英語すごく上手ですね!
私も英語が母国語じゃありません(ドイツ人ですから)。 :hihi:
actually, Hakodate is one of a great city in Hokkaido, but there are so many beautiful places (maybe u can only see in Hokkaido in Japan) in 北の大地.
I’ve lived Shiga pref from 18 to 25, then ‘ve lived Vancouver, Canada for a year. That’s why I can read and write English a little.
also I’ve visited in German ( I forgot where I went, cos there were so small cities.) for 2 ~3 weeks when I was 17 years old. It was an awesome! Especially, Mercedes-Musium was GREAT lol
ドイツ語は、全くわかりませんので、英語と日本語で失礼します-^^-
P.S.
Ich mag Ihr wunderbares Foto……Mmm, I can’t recall German…..
There are many natural parks and beautiful nature in Hokkaido! I want to visit in autumn next time! The colors of autumn must be so beautiful!
I’ve never been to Canada! I’d love to visit one day! :D
You’ve even visited Germany? Wow, seems like you like traveling, too!? :hihi:
すごい!ドイツ語で書きましたね。
写真褒めてくれて、うれしいです! :happy:
I recommend going Hokkaido in Summer. Here is much cooler than Honsyu, and there are a lot of beautiful flower park. Autumn is still good, but if u like to eat any seafood, u should come to Hokkaido in winter.
I’m a keen traveler lol
I wanna live and work in EU for a while, but (Let’s be realistic.) it’s a hard decision for me to make.
ドイツ語はなんとなくしか覚えてないです。自己紹介とか簡単な会話程度なら話せますけど、書くのは全然ダメですね~ orz ドイツ語やフランス語は、英語よりかなり難しく感じます。
I will definitely visit Hokkaido (Sapporo) in winter for the Snow Festival!!
To be honest, I haven’t been traveling a lot through Europe. So far I’ve only been to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.
I want to visit Sweden, Norway, Holland, the UK, France etc. one day!
まぁ、文法的にドイツ語もフランス語も難しいと思います。
英語よりドイツ語のほうが発音が簡単でしょう。
What an epic travel post! I’m soooo jealous! Wow you managed to get to Tashirojima? :thumbup: That’s one of my dream destinations in Japan since I’m such a cat lover, but getting there is such a pain, wasn’t it? Please post about the cat island soon! :kyah:
If I ever happen to make an “all time travel post” featuring all the destinations I’ve been to in the past 5 years, it would turn out as a book rather than a blog post, I guess. :reading:
No, it wasn’t that bad to go there, esp. not if you’re somewhere in Miyagi Prefecture anyways (e.g. Matsuhima or Sendai). Ok, I’ll try to post about it in the near future! ;P
ahhh..cherry blossoms..one of the many reasons why i want to travel and stay in japan..
Thank God i found this blog..
Spring can really feel like paradise!
Autumn is also very beautiful.
Both seasons are perfect for traveling in Japan.
I hope you’ll get a chance to come and visit soon!
Thanks so much! :music2:
really beautiful, i like it.. ^_^
wow, the pictures are so beautiful! I am excited to visit Japan next year :)
Thank you! I hope you’ll have a great time in Japan! ^___^