SketchTravel Japan, spring 2022

May 3, 2022

Experiencing the “Land of the Rising Sun” by bullet train and car
The magnificence of Tokyo
This was my third trip to Japan. We occasionally get great rates to fly there, and were able to grab some tickets this time before they sold out. Along with visiting my wife's family and friends, we took the opportunity to explore so many new areas. Tokyo is a phenomenal city, a wonder of efficiency, plenty, with friendly service and product marketing genius. It is enough to make a shopper out of the most hardened cynic. There is much to admire, and one of my favorites is a trip to the original Tsukiji fish market. A sketcher's paradise.

Nagano and Kanazawa

On our way to Kanazawa on the west coast, we stopped in Nagano, stored our luggage at the train station and visited the popular temple of Zenkoji, one of the most famous in Japan. It was founded in the 7th century, and stores the first Buddhist statue brought to Japan.
Then on to Kanazawa, where we spent a couple days walking through the extensive park grounds of Kenroku Garden and nearby castle. From there we walked through the city to visit several neighborhoods of samurai houses, and later checked out their very cool fish market.

On to Shizuoka

From there we dropped back down to Shizuoka, where my wife is from. A favorite place there is the Toro Archaelogical site, where architectural replications of early rice culture houses and grain storage buildings have been recreated. I especially love these primitive earth-sheltered dwellings.

kyoto

With bento boxes and beers, we jumped on the bullet train, watching the towns and countryside flash by while cruising at 186mph to Kyoto. The cherry blossoms were still in view, though fading from their peak. We were fortunate to have missed the crushing crowds of visitors who were here to see them just a week previously. There is so much to see in Kyoto, and we did our best to visit as many of the temples and shrines as we could, along with several trips to the fantastic Nishiki Market. A highlight for me was a visit to the house of Mukai Kyorai, who was haiku poet Basho’s favorite student.

Fukuoka and the southern island of Kyushu

I had found another archealogical site on the southern island of Kyushu by the name of Yoshinogari years ago, and hoped that some day I might visit it. My dream came true this trip, as we were able to walk the grounds of that place, a magical event for me. We also traveled to some of the smaller southern islands, drove over and through wooded mountains surrounding a giant caldera, stayed in a traditional Japanese hotel with natural hot springs, and explored the amazing Takachiho Gorge.

Tokyo was a long way to get back to, so we reserved sleeper cars on an all-night return train trip. It was bumpy and jerky and noisy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.