Japan, SE Asia Part 2 – Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and a Hello Kitty Shinkansen
in July 2024 we embarked on a 4-month trip around Southeast Asia We covered nine countries 33 locations and all in 125 days [Music] This morning we got up and went for a walk around the lotus pond behind our accommodation to have a last look and take some photos It was only 7:30 a.m but it was already super hot Then it was time to pack up and move on We had some brekie at the station and then headed into our final sightseeing in Tokyo for this trip Starbucks Reserve Roastery [Music] This place was fun I found it interesting Probably would have been better with my bestie who drinks coffee but we had some snacks and I had a pineapple coffee thing and explored the four floors before getting on our way to Kyoto [Music] We got our tickets and our bento boxes for the fast train ride on the Shinkansen We were across the country in just two short hours and ready to explore Kyoto We started with the train station as we didn’t really look at it last time and then we learned afterwards that it’s a pretty amazing station and it is There’s a food market area and a shopping center And the sky garden which is the rooftop was great and free [Music] After a rest and a wander we headed out for dinner We went to the chain Ichiran to have ramen First you order on the machine wait for a seat to become vacant for a solo dining booth then have your dinner delivered through a small window [Music] Here we go This ramen was creamy rich and flavorful and one of our favorites of the trip for the taste and for the experience [Music] We then headed back to the station to see it at [Music] night to see Kyoto Tower all lit up And then the grand staircase light show which is adorned with approximately 15,000 LED [Music] lights Time for bed this accommodation we went for a traditional floor bed I’m thankful this was the only time we did that Today was the day I was really excited for We went to [Music] N particularly to see the deer and there were a lot more than a thousand actually The deer are considered sacred messengers of the gods according to Shinto tradition [Music] We bought some special deer crackers to feed them and delighted in how they bow politely to ask for food Thank you Or not so politely These little ones tried to get into my bag where they saw me put them They’re not silly [Music] You’ve also got to be careful that they don’t bite you [Music] [Applause] We actually couldn’t believe how many there were The further we got into the park the more and more we found [Music] Yeah [Music] Yeah Yeah [Music] Some of them could be a little aggressive And this one here did end up eating my paper map out of my bag But they were usually pretty good when you showed them two hands with no food in them [Music] This is Toi Gi Temple a Buddhist temple that houses the great Buddha statue This is the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha Verana [Music] Good for you Good for you [Music] Good for [Music] [Music] you Nar Park is huge at around 502 hectares So we caught the bus to have a look up the hill Not yet [Music] [Music] Yeah This is Kashuga Taisha Shrine which is famous for its lanterns Hundreds of bronze lanterns are hanging from the buildings and as many stone lanterns line its paths [Music] How about [Music] On the way home we had booked tickets on the luxury train back to Kyoto I just love the different themed trains in Japan It makes traveling so fun [Music] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] [Music] [Music] For dinner we headed to Nishiki Market which is a narrow fiveb block long Shopping street lined with more than 100 shops and restaurants [Music] Today we arrived in Hiroshima We left the train station and jumped on the tram which stopped right outside our accommodation [Music] Then we got busy making our way to find Hiroshima style okonamayyaki This place called Okonomi Mura is described as an okonomayyaki food theme park Just like the ramen theme park we’d visited earlier in the trip It features multiple booths over several floors selling this dish We chose our restaurant and sat to watch this layered interesting meal be [Music] made Heat [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] Heat Heat [Music] Heat Heat Heat [Music] [Music] I’m here for those [Music] We then headed to Peace Park Hiroshima suffered a devastating pass during World War II And this memorial park inside the city is dedicated to the legacy of the nuclear attack at the end of the war and a memorial to the direct and indirect lives that were affected This is the A bomb dome When the bomb exploded it was one of the few buildings to remain standing and remains so today Our next stop was overlooking Peace Park at Hiroshima Hills an open air wooden observation deck on top of Orizuru Tower It provides a 180 degree view over the Abomb Dome peace park and out to Hiroshima Hills [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Today was truly one of my favorite days We got on a boat and in just under an hour we arrived at Miaima Island [Music] The highlight of the island is the bright orange giant Tory gates which at high tide seemed to float on the water We also got to witness this Not sure what it was about but they had TV cameras on the boat [Music] Miaima is Japanese for Shrine Island And we explored the shrine with its rooms built over the water [Music] We then caught a cable car on the Miaima ropeway up to the top of the mountain This consisted of two ropeways and took us to the top of the highest mountain on the island Mount Misen [Music] Then you can walk to temples and shrines built on the mountain But it was too hot and rather difficult for me So Anthony did that while I waited in this station with the air con and fans to keep cool The views from up here were spectacular though [Music] cheap drinks This was a favorite part of the day especially when it was so hot Yeah [Music] We stayed long enough to see the Tory gates both submerged and also in the afternoon at low tide to walk around the bottom of it and actually take in how huge it really [Music] [Music] is heat [Music] [Music] The night ended at this great little restaurant where we chatted with the owner enjoyed his cuisine and took pictures with him for his Instagram [Music] [Music] This morning we headed to the Hiroshima Memorial Museum This was an interesting display and by the end I did have tears [Music] Our last stop here though was a supermarket to grab some snacks to take our next train to Fukuoka [Music] [Applause] [Music] It’s a Hello Kitty one Did you hear my excitement for the Shing Hansen that arrived to take us to Fukuoka I did not expect it to be a themed train so the excitement was [Music] [Applause] real And our seats were in the front carriage which was themed and right next to the Hello Kitty shop [Music] Heat up here Our first thing to do in Fukuawoka was to check into our accommodation We were excited to see it was the largest of all our accommodations so far Then we headed over to Canal City the shopping center we can see from our room and got to see a water show [Music] [Music] By this stage it was dinner time and we found a food court [Music] We decided on ramen goa and some fried chicken Then it was back to watch the night water show which featured some sort of transformer imagery on the building behind We took a walk along the canal saw these famous food stalls but we were too hot and full and tired to try anything [Music] else So we sat and enjoyed some people watching took a few photos before heading back to our room and enjoying the view from our couch in front of our window [Music] Today we went our separate ways I wanted to find an interesting looking Starbucks on my quest for different Starbucks venues at the entrance of Daafu Ten Mangu Shrine I navigated the train platform myself and imagine my delight when this train turned up [Music] Heat Heat [Applause] [Music] It was raining a bit but I found the venue and bought my coffee and enjoyed the decor [Music] Then I decided to have a look at where I had come to just to find a Starbucks The grounds surrounding the shrine were magnificent The shrine itself was under renovation but the grounds were certainly worth exploring [Music] Heat Heat [Music] Heat Heat [Music] Heat Heat [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] Heat Heat [Music] The paths were lined with lots of flags for some reason which provided a burst of color among the trees It was quite mountainous and very steamy and hot from the rain But I wandered around for a while to enjoy the [Music] nature I then headed back into the city to meet up with Anthony We met at Fukuoka Tower which is a seaside tower that stands 234 m [Music] [Music] tall We enjoyed the views over the suburbs and over the ocean And we also had some fun with all the photo spots on the observation deck theater This was our last morning in Japan We got some snacks from here for our next travel day to our second country of this trip Today we were taking a large ferry boat from Fukuoka to Busousan in South Korea This was our boat the Chameleia line home for the next 6 hours We booked a room in case it was rough or we couldn’t get a seat on the deck areas And then we said goodbye to Japan Heat [Music] Heat Heat Heat [Music]
Part 2 of our adventure around South East Asia. We finish our time in Japan with a trip to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka before leaving on the Camillia Line Ferry to Busan, South Korea (which will be our next part of the adventure).
AloJapan.com