My Top Experiences in Japan

In my Lonely Planet guide book we have used for every trip we have taken up to mainland and around Okinawa, there is a list of top things to experience while in Japan. I counted them and we managed about 16 of the 30 things on the list. Not bad, but today I want to share my personal favorites of what we have been able to see and do in Japan. And while I'm on the subject let me just say how fabulous traveling in Japan is. The only downside is that it is the most expensive country in Asia to travel around. But man, they make traveling/siteseeing, etc. so great. Clean, considerate, punctual. If you have a chance to visit Japan, do it!

1. Temples and Shrines in Kyoto, Japan 

Ahhh, Kyoto. This place is the ultimate Japanese experience. Personally I prefer it in the fall, but seeing it in cherry blossom season--more like seeing how the Japanese adore cherry blossom season--is a memorable experience.

2. Geisha spotting in Kyoto.
Geisha are so fascinating to me in this modern time. They are still so mysterious to us outside foreigners. But they really have some kind of magic charm that when you see them you are drawn to them and can't take your eyes off of them!

3. Ride the Shinkansen

I LOVE the bullet trains in Japan. I wish I could always travel by bullet train. They are always exactly on time to the second and while you are zipping by so fast, the inside is so quiet and relaxing. Expensive, but worth it.

4. Experience Osaka by night.

The Dotombori district of Osaka is so much fun, and what you imagine when you think of modern Japan. Lights, signs, sensory overload. It's lots of fun.

5.  Visit Hiroshima

You come to love Hiroshima as you visit the sombering sites/memorials from the atomic bomb destruction and then see the city now and the people. They are such kind people, and the city is a testament to moving forward and promoting peace.

6. Mingle with the Wild Deer on the Sacred Island of Miyajima

Just south of Hiroshima, this beautiful and charming island is my favorite. You never want to leave this beautiful and serene place. And the delicious grilled oysters are a highlight. Miyajima is a hidden gem.

7. The Great Buddha of Nara

Nara also used to be an old capitol of Japan, and the Buddha there is awesome. The town is charming too, also filled with wild deer everywhere.

8. Experience Japanese Onsen

I don't have a picture of this, because you never take anything in the onsen with you--even your clothes haha. Onsen is traditional Japanese baths, and it's so relaxing. Onsen are segregated between men and women, and yes, you are completely naked. I love the onsen!

9. Visit Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo

Thousands and thousands of people pass through this crossing everyday. It's fun to watch it unfold from the Starbucks there. But what is crazy about visiting Shibuya is that while it looks like chaos, it actually is very quiet and polite. I made a video crossing the street, and when I watched it I realized how boring it seemed because everyone is so polite crossing so there is so little noise!

Last but not least...
10. Experience Japan's Islands!

Okinawa and its outlying islands: what can I even say? Just go back and read my Okinawa tab ha. Such beauty. The snorkeling/diving is some of the best in the world. The people are so incredibly warm and welcoming. We love these islands. 

I love Japan and I feel so grateful I had the chance to experience it these past two years!!

Golden Week Dragon Boat Races

At the end of Golden Week in Okinawa, they have their big Dragon Boat Races at the main port in Naha. This year I was finally able to see some races and it was lots of fun. Even more fun, because we got to see the Navy Womens team compete. My friend Mickelle and I both knew a few people on the team and it just makes it so fun to cheer for people you know. 

It was so fun seeing everyone cheer each other on. Japanese teams were high fiving the American participants and other competitors. 

The Navy team warming up

 These sweet girls LOVE Baby J. And he loves them. We are going to miss them!

And they're off! The Navy team is in the middle and shortly after this was taken, they took the lead and smashed the competition to win the race. All their hard work paid off.

Happy Golden Week from Japan!

Kyoto and the Cherry Blossoms

We loved having the chance to see Kyoto during cherry blossom season since it's such an iconic image of Japan. But when all is said and done, I've decided I prefer it in the fall with the fall foliage. Not to mention in the fall you have a much bigger window of time to visit and hotels don't totally jack up their prices. Anyway! Here is Kyoto:

^^beautiful Geisha!^^

Our time was short, but it was fun. We showed Sarah the must sees: Arashiyama, Gion, and Fushimi Inari Shrine

I made it to the top of the mountain this time and I would not say it's worth it ha ha. Just more Torii gates! J also was tired and needed water breaks for the hike.

So there you go! Kyoto. The essence of Japan.

8 Months and My Motherhood Confession

I know I said my next blog post would be about Kyoto, but I realized I hadn't posted for J's 8 month post! What kind of mother am I?? We had a little photo shoot this morning, and this boy. Such a joy. I just love all his expressions in just a 10 minute period. And I can officially say I've become one of those cliche moms who just keeps saying "how is he 8 months? please time slow down!" I get it now. Him growing up is so bittersweet. 

As you can see, his biggest developments since my last post 2 months ago is that he has two little teeth! And he is starting to crawl. He is being slow about it, since army crawling is so much faster and easier for him at this point. He is entering the mommy clingy stage, but it's only really bad if he is grumpy, which is usually from being tired. He still loves people so much which makes us really happy. We love that he makes everyone feel special when he gives them a smile.

With that being said, there are some things I want to get off my chest about my experience with having a baby and becoming a mother. Something I have been afraid to admit. My confession is this: my experience with a baby has been very easy. I have a very easy baby. 

I haven't divulged much of this info because I have been afraid of inflicting harsh feelings of "rubbing it in" to fellow moms who have not had it as easy as I have. For the past few months, I have read lots of articles and blog posts by women who have had very difficult experiences, and the whole time I think, "wow, it was not like that for me at all." I think it's a good thing that these women are writing their true experiences because the internet can be a very supportive place, but with that it has kind of made me afraid to admit my true experience. But I feel like I need to, because my pre-baby self was so hesitant to have a baby to begin with because of all the horror stories out there. I want to say that things are not always as difficult as the internet makes it seem. 

Here's my confession about giving birth: it's painful and my body was broken. But my body healed very quickly. I was already going out and doing things the very day I got home from the hospital. I was worried that having a baby would alter my appearance. But it doesn't look like I had a baby. My stomach looks just like it did before. I still have some love handles, but it doesn't look likes it's from a baby. I am so grateful for a body that has proven that it is more than capable of doing all that it was made to do.

Here's my confession about breastfeeding: I don't know what I was so worried about. We had no problems at all. Yes, milk coming in hurt at times but not nearly like the pain of giving birth like some women had said. My baby latched and ate correctly from day one and breastfeeding quickly became something I looked forward to doing. Never had the horror stories of cracked and bleeding nipples. This confession is one I'm afraid to admitting the most. Because I know people who have real struggles with it. I'm not putting any judgement on women who choose to not breastfeed, but I am here to say that I personally had/am having a fantastic experience with it and I wish I could have spared my pre-baby self from all that anxiety.

My last confession is about postpartum depression/baby blues: I did not experience it. I had seen one too many Oprah episodes in my high school days and I was terrified of this. I'm no scientist, but I think it's safe to say that you can get a good idea of how your experience will be based on your mother's experience, and I feel blessed that depression is not something that runs in my family. Yes, some days I felt overwhelmed that this was my life now, but overall, snuggling with that perfect baby was pure bliss. I loved the newborn phase and can't wait to experience it again. 

Of course it hasn't all been perfection and I could go into all that, but my point right now is to say that the things I was most worried about before having a baby turned out just fine--if not better-- and you don't need to psych yourself out about having a baby and you shouldn't believe everything you read. I don't take for granted that I have had such a great baby experience. Maybe the next baby will give me a run for my money! But I just want to put it out there in the sea of negative, that there is also the positive stuff. My experience is not necessarily your experience and your experience is not necessarily my experience. 

Feels good to get that off my chest.

And just a few more pictures because I can't help myself! I love him so much.

Returning to Miyajima

After returning a second time to the island of Miyajima, a quick ferry ride from Hiroshima, I have decided it's my favorite place in mainland Japan. The beauty, the charm, the peacefulness...I could go on and on, but it's such a special place. A little out of the way from our original itinerary which was just to explore the Osaka/Kyoto area, but Sarah said she wanted to see it, so I was happy to oblige.

We had a delicious lunch of fresh local oysters and then enjoyed the beautiful weather just walking around. I got to visit Daisho-in Temple again and I loved every minute. We stayed in Hiroshima right next to the Peace Park and visited those sites, enjoying the cherry blossoms along the river, and marveling at the city of Hiroshima. The people there are the nicest. Then back on the shinkansen for our last stop, Kyoto!

Original Miyajima post here.