I was fortunate enough to be offered a place in a school study tour of Japan scheduled to arrive in the midst of Cherry Blossom time.

Japan has been on my `bucket list’ for so long, and although my travel budget was looking a little thin, having recently returned from Africa and Indo China, I felt I couldn’t pass on this brilliant opportunity.

Our tour leader Eriko was a Japanese teacher, and although she was not trained in herding `big kids’ around she was amazing and provided a tremendous insight into `her’ country, its people, its culture, and its language `Konnichi Wa’ (Hello) and Arigatou Gozaimasu (Thank you very much) and my favourite Ikura desu ka? (How Much?)….   just like a true `shopaholic’.

I knew gastronomically I would be in heaven as Japanese cuisine is my absolute favourite, so I became very familiar with terms like Oishii sou (that looks delicious) and Onaka ippai (I’m full), however, I was surprised by the variety of presentation.

Going out daily to grab a snack became a bit of a challenge if you wanted something hot (well it was Spring and rather cool).   Workers seem to have such a short lunch break they tend to whip into a food emporium, grab their favourite `box’ and head back to the office to heat it up (microwave I suspect).   The boxed lunches look so enticing and were available seemingly everywhere you looked.

In fact midway through our tour my friend and I decided to do a little shopping and had to look no further than the Kyoto Train Station which boasts the second largest shopping area – 13 floors - including the massive Porto Underground Shopping Mall.   I could sit for hours watching beautifully dressed Japanese women fluttering like delicate butterflies around the fashion stores.

Japanese women seemed to have developed a fashion `code’ of their own.   No longer prepared to be limited by traditional hair colour, luxurious long locks of light brown and auburn with soft fringes and curls, complemented by sweeping (false) eye lashes and stunningly delicate makeup are the hall mark of modern Japanese women.

Fashion boutiques abound with delicately coordinated accessories – lace anklet socks and leggings, soft blouses with embroidered cardigans, jackets, hand bags and `jewellery’ attachments, scarves and of course women’s shoes and boots with heels so high walking in them requires an advanced sense of balance.   Most accessories enjoy some sort of `bling’ whether it’s hand bags, mobile phones, hats or shoes.   Even the family pet cat and dog has a fashion line of their own with boutiques displaying the latest `pet trends’. 

Japanese men on the other hand wear stylish designer suits and carry the mandatory modern `brief case’.   Hardly a jean and tee-shirt clad body in sight.

If you enjoy `watching’ people going about their everyday lives dressed in the most amazing and imaginative fashion – then Japan is for you.
 
It’s an intriguing and fascinating time to `observe’ as a tide of humanity crosses a main traffic intersection in the most densely populated city in the world – Tokyo.   I was floored to learn Japan has a population of 126 million, of which approximately 13 million live in Tokyo, and, get this – during the morning `rush hour’ a further 4 million enter the city for work.

Yet with all this colourful populace, Japan is a peaceful beautiful place to `wander’ and take in the elegant traditional temples surrounded by stalls selling anything from hand painted lanterns and fans to food to souvenirs like bullet train pens – the body of pen seems clear until you tilt it and a miniature bullet train speeds to the other end – cute!

Transport from one end of the country to the other is nothing short of lightening when using the JR Rail Pass.   This Pass allows you to move about the country at a speed of up to 320km per hour on the bullet train.   It’s so smooth.  A girlfriend and I were holding a conversation and wondering when the train would be departing only to discover it already had, yet we couldn’t feel even the slightest movement.   Incredible.

If you’re contemplating visiting Japan, make an effort to do so in Cherry Blossom time.   There is a window of about 10 days when the blossoms are at their very best.   I was fortunate to be there for nine of those 10 days.   Everywhere you look the trees are full of colour from the lightest to the richest pinks.

The sun is shining, the blossoms are full and sweet, families fill the parks and gardens enjoying picnics on the lawns or under the shelter of blossom loaded branches, rich colourful kimonos are worn by young and old to celebrate this very special time.

I found so many quirky yet totally enjoyable experiences very unexpected – like heated toilet seats in our hotel and also in public places like train stations, what’s more, they even have subtle background music of gentle flowing streams – not sure if this is to encourage or disguise activity - and of course the bidet or shower option ensures you leave the restroom `sparkling’ clean and comfortable.

Street smoking is forbidden and smoking booths are provided for those who feel the urge to enjoy a puff – and of course you will have company as these booths do get quite full.   Street guards patrol to ensure smokers are mustered into these booths.   Strangely enough smoking in restaurants is permitted.

Litter – well there is none in sight.   No street bins can be found either.   If you have rubbish you simply take it with you. 
 
When it comes to dining out and ordering from a menu  – lack of knowledge of the language is not really an obstacle – realistic plastic meals are displayed in the front window of most eating houses – if you can identify something delicious and `point’  you’re in business!  In fact you can even purchase these `plastic’ food items as souvenirs.

Boutique sales assistants walk you to the front of the store - hand you your shopping (beautifully wrapped or in a shopping bag) and express words like Mata aimashou  (Hope to see you again!).

I found the most cost effective and tourist friendly way to get around Japan is by train, particularly the bullet train.   Our JR Pass provided quick and comfortable travel with the ability to check out the passing country side.   Flying might be quicker, however, early arrival at the airport is time consuming and your view of Japan is from the inside of an aircraft.   My most memorable view from the bullet train was Mount Fuji.   The JR Pass also includes various ferries and cruises and its well worth checking out.

One tip I offer with the bullet train is to book a `non smoking’ carriage as smoking is also permitted in carriages which are not Smoke Free.
On arrival for your bullet train journey you are greeted by your carriage host – beautifully uniformed – who will also be providing you with the opportunity to purchase hot/cold drinks and eats along the way using wheeled trolleys similar to those on flights.

My breathtakingly beautiful Cherry Blossom holiday to Japan was only nine days duration visiting Tokyo including Asakusa (one of the most historical parts of Tokyo), Ginza (famous shopping and entertainment district) and Kamakura (former capital from 1192 to 1333 – shrines and historical treasures).   Our visit to Hiroshima was a true eye opener – Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.  Don’t miss the most photographed views in Japan – Miyajima Island – Itsukushima Shrine (World Heritage site).   Our visit to Kyoto was full of colour and excitement.   Cherry Blossom time brings out the traditional dress (kimono) worn by young and old, brightly coloured lanterns and street markets.   

Make sure you take the time to visit one of many cultural performances which combine story telling using puppetry, floral arranging (ikebana), samurai performance, tea ceremony and beautifully elegant geisha dancers and musicians.

A highlight for me was a very early morning call to visit the Fish Markets in Kyoto (5.30am) – I love Japanese cuisine and thought I could identify most of the sashimi on offer, however, I was in awe of the variety, shape, size, and mystery surrounding the haul from the sea.   The fishermen were very busily sorting, filleting and selling every manner of seafood, while the tuna auction was full of energy.   It might have been an early start, however, it was a total highlight for me personally.

Visiting Osaka, our study tour was invited to attend a local Japanese primary school and listen to the presentation of students as well as visit classroom activities.   Leaving our footwear at the entrance and using provided `slippers’ was just part of the fun.   Bright eyed and happy children proud of their school and keen to learn about Australia – followed by a morning tea of sweet Japanese cakes and drinks.   Lovely memories.

My whirlwind nine day tour of Japan during Cherry Blossom time will long remain a favourite travel memory.   I look forward to an opportunity to return ….  Sugu ni modori masu (I will be back soon!)

“Variety is the Spice of Life”


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