Lost in Japan

Today we made our way south toward Hiroshima. After a leisurely start to the morning, we boarded the bullet train and began our journey—a near 400-mile trip completed in just under two hours. It’s hard not to be impressed by the smoothness and efficiency of Japan’s high-speed rail system, especially when covering such distances feels almost effortless. Upon arriving in Hiroshima, we headed straight for the Peace Memorial Park and museum, the site dedicated to preserving the memory of the atomic bombing and its aftermath. Walking through the museum was a deeply moving experience. The images, artefacts, and personal stories on display evoked strong emotions—feelings I had only encountered once before, when visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau. Photographs captured the devastation in stark detail. Paintings, created by survivors, depicted memories too painful for words. The exhibits included charred articles of clothing, melted objects, and even a blast shadow—a chilling imprint left behind by...

Our final day in Kyoto began with one of Japan’s most recognisable landmarks—Fushimi Inari Shrine. Famous for its seemingly endless trail of over 10,000 bright vermillion torii gates, the shrine winds its way up Mount Inari and has long been a symbol of devotion and good fortune. Each gate has been donated by individuals or companies from across Japan, with names and dates inscribed on the sides, creating a living record of faith and tradition. As expected for such a popular destination, the base of the shrine was busy with visitors and photographers. With limited time, we weren’t able to climb all the way to the summit, but we did manage to reach a checkpoint about 20 minutes up the trail. The incline was a workout, but the effort paid off with a fantastic view over the city of Kyoto, stretching out below the forested slopes. On the way up, we passed a few vending machines tucked into the trail for hikers in need of refreshments. I joked to one of the others on the tour about how br...

Today we visited two of Japan’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites—each distinct in style but equally rich in cultural and spiritual meaning. Our morning began at Ryoan-ji Temple, home to one of the most famous Zen rock gardens in Japan. The temple grounds were peaceful and beautifully maintained by the resident monks, a few of whom could be seen quietly tending to the gardens. The rock garden itself is a minimalist masterpiece—fifteen stones carefully arranged across a bed of white gravel. No matter where you stand, only fourteen of the stones are visible at once, an intentional design that evokes quiet reflection and invites thoughts on imperfection, hidden truths, and the natural world. Many interpret the garden as symbolic of islands in a sea, or mountain peaks breaking through the clouds. We took some time to stroll around the large pond and surrounding garden paths, catching glimpses of herons, sunbathing terrapins, and a few unusual trees that had been grafted on top of o...

Today was another travel day—this time taking us from Kanazawa to Kyoto via bullet train. After a short ride from our hotel to the Shinkansen station, we boarded and were instantly impressed by the train’s speed and smoothness. One of our group clocked it at 175 mph, but aside from the occasional banked curve, you’d barely notice—it was that seamless. Upon arriving in Kyoto, we were struck by the city’s unique character. Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, Kyoto enforces an ordinance that limits building heights to 60 metres, giving the city a more open skyline (with a few location-based exceptions). Our afternoon took us west to Arashiyama, home of Kyoto’s iconic bamboo forest. This was easily the busiest place we’d visited so far in Japan, but the towering bamboo was still a sight to behold. The way the wind caused the stalks to sway and gently knock into each other created an almost musical resonance—haunting and beautiful. In the evening, we were treated to a very special experience: a perfo...

This morning, we made our way to Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens and a true gem of Kanazawa. The name Kenrokuen translates to “Garden of the Six Sublimities,” referring to the six essential elements of a perfect garden in Japanese philosophy: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views. Kenrokuen lives up to its name in every way. We’ve been extremely lucky with timing throughout this trip, and today was no different. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, their soft pinks and whites gently drifting through the air and carpeting the stone paths. As we explored, we saw glimpses of the garden’s long history—stone walkways now closed off to the public, small water channels winding between moss-covered stones, and a statue of the garden’s original owner, a feudal lord of the Kaga Domain. Even the modern radio tower nearby was constructed in such a way that it blends with the garden’s aesthetic, preserving the harmony o...

Today we continued our journey through the Japanese Alps, winding through valleys framed by snow-dusted mountains and rivers that sparkled in the morning light. As we climbed higher, the roads offered ever more breathtaking views—steep forested slopes, terraced fields still holding the last traces of winter, and isolated homes that seemed frozen in time. Our destination was the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, a remarkable place that remained largely cut off from the rest of Japan until the 1960s, when road access was finally developed. Nestled deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, the village is known for its traditional gasshō-zukuri farmhouses—distinctive buildings with steep, thatched roofs designed to withstand the heavy snowfall of the region. “Gasshō-zukuri” translates to “constructed like hands in prayer,” referring to the sharp angle of the roof, resembling hands pressed together. Walking through the village feels like stepping back in time. With the surrou...