falling in love with the kindness of people and the magic of mystical places
Japan is a fantastic country for its temples, monuments, numerous natural beauties to visit. But even more so, if possible, for its people, so kind, so capable of conveying a sense of order, tranquility and calm.
a dream that came true
I have read numerous books about Japan, so before leaving I really had a lot of expectations about the trip. And in fact it was certainly one of those trips that literally eradicated all my habits. In the Land of the Rising Sun , education and respect are the basis of everything... and the first rule is order!
I left in June, certainly not the best time to find good weather, but all in all I also love the rain, so I didn't think twice when I had the opportunity to get tickets. Obviously, as soon as the travel arrangements were sorted out, I began frantically to organize all the photographic stages; there were so many places to visit!
Tokyo: the incredible impact with sushi and the city lights
Mine was a direct flight Rome - Tokyo and the Japanese capital was my first, incredible, stop on that wonderful journey. Recommended by some friends, I booked a room at a welcoming hotel in Shinjuku , a youthful neighborhood that is very convenient for traveling to every corner of the city. As soon as I arrived at the hotel, as a good lover of sushi (and cuisine in general), I decided to treat myself to the (more unique than rare) experience of going to eat in one of the best sushi restaurants. On the other hand, somehow I had to get the better of the exhaustion due to jet lag (in Japan they are nine hours ahead of Italy) and I must say that the move was a good one, the dinner was a total lust!
After the restaurant, I decided to immediately take a tour of the city... obviously with my inseparable camera. The sensation was that of being inside a video game: lots of lights, millions of people and all kinds of technological devices displayed on the shelves of those enormous multi-storey shops that characterize the streets of Tokyo.
In the magical places of such a special country: Kawaguchiko, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka
I left Tokyo after a few days, to head, with a train journey of about 3 hours, to the small village of Kawaguchiko . This splendid place is famous above all for the lake that surrounds it, where, on days when the sky is clear, the iconic Mount Fuji is reflected, one of the most important naturalistic symbols of Japan.
On board the super bullet train " Shinkansen ", I finally arrived in Kyoto , one of the oldest cities in Japan, known for its numerous temples, Shinto shrines, Zen gardens and traditional tea houses. Here, not far from the city center, you can find unique views, where you can literally immerse yourself in their ancient culture and live unique experiences.
One of the most famous places is certainly the Fushimi Inari-Taisha sanctuary, which, with its numerous "torii" (doors with a characteristic orange colour) form a suggestive path through the sacred forest on Mount Inari. The Fushimi Inari Shrine takes its name from the god Inari, an ancient Shinto deity of fertility and success. Torii are donated by individuals and companies in gratitude for granted wishes, or in hope of future good fortune. The names and dates of the donors are engraved on each torii. To avoid the presence of the numerous tourists who crowd the sanctuary every day, I visited this enchanting place at the first light of dawn.
It was a truly touching experience, the sanctuary is always open and admiring it without anyone around, with the sky still dark and the birds singing to announce the imminent dawn, was something deeply emotional!
Not far from Kyoto we continue with Nara and Osaka . Nara is considered the city of deer, one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in Japan. These deer are said to be the messengers of the Shinto gods and for this reason they are considered sacred and protected, true national treasures.
Osaka, on the other hand, is a city that is at its best at night! Full of lights, a destination for all video game lovers, also famous for hosting one of the largest imperial palaces in Japan.
Hiroshima: a blow to the heart that leaves no one indifferent
Continuing the journey, I then arrived in Hiroshima. Alas, the most touching place of the trip, almost everyone knows the history of this city razed to the ground by the explosion of an atomic bomb. Entering the memorial is something very strong, powerful, such a sad and alienating experience that leaves a feeling of enormous emptiness inside.
Zen gardens, temples, mystical places: Japan is the country for knowing yourself
Japan is one of those countries that you can't help but love! Personally, I loved everything, first of all the people , who are extremely kind , and then that feeling of order and cleanness that is found in every place! I found many things bizarre and funny, because in that part of the world you can truly find things that are unthinkable for us Europeans. Certainly, the sense of belonging to the land that the Japanese have is difficult to find elsewhere and I was deeply fascinated by their way of living life. Everything flows on a mystical thread, of knowledge of ourselves and what surrounds us. There are many Zen gardens scattered around the country where you can take time to meditate and relax. For me it wasn't goodbye at all, we'll probably see each other again soon, Japan!
Arigatou gozaimasu!
