Went to Japan Again

Went to Japan Again

June has come again and I had two weeks of time off to use.   My decision was to go to Japan again.  My goal on this visit was to see some friends and go to a couple of places I haven't yet seen in Japan.  The itinerary was to go straight to Tsuyama and spend Saturday evening and Sunday with my good friends Nikki and Logan.  Satomi was there Saturday night as well.  She helped arrange an amazing meal at a local Bar and Grill, Ryo's Tenpan Grill (if ever in Tsuyama try it out, the food is amazing!)

Satomi, Nikki, Logan and Me

After this I went to Kyoto to meet up with one of the first people I met in Japan.  I was able to catch up with him and meet his girlfriend.  We had a great evening of playing board games and talking.  It was nice meeting up with them.

Next, I had a full day on my own in Kyoto, so I went to see Toji Temple, one of my favorite places in Kyoto.

Garden Entrance

If you can go here at the beginning of May it is much nicer when the flowers are freshly blooming.  After the gardens I went into the shrine/temple area.  There is some nice things to look at here, but they don't allow pictures to be taken.  As you can see, I took some anyways.

Exit gate

Next I went to the aquarium.  I didn't even know Kyoto had an aquarium.  

Penguins are awesome

A dolphin just messing around until the show starts

These things are hilarious, always smiling

Fake waterfall outside the aquarium

Kyoto Aquarium was a nice place.  Maybe not the best I've been to, but pretty good.  The dolphin show was interesting, but some of the things the trainers had the dolphins doing was pretty lame.  I like dolphins (who doesn't?) so it could have been better.  

That was my time in Kyoto.  Next up on the itinerary was Nikko.  I had been interested in going to this place for many years, but as is the case, I just never made the time to go while I lived in Japan.  The Toshogu Shrine is a world heritage site and as far as Japanese shrines/temples go, fairly unusual.  There is a lot of color at this temple and the surrounding ones, unfortunately the main gate was being restored so I couldn't get any pictures of it.  Here are a few of the other attractions in the area.

I highly recommend going to Nikko.  Even though it is a tourist trap, the temples and shrines are very beautiful and worth the cost of entrance.  After looking around here we went to Chuzenji Lake.  There is a waterfall close to the bus station.

only a 5min walk from the bus station

Chuzenji Lake is the highest lake in Japan.

All of the scenery in this area is amazing.  The forest is old growth forest that reminded me of being at the lake in Canada.

These pictures don't do the forest justice, but you can get an idea.  The hostel we stayed in was really nice, just out of the town, very homey and comfortable.  Most of the people there speak English.

The town of Nikko is also very scenic.  It's located up in the mountains where everything is beautiful and worth contemplating.

Love the clouds piling up on the mountains

My friend Noriko

As you can see in most of my pictures it is cloudy.  Rainy season started just before I got to Japan, but I was just fine with that.  The temperatures were perfect for me and I had a really nice and relaxing time while in Japan.  It was great catching up with everyone I was able to meet and I wish I could have seen everyone.  I am making plans and hopefully I will be back in Japan in the near future.

If you want to see all my pictures of Japan please go to my facebook page and check them out.  Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/turrdle/photos_albums