What to do in Japan if…. You’re a Kid!

Posted on 17 June, 2013 by insidejapantoursweb

Traveling to Japan can take on a whole different perspective if you’re a kid. Most travelers from English-speaking countries are intrigued by the country’s different language, dress, architecture and customs, even in modern Japan. If you’re headed with your family to Nippon for a vacation or holiday after school gets out, here are some things that will help your kids learn about Japanese culture while having fun at the same time:  kids in japan

1. Ride a bullet train. Japan’s high-speed trains travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph), pretty cool if you’re a kid. These trains are also an efficient way to tour the country.

2. Visit an electronics store. Some of the electronics stores in Tokyo are as big as a New York City or London apartment block. Plus, there stores have items that aren’t yet for sale overseas. They are a teenager’s paradise.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH3. Gaze at the neon lights. The neon billboards in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood are colorful, fanciful and intriguing, for kids of any age.

4. Master the art of origami. Japan’s paper art is a fascinating and fun way to learn about Japanese culture.

5. Sleep in a traditional Japanese accommodation. Sleeping on the floor, stand-up bath tubs, and paper walls: what’s not to love?

6. Sample ramen noodles. Ramen noodles, one of Japan’s favorite inexpensive foods, are available on practically every street corner. Slurp these delicious noodles with your kids. They’ll never want to have the grocery store variety again.

7. Visit a temple. The many Buddhist and Shinto temples, large and small, that dot the Japanese landscape combine art, religion and culture.

Going on holiday to Japan has plenty of exciting activities for the whole family!  When you look at the country for a child’s point of view, you might just see Japan in a whole new light.

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How to make it big in Japan

Posted on 19 May, 2013 by jimbojapanam

When you join one of the InsideJapan Tours, you will probably be wondering what your tour leader will be like – will they be knowledgeable, will they be interesting, will you like them, will they have a secret life and rock star alter-ego?!?!?! Perhaps you won’t be considering the last question there, but with tour leader, Steve Parker, that’s what you’ll get. Steve, is interesting, knows his stuff and is a likeable chap, but he also has band in Tokyo. If you are thinking of making it big in Japan, here are a few tips from Steve..

Having spent a good few years of my life in Japan, the land that brought the world “karaoke” (empty orchestra), I have long strutted my stuff and strained the vocal cords to David Bowie, Muse, Billy Joel, The Kaiser Chiefs and endured painful renditions by 50-something tone deaf British men of  Bohemian Rhapsody (vocally, no problem apparently) and the 12-plus minute long Stairway to Heaven (which rapidly descends into a fast track to hell!).

Hence 18 months ago, I really was starting to feel the emptiness of the orchestra and the urge to create something of my own. The obvious solution? Start a band.

studio time

A year and a half on, with limited success, I can proudly introduce myself as the vocalist of the completely unknown rock band, “The Cinders”, dedicated to introducing the locals to a little dark indie Brit-rock.

It has been a challenge to get to this stage, least of all the search for members in a city of millions. Thankfully the eternally painful task of finding a bassist was made easy with my friend, Justin’s, coincidental return to live in Tokyo.

Tokyo Acoustic Troubadour

We then uploaded online ads for “musicians sought” and they eventually appeared in the form of a male Japanese drummer and a lead guitarist. It took us around 8 months to become a 4-piece band, but a major part of the struggle was, of course, over. Now it was onto the easy stuff – the music and maintaining harmonious human relations within the band!

The Obligatory Serious Look

To practice in Japan is majorly hassle-free. In most Japanese cities there are underground bunker-like rehearsal studios or multi-storey affairs with 4 soundproof practice rooms or so on each floor. For around 2000yen (15 pounds) each you get a decent drum kit, guitar and bass amps, as many mikes as you can throw a (rhythm) stick at, and even a mirror on the front wall to see how you look when you are set up and playing!!! And, most importantly, 3 hours to make an aural mess!

So with hours of practice under our belts we were next ready to show the world what we had created. And herein lies the eternal challenge of performing live in Japan. Tokyo, being a megacoolopolis, suffers no lack of venues, however, there are 1000s of rock and punk, jazz and funk bands, troubled acoustic troubadours and colourful keyboard wizards vying to procure a night slot to play in.

All Areas - Backstage Loo and Loo Shaped Changing Room
Once you have an invite to play, unlike in your home countries perhaps, in Tokyo, it is the BAND that ends up paying to play. If, as we have been lucky enough to do recently, you manage to get on a bill with 3 or 4 other bands, the venue usually stipulates that you owe around 40,000yen (300 pounds) to start with. Any guests of yours that turn up pay nominally 1500yen (ten pounds) to hear your noise.  That amount is subtracted from your final bill, so as in life in general, it’s good to have friends around, and friends that like your noise!!!. Oh, and they must buy at least one obligatory drink too, so as a band, we never expect to be bought a congratulatory drink after a gig!!

Trancy Guitars

So there you have it – your band is part of the Tokyo scene. I have recently been putting up posters all over and contacting all I know in order to have someone to share our music with at gigs. People have come and the usually reticent crowd (unless at their favourite band’s gig, when they crowd surf to ballads), are always a little difficult to get moving to music that they are unfamiliar with. However, our confidence is growing, our wallets may be shrinking but Tokyo is starting to move to our music, even if it is for now just an embarrassed foot tap or head sway! I think we are on the road to a minor part in the Tokyo rock scene. Whatever our limited status, we still DON’T and never will however, do requests for old Queen or Led Zeppelin tracks!

The Cinders play live in and around the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Their only release to date is the Evenings EP – available on itunes.

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Tokaido Trailing Diaries – Past, Presents & Futuristic

Posted on 18 February, 2013 by jimbojapanam

The clement November temperatures saw Rob Harris and the other members of the Tokaido Trail with a ‘free day’ in Kyoto before travelling back to Tokyo and their final night in Japan. The ‘free day’ allows people to catch up with some of the many cultural sights in Kyoto, perhaps head to nearby Nara (just 45 minutes on the train), maybe go to Osaka for a bit of neon excitement and good food or head slightly further on the Shinkansen – The speed of the Bullet train makes even the long journeys short! Here is the final instalment of Rob’s Takaido Trailing Diaries….

Day 8, 9 & 10  Hiroshima, Tokyo and home

Day 8 – ‘Free Day’  Hiroshima

This was going to be one of those days that I both was looking forward to, and also treating with a slight sense of trepidation.

Peace Park & dome
Leaving the hotel early, we caught the Shinkansen for the two hour journey to Hiroshima. Once again, I was clocking the trains’ speed on my GPS, this time reaching a peak of 171mph. That seemed a pretty trivial piece of information however, once we alighted from the tram at the A-Bomb Dome. The enormity of what we were seeing had an immediate effect on me, and from that point onwards, I seemed to constantly have a tear at the corner of my eye.

Memorial
Modern-day Hiroshima is a very pretty, modern city with an almost European air to it, and it’s beyond comprehension to imagine the destruction which was inflicted upon it at 8.15am on August 6th, 1945. Walking around the Peace Memorial Park was a disquieting experience, taking in the many memorials erected to those affected by the bomb. Words failed me at how sobering and sombre the atmosphere at the museum was. Some of the images were very graphic and disturbing, but on a whole it has been executed in a sympathetic, non-judgemental fashion, simply stating the facts of why and how it unfolded. It holds nothing back in its portrayal of the events of that fateful day, and it largely acts as just a stark warning to learn from history and never, ever repeat it. It was far from a pleasant experience, but I felt it was a necessary one – to learn, to understand, and most importantly to pay my respects Once back in the park, I gently rang the Peace Bell as a final mark of respect, before meeting up with the others and heading off to hopefully lighten the mood a little.

Hiroshima A Bomb Dome
Catching the JR train once again, we travelled a few stops further down the coast, before boarding the ferry across to Miyajima Island. The tide was reasonably kind to us, meaning we got a good sight of the famous “floating” torii gate, which stands just offshore and leads to the islands’ Itsukushima Shrine. The island is obviously a haven for Japanese and foreign tourists alike and was heaving with people and the local semi-tame deer which are allowed to roam at will (the deer, that is – the tourists are probably a lot more restricted!). Not having long before having to head back to catch our Shinkansen back to Kyoto, we just had the time to grab a quick spot of lunch, grab a souvenir or two and some photographs at the floating torii, before re-boarding the ferry back to the train station.

Miyajima tori

Another totally efficient bullet train ride saw us back in Kyoto with just enough time for a quick wash and change of clothes, before heading in to the city for some ramen noodles, a last walk past the numerous bars, and a second session of karaoke. A very long, but very rewarding and at times, emotionally-charged day came to a close by having a final beer and a song!

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Day 9– Kyoto to Tokyo

So, our last full day in Japan was upon us. It was unbelievable to think that our tour was nearly at an end, we’d done so much, seen so much, and travelled so far, we’d become accustomed to it, it seemed inconceivable to think it was almost over.

Fuji!
Fate smiled kindly on us on the return trip to Tokyo, as the skies were blue and cloudless. About half an hour before arriving in Tokyo, we were finally blessed with stunningly clear views of the elusive lady herself, Mount Fuji in all her magnificence – yet another iconic image ticked off my list. Getting off the train at Shinjuku station, the world’s busiest train station, we were bombarded with yet another different aspect of Japan and Tokyo itself. Shinjuku has a more chaotic, slightly seedier feel to it than other districts we’d already visited in Tokyo – that’s not a criticism though, as it was still brilliantly insane and a lot of fun. Walking up to the hotel, we thankfully were able to check in slightly early. I think by this time, most people were starting to feel slightly travel-weary and glad to take the weight off our feet – and our shoulders, as it was a major relief to be able to dump my rucksack on to the floor of my room!

Shinjuku
I had intended at this point to take a trip up to Akihabara, the electronics district which I’d missed on our first visit to Tokyo, but I couldn’t bring myself to take another train journey quite so soon. Instead, a few of the group contented ourselves with grabbing a bento box (another “tick” on my list!) from a 7-11 store, scoffing that on the street, and then attempting to do some last minute gift shopping for the folks back home. Anyway, I reasoned that just like leaving the spire on top of a pagoda one ring short of the “perfect” ten, leaving myself one thing I hadn’t been able to tick off the list would give me the perfect excuse to come back to Japan just as soon as I could possibly manage.

Izakaya
Our last night’s meal was at an Izakaya restaurant just across from our hotel, and this was probably the longest time we spent in a restaurant the entire trip –  the Japanese don’t really seem to do the whole long-drawn-out dining experience like some European nations do, it’s more a case of “in, eat, out”. We all thanked Alain for his outstanding support and guidance during the trip, and passed on our gratitude to him. Having someone with his knowledge and passion for Japan really made our tour an unforgettable experience, and his enthusiasm proved infectious. Throughout, he had been nothing but attentive and efficient, giving us great confidence to get out there by ourselves and start exploring on our own. As last parting gift, Alain reckoned that we’d had a mild tremor whilst dining as he’d seen the tables shaking gently from side to side – nobody else had really noticed, but by this time, we trusted our tour guide implicitly!

Lights
There was one last thing I had to do, but was reluctant to part company with my new-found friends on the last night. I headed off on my own to take in the legendary Shibuya crossing for myself. Witnessing the neon-lit, well-mannered sheer insanity of hundreds of people crossing from all points of the compass, at the same time, was truly a sight to behold! I was amazed at how the swathes of people somehow managed to navigate their way through the oncoming crowds, all impeccably politely with no jostling, bumping, or grumbling.

Shibuya
Returning back to the hotel on the train, something else struck me – just how at ease and relaxed I felt. Despite being alone, in a foreign city, late at night, surrounded by people who probably had about as much English as I had Japanese, it felt remarkably natural and easy. There was no air of unease simmering beneath the surface that there might have been in the UK, and everyone still seemed friendly, well-mannered, and relaxed. I really did love this country and its people.

Day 10 – Back to reality

An early start, and what seemed a marathon walk through Shinjuku Station, to catch the Narita Express taking us to the airport and our flights home.

I was incredibly sad to be leaving Japan, and that our utterly brilliant time out there was at an end. The tour had been outstanding from start to finish, and had far exceeded my expectations. I’d experienced everything I’d wanted to (except Akihabara!), and the fact that I’d made some new friends along the way was an added and very welcome bonus – the people I’d met on the trip had, for me, made the tour truly special. Without a doubt, I had totally fallen for Japan, its people, and its charms, it is simply the best country I have ever visited, and it had left an indelible mark on me. I will miss it terribly until I return, but the memories I have will always be with me, and the country itself will forever be a part of me.

Thank you to InsideJapan Tours and everyone else on the Tokaido Trail. I am already planning and saving for my return in 2013!

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Thank you so much to Rob for sharing his Tokaido Trail experiences with us. It is really good to read through Rob’s Tokaido Trail diary and takes me back to my tour leading days. I often forget how much stuff actually goes into these trips. Even in a 10 day period, there is an incredible amount you can do and experience in Japan and it sounds like Rob did most of it….apart from Akihabara! Apparently, we have another Japan fan on board, which is always great to know. I sincerely hope that you get over there again soon Rob and I am sure that Japan will love to see you again soon.

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Tokaido Trailing Diaries – A novice travellers’ first visit to Japan

Posted on 4 February, 2013 by jimbojapanam

We have some great trips available covering just about every inch of Japan, but one of our most popular small group tours in the 9 night ‘Tokaido Trail’. This is one of our oldest trips which is designed to take in the ‘highlights’ with our usual ‘get beneath the surface’ hidden gems along the way. It is simple, yet such a good tour and we often forget how good it is in favour of some of the more ‘off the beaten track’ trips. Back in November, a chap called Rob Harris decided to head to Japan on the aforementioned Tokaido Trail….and he loved it. He loved it so much that he has put together a little diary of his time on the tour which makes for interesting reading. The diary gives us an idea as to how much actually goes on during these tours.

Over this next week, we will be posting Robs’ account of his Japan adventure along with a few of his photos from the tour. This is a man who had not been out of the UK in five years and was keen to go somewhere “a bit different”. Here is what he had to say in his “An account of a novice travellers’ first visit to Japan”.

Day One & Two -  Tokyo

Day one

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The day finally arrived to begin my trip, and feeling like an eight year old kid on Christmas Eve I tried my best to sleep the night before. The flight from Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic’s excellent and much recommended Premium Economy service was faultless, and I arrived at Narita Airport keen and eager to get stuck in to the Japanese culture. Even the Green Tomato bus transfer to the Toyoko Inn in Asakusa had me wild-eyed with wonder, drinking in all the fresh sights of a hitherto alien environment. As we arrived a bit too early to check in to the hotel, myself and Howard, one of the other guys on the tour who arrived on the same flight, braved the streets of Tokyo, picked a direction, and headed off in to the unknown.

Sensoji
Our first destination was the Senso-Ji temple, and it was straight in to exactly the sort of architecture, sights, and sounds that I’d pictured as typically Japanese in my mind’s eye – striking shapes and colours, loads of crowds, and a bewildering array of stalls and shops selling everything from Samurai swords to octopus balls. This last item had us somewhat worried over exactly what we’d be eating on the tour, but as we were to discover later that night, our fears were rather unfounded!As a complete Gaijin, I am totally embarrassed to report that my first meal in Japan was – a Big Mac!Being desperate for food, and at this time lacking the confidence to try any of the plentiful restaurants – it was the easy option.It quickly became apparent that I was the least experienced traveller in the group, but I was determined to make up for any lack of experience with an unrestrained enthusiasm to get stuck in to all that Japan had to offer.

I’d waited a long time, and paid a lot of money, for this opportunity, and I wasn’t going to let it go to waste! Our first meal was a riot of brand new tastes, techniques and textures. My chopstick proficiency was sorely lacking at this time, but I managed to fumble a few tasty morsels in something approximating the right direction, and found myself enjoying everything from standard rice and noodles, to benito flakes (still an acquired taste in my book!), squid, octopus (yes, including the previously dreaded octopus balls!), sashimi, some delicious chunks of beef, and then on to what would prove to be the only food item which defeated me whilst on tour – the horse meat. Little did I know that some shops in the UK had been selling it for years!

Asakusa at night

After dinner, we walked towards the Senso-Ji temple, which at night time had a completely different aspect to its bustling, crowded daytime version – calmer, spectacularly lit, and beautiful to look at. Crowds of young Japanese were taking advantage of the adopted American festival of Halloween for an excuse to dress in outlandish costumes and have a good time. It seemed to me that they didn’t actually need much of an excuse at all to get out and have a good time!My first day in Japan had come to a close, and I was already deeply in love with the country, its culture and people. Everything seemed so easy and natural, despite being drastically different to life in my quiet backwater of Suffolk. With some good people on the tour, I was instantly looking forward with great anticipation to the next nine days.

Day Two

Another day, another new experience – my first Japanese breakfast! Miso soup, noodles, rice balls. The only rice for breakfast I was used to was of the Krispies kind! Still, food of any kind would provide fuel for the forthcoming day, and there was plenty of decent black coffee on tap. Sleep had been in short supply, despite the previous days’ exertions and travels. Guess that’s the jet-lag for you! Even those of the tour who had arrived a day early still seemed to be struggling to fully adjust.The weather was a little reminiscent of the UK, overcast and a hint of drizzle in the air, but as I’d been pre-warned by the excellent IJT info pack, I had been expecting a bit of inclement weather whilst in Japan.

Hamarikyu Gardens

First up today was a boat ride along the Sumida River, and by the time we’d boarded the rain was coming down. Maybe it was the lack of sunshine, but the riverside buildings lacked a bit of sparkle and interest, however the gardens at Hamarikyu were decidedly more picturesque. What I had originally thought were supports to prop-up an ancient and decrepit tree were clarified by Alain as a framework to train and guide the branches in to their intricate, elegant shapes, effectively full-scale Bonsai trees! To temporarily escape the rain, we entered the tea shop, and partook in our first Japanese Tea Ceremony. Carefully following the instructions on the laminated sheet, we ate our sweets, turned our tea cups in our hands, and drained our cups. Some found it an acquired taste, but personally I found it refreshing and relaxing. Looking out over the lake, I could feel a sense of calm helping to ease a mind still reeling from the flight out of the UK.Outside the park entrance we were confronted by some of the striking modern skyscrapers of the Shiodome district. Straining my neck to look up at the vertiginous buildings, I was struck by one of the many contradictions I was to encounter on my tour. Within just a few metres of the peace and tranquillity of the Hamarikyu Gardens was the ultra-modern expanse of steel and glass edifices, two entirely different worlds existing in complete harmony.

Tokyo Buildings

A quick metro ride landed us in the middle of Shibuya, with the Harajuku Bridge residents dressed up in their outlandish Sunday best, parading to see and be seen. After making our way through the crowded Takeshita Dori (careful with the pronunciation of that one!), Alain led us in to the Meiji Shrine, where we mingled with locals dressed in their traditional finery, most of them all too happy to pose for pictures taken by tourists. When shown the results, the grins on their faces seemed to reflect the pride they take in wearing their national costumes. Despite the language barrier, it was becoming apparent that with a smile, a small bow, and a polite and respectful nature, interacting with the locals was surprisingly easy and rewarding.

Tokyo nights

What a brilliant people the Japanese were proving to be! Walking back through Shinjuku heading back to Asakusa and our hotel, the rain came back with increased persistence. We headed back to the bright lights of Shinbasi for dinner for some quality Shabu Shabu that defies description – in the UK, it probably would have been condemned, but in Tokyo, it was utterly brilliant. Back to Asakusa, and time to experience another mainstay of Japanese culture for the first time – karaoke! Now, I’d never claim to have anything approaching a singing voice, but again I felt it was only right to throw myself completely in to the experience. A heck of a way to round off my first full day in Japan, getting to bed at gone 3am was maybe not the finest idea ever, but the price to pay the next day was worth it for a great night out.

Thank you to Rob for his account of the Tokdaido Trail tours. That’s just the first couple of days from Rob – So much for “What happens on tour, stays on tour”! The main thing is that Rob obviously enjoyed his experiences in Japan which we always love to hear. If you want to read about what happened to Rob and the group  in Kamakura, Hakone and Kyoto too, then keep reading through the week for a day-by-day account of what went on…..

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Standing on the top of Tokyo

Posted on 4 October, 2012 by jimbojapanam

One of our recent Tokaido Trailers, Jenny Gillman, wanted to tell us about her trip to the Tokyo Skytree. Jenny was keen to go and see inside Tokyo’s newest addition to the Metropolisskyline for herself. Here is what she had to say about the 634 metre tower.

After a smooth flight and a warm welcome at the airport from my InsideJapan Tour’s tour leader (Harry Sargant), three of the group dropped bags off at the hotel in Asakusa and headed out to explore. We visited nearby Senso-Ji temple before the other two members of the group went off for a shop. I went off to discover the Tokyo Skytree which dominates the skyline in this part of Tokyo. One stop from Asakuka, with train guards to point me in the correct direction, I arrived at the Skytree on the Skytree train! After quite a few sets of escalators you arrive onto the 5th floor of the Skytree.

I queued for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and chatted to very friendly locals. After paying 200oyen we went up in a lift which opens onto the view of Toyko below – there was a collective “wow” when the doors of the lift opened to reveal Tokyo below. After seeing the whole of the city and a view of the bay (on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji) I waited another 10 minutes and paid another 1000yen which would get me to the very top! This lift ride would take me to the top of the worlds tallest freestanding building and reveal incredible view. It was well worth paying the extra money and I had lots of fun walking around the spiral walkway to the glass floor and standing 452.1 metres above the city!

The Skytree is a brilliant way the start any trip to Toyko, as it gives you a really good idea as to the huge scale of the city. There’s nothing like standing at the top of the world’s biggest tower in the worlds biggest Metropolis contemplating your trip beyond the horizon.

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Japan Geisha Dreams

Posted on 1 June, 2012 by jimbojapanam

It is always nice to hear from our customers; especially if they absolutely love Japan…thankfully, more often than not, they usually find themselves loving it. It is fantastic receiving feedback that is so gushing about Japan and its culture and the services that we provide, we get a warm feeling in the knowledge that we have had a part in converting someone else to the wonders of this beautiful place.

Gemma Scott travelled back in April 2012 on the Spring Elegance group tour which seems a long time ago now, but she was full of praise about the great country and the memories are obvciously very vivid. If she wasn’t before, Gemma is now what you would class as a ‘Japanophile’ I believe. We thought we would ask her expand on her feedback, tell us about the best bits and show us some of her beautiful photos and are glad that she accepted! Here is what she had to say;

I have always been fascinated by Japan, the culture, the lifestyle, the food. After researching into travelling to Japan, I opted for the Spring Elegance tour – Two whole weeks of experiencing one of the most intriguing and beguiling places on Earth.

The tour took me to several different cities and towns, on the main island of Honshu. Tokyo both old (Edo as Tokyo was known as prior to the Meiji period) and modern day with museums, shrines, temples, the contrast of beautiful gardens with a backdrop of the skyscraper district, penetrating the sky.

Matusmoto and its stunning castle (a word or warning – the sets of stairs inside are steep, with one set in particular at a 61 degree incline – complete with a rope to help pull yourself up the stairs with!), with a small side trip to the onsen (hot spring bathhouse) at Asama – a must!

Takayama the home of miso and sake, sitting in one of the many sake shops with the tour group sipping on a sample of sake, was a great way to bond.

The Kenroku-en Gardens in Kanazawa, it is rated as one of the top three gardens in Japan. Considering it is quite simply breathtaking, it is not hard to see why.

Kyoto – the old capital of Japan, before Edo – Tokyo, and the first place that comes to mind when you think of Geisha. Here the Geisha are so proud of who they are and where they are from, that they prefer to be called Geiko, so to be set apart from Geisha from any other part of Japan.

Here I took a day trip to Hiroshima where the first atomic bomb was dropped on 6 August 1945 (a date you will never forget by the time you leave). This was a very sombre day, learning about what had happened before, during and after the bomb has been detonated. It was morbidly fascinatingbut equally spine-chilling.

The penultimate stop was Hakone, home to Mount Fuji. On the day we took a trip round the national park, and saw Mount Fuji, it was a lovely sunny day. We had some spectacular views of Fuji. Her first appearance was on a cable car ride up the side of a volcano, with further opportunities was we took a boat ride around Lake Ashi.  Lastly we made our way back to Tokyo, for a one night stay in the modern part of Tokyo before bidding farewell to new friends and boarding the plane homeward bound.

The highlight of the tour is what I have come to call “My Geisha Day” in Kyoto.  It all started with a session at a Geisha makeover studio. The session has to be booked in advance, which our tour leader was all to happy to arrange on my behalf. The package I had chosen was the Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) makeover. The whole process from make up, putting on the kimono to photo shoot took 2 hours in total. It was fascinating to watch all the different stages come together.  A few of the ladies on my tour joined me having makeover as well, we had great fun choosing the kimono that we were going to wear. Watching each stage come together, the make up – whitening of the face, painting the double or triple “v” on the back of the neck (the neck is considered a very sensual part of the body in Japan, and the “v“ is used to create an illusion to elongate the nape of the neck). The highlighting of the eyes in black and red makeup and the vivid red lips.

The kimono itself is a robe that comes in one size. It has a band of plain material across the middle. This section can be left as it is, or be taken up to shorten the kimono to fit. There are many layers to a kimono outfit. The kimono does make up the bulk of the outfit, but there are under garments, ties, sashes, belts, collars and the obi to be added during the process.  Not to mention the wig complete with pins and jewellery (the wigs were put on, already dressed). The visual transformation was amazing to see. The photographs were spectacular. If you are fascinated by Geisha, or are looking for a personalised souvenir, then I would recommend a makeover package. If you go with friends or family from the tour, it’s a great way to spend a good time together.

The rest of the afternoon was spent making our way to Gion Corner to watch the Geisha Spring Dance. As you entered the room for the serving of tea, you were sat down in rows and the tea and a sweet were served to everyone. The type of green tea served is called Matcha and is dark and quite bitter. You do not put sugar in the tea. Therefore a sweet is served alongside the tea. You eat the sweet first, to sweeten your mouth and then drink the tea. It does make a big difference in taste. This part was quite rushed as there were a lot of people waiting, but it was still an experience to watch the Maiko prepare the tea for the room, looking stunning in their full regalia.

The time had come to take our seats and get ready to watch the dance. The stage had catwalks either side, with the seating in the middle. There were curtains set back into the catwalks. The lights turned down and doors opened at the ends of the catwalks. Here a group of Maiko made their entrance, the curtains were drawn, on the left sat Maiko playing percussion (drums) and flute and on the right sat Geisha singing and playing shamisen. The first scene would be a highlight of the dance with about 20 dancers on stage. The following seven would each tell a story, linking itself into the previous scene in some way. They transcend from Spring, to Summer, to Autumn, to Winter and back to Spring for the finale, with about 60 Maiko and Geiko on stage.

The whole performance was lavish, extravagant, beautiful and vibrant. From the incredibly detailed sets – the individual blossoms and leaves on the trees, the hundreds of tiny optic light representing fireflies, to the backdrops which undulated to depict the waves of the sea. The costumes were rich, bold and imaginative from the men that fought brave battles, to the kimono of the Maiko and Geiko twirling as they danced in unison, their hair ornaments twinkling in the stage lights. The music was enchanting and riveting, enhanced by the emotions portrayed in the voices of the singers. They could build the atmosphere between two lovers sorrow as lovers parted ways, the violent storms endured at sea, and dramatic battle scenes that brought death and glory.

Needless to say I was enraptured from start to finish. Which is also true of the whole journey, the experience. I am afraid that I have fallen in love with Japan, even more so, than before I had decided to make the journey and land on Japanese soil. Turning a journey of a lifetime in to what maybe, in time, a home from home.

Welcome to the ‘we went to Japan and fell in love with it and everything about it’ club Gemma. Glad we could help you get there. It sounds as though there will be many other travels to Japan in the future. We are very happy to hear it!

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10 Reasons why Japan is so great – No.10 New experiences

Posted on 22 March, 2012 by jimbojapanam

I am going to finish the 10 reasons why Japan is so great with another broad but a valid reason. Japan is bursting with new experiences for even the most intrepid of travellers. When you go for dinner, walk to the shop, get on the train and from when you wake to when you go to sleep, Japan fills your day with new and exciting experiences. Being so culturally different to the west (and most places in the world), it is just a very different place to be and no matter how old you are, there is an abundance of….well, just new stuff to stimulate your senses.

In my opinion, part of what makes travelling and indeed life so varied and exciting are the new things that you encounter in the world. I would say that it is rare for a person to visit any one country in this world these days and to encounter something new and alien just about everyday. For the visitor, I would say that Japan manages to do this supplying a vast array of positive cultural experiences.

Japan is a wonderful country and I challenge anyone not to come away enthusing about the people, culture, country, transport, food and more, just as I have in this series of posts. I have barely mentioned the magic of sitting in an outdoor hot spring bath overlooking the snow covered mountains or staying in ryokan, wearing yukatta and being on the receiving end of some of the finest and friendliest hospitality in the world or the impressive traditional festivals with their mikoshi parades, yukatta-clad girls and fundoshi-wearing guys, fireworks, food and plenty of sake. These are the more obvious differences in Japan and are each worth a blog post of their own with a hundred other things, but there are a thousand other little elements of Japanese life that give you little surprises and make you smile.

There are a many other reasons as to why Japan is so great but, if you would like to experience an enlightening country like no other place in the world then you should seriously consider travelling to Japan.

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10 Reasons why Japan is so great. No. 9 – Respect

Posted on 20 March, 2012 by jimbojapanam

Once again, this overlaps with other categories such as culture and the people, but it is one aspect of Japan that is obvious in every day life and deserves a big mention.

At the risk of sounding too much like an old man here, I think that the respect shown by Japanese, young and old, to the environment they live in and the people around them is a beautiful thing and is partly what makes Japan so great. It quickly becomes obvious to most westerners who travel to Japan, as this respect is rapidly becoming a thing of the past in some western cultures. In terms of the UK at least, it is very normal to walk along a street full of litter, passing vandalised phone boxes and graffiti-covered walls and to be given some verbal abuse by a complete stranger. Sad but true. Not always the case, but not uncommon. It is however, very uncommon in Japan.

As soon as you step off the plane in Tokyo, you will no doubt notice that everything is immaculate, from the outfits warn by staff to the litter-free walk ways that lead you through customs. Fortunately, this doesn’t stop at the airport and continues as you head on to the train platforms and then on to the train – not a bit of chewing gum on the seat to sit on or broken vending machines on the platform. It continues throughout Japan. You can even see the poor old homeless people on the banks of the Sumida river in Tokyo sweeping up around their shelters and even taking their shoes off as they enter their boxes. You may be forgiven for thinking that all the pretty over packaging on goods would be ideal for littering the streets as people chomp though their Pocky or Crunky chocolate bars, but no! Litter is deposited in the correct recycling bins or held on to until a bin becomes available. This is not just the older men and women in society, but it goes for the children and teenagers alike. Refreshing I think you’ll agree and how it should be. As we say in the West, don’t ‘dirty’ your own doorstep – it would be so much nicer if people practised this like they do in Japan.

This is all down to the people, the culture and the Japanese Shinto religion which promotes a respect for the surrounding environment and the spirits that exist in it and therefore a respect for each other and local community, young and old. To be born Japanese is to be born Shinto and it breeds a certain way of thinking and acting. The cleanliness and respect for the local environment, community and other people is blatant to see for any visitor to Japan and is another reason why Japan is so great.

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10 Reasons why Japan is so great – No.8 Contrasts

Posted on 19 March, 2012 by jimbojapanam

Having already mentioned the fact that culture and tradition are so prevalent in everyday life everywhere in Japan this is pretty similar but worth a mention on its own I think.

Japan is a working synchronisation of old and new which is witnessed everywhere, but especially so in some of the big cities. I don’t think that there is anywhere else in the world where this contrast is so obvious and no matter how big or small, adds to the overall Japan experience. This contrast is one of the reasons why Japan is so great.


When planning a trip for people travelling for the first time to Japan, there are quite a few people who say something like, “I want to experience culture and tradition, but am not too bothered about spending time Tokyo – it’s a just a big city”…..it’s not JUST a big city….well it is, but it is here where you begin to notice the differences. There are many super hi-tec elements to Tokyo with its sleek skyscrapers, neon lights and trains that pass you overhead and underground. However, you will also find traditional areas such as Asakusa built around the Sensoji Temple or the quiet Shibamata district with single-rise wooden buildings, traditional shops and small shrines or the old fashioned Arakawa tram system that runs through Tokyo’s Otsuka district to name some of the more obvious differences.

One of the biggest contrasts to hit me, was when buying a gadget in an electronics store in Japan. This may not happen so often in the more popular districts of Tokyo, but you can still head into a small electronics stores and buy the latest electronic device.When it comes to making payment, the shopkeeper may tot up your bill on an abacus or tap in a figure to a big fat-fingered calculator. Meanwhile, the shop is being kept warm by a kerosene heater which is also being used to heat up a little kettle of water for the next cup of green tea. You know that there is the capability for a register to scan a bar code and bring up the price or a radiator/air-con device to heat up the room and a kettle that plugs into the mains….but it is kind of nice to see and seems right somehow. It seems very Japanese.

This is just one example of how Japan is full of the traditional and the modern living side-by-side and working well. It is quite cute in a way and is one of the reasons in my mind as to why Japan is so great.

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10 Reasons why Japan is so great – No.7 Japan just does things better

Posted on 16 March, 2012 by jimbojapanam

I have already mentioned the culture which plays a part in every aspect of life in Japan. We all know that things in Japan are going to be different.  So what does “Japan just does things better” actually mean?

What I mean is, in Japan they have a lot of the same things that we have in the West, but they just do them differently and in most cases a lot better. For example, everyone knows about the huge range of vending machines. We have vending machines in the West of course…..but not like Japanese vending machines! In Japan, they have vending machines for cold and hot drinks, hot food and much more. It is not just about the huge variety of goods sold in vending machines either, but about the way they sell them. The machines have slots for notes and give out change, they sometimes accept credit from travel cards and some provide wireless internet access. One of the biggest things to note about vending machines is there are so many of them, in the city and countryside and all unscathed by vandalism. (more…)

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