A Travel Blog
You really can’t ask, as a tourist, for anything better than a clear sunny day of 23°C can you – which is what we got today. We spent it doing one main thing, visiting Kairakuen, one of Japan’s top treasure gardens, but the day was as much about the journey (as they say) as about … Read more
Today starts the last hop of our trip. The last hotel stay! The last period of living out of suitcases. We’ll miss Japan, of course, but it is always good to be home too, isn’t it? And, there’s always, with any luck, another time. Last hurrah in Niigata First though, there’s a bit more of … Read more
Today’s plans, devised by Rie with particular input from 6-year-old Tsubasa, took us, mostly, to more rural areas southwest of Niigata City. As we’ve said before, there’s something lovely about having locals take you away from the tried and true. It all started with our being picked up at 10.30am … Sake, or lmaya Tsukasa … Read more
Remember last night’s friendly izakaya? Well, this morning on our walk (aka, trundle) to the station, we took the route that passed this izakaya so I could get a daytime shot. I did that and we trundled off. A few minutes – and a few blocks – later, we heard a noise, and there, running … Read more
The day began … with a delicious Japanese breakfast buffet to fortify us for our busy day. We then handed in our “Eco plan” sheet to reception. This meant no change of towels or sheets, but gave us in return, two coffee vouchers at the hotel’s cafe. The Japanese, we are learning, are very literal. … Read more