Each time I looked for locations close to Tokyo to visit Nikko popped up every time. I finally made it and was welcomed with cooler temperatures and great seasonal colors. I started my day with a walk from the station to see the Shinkyo Bridge before making my way to Nikko Toshogu, Nikko Futarasan Jinja and the grave of Prince Rinnoji. After, I took a bus through the mountain pass to see Chuzenji Lake and Kegon Falls. Truly a wonderful experience.

When I return to Japan, I plan to rent a vehicle so I can visit more areas around the National Parks.

My time is winding down here in Japan and I have a great weekend planned. I’m choosing to stay local for my trip today and visited the local Shinagawa Aquarium. This small aquarium was positioned at the end of a neighborhood park and showcased a dolphin and sea lion show plus a smattering of other exhibits. If you’re looking for a reprieve from the busy tourist sites around Tokyo, I’d give this place a go, especially if you have small kids.

Yesterday I didn’t venture far out, nonetheless, I enjoyed a leisurely walk around Ikegami. This included stops by the small Buddhist temple Shoei-in, the 5 story Honmonji Pagoda, the Ikegami Honmonji Temple, Daibo Temple with its beautiful garden and Koi pond and lastly a stop at the Honmonji Tahōtō Pagoda which had a very distinctive shape not seen throughout my trip here in Japan. Its location was perfect as it was hidden in the trees and I had not seen it on the map, I would have easily walked by without knowing it was there.

I truly am blessed to be here. I chose to work remotely from Japan and my walk around Ikegami personifies why. Japan is accessible where ever you are. Most people only get a few days here and miss opportunities to explore. This trip is unforgettable and has inspired me to keep traveling and seek more opportunities to work abroad.

Enjoyed a great outing to Tokyo Disney Sea which reminds me of a combination of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Have to give props to Disney service on this one as my app didn’t work to purchase some passes. They accommodated my request and luckily, in my short time at the park, I got to ride the majority of the popular rides including Toy Story Mania. While I didn’t set the high score for the day, I was happy to see all the bonus levels were the same at each mini game.

Enjoyed a nice outing to Mt. Takao and as a bonus perk, only an hour train ride to get here. Though I didn’t have the best shoes for the route taken as parts of the trail took you down a stream. Luckily there was a place at the train station to wash your shoes. All in All, it was a great escape from the city.

What a nice outing to Odaiba before heading back to relax before work. Last time I was here it was raining so I went to Joypolis and enjoyed the indoor arcade games and attractions. This time it was sunny so I made my way to TeamLabs Tokyo before walking around to see the Gundam Unicorn statue and the 1:7 scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. So many things to do here that are often missed.

Took a trip down to Fukuyama Castle today. I passed this castle multiple times on my trip and knew I wanted to come back and walk around the area. What I didn’t know is I would stumble on to the Fukuyama Castle Festival which showcased live music on the north side of the castle with food and drink vendors to the south. Suffice to say this is not a destination most tourists would make so I truly felt immersed in the local culture.

Yesterday I spent a relaxing day walking around Yokohama. I started at Harbor View Park which offers views of the bay and in the distance Tokyo. While I didn’t go up to it, I was also able to see the Gundam Factory from this spot. I’ll probably find myself visiting another day during an outing before work. From the park, I made my way down to Yamashita Park where families were out enjoying the lawn and some light sport activities. Upon leaving the park, I ventured to the Cup Noodle Museum where I had my hand in making my own cup noodle. Suffice to say, I won’t be winning any art contest. Across the street from the Cup Noodle Museum was Yokohama Cosmo World. While the line for the main coaster was too long, it take the opportunity to ride some of the other carnival rides. With Yokohama being so close to where I’m staying, I’ll definitely be back another day.

Have you ever had a childhood memory come to life? That happened to me today. I remember a movie in the 90’s “Mr. Baseball” about a professional baseball player sent to Japan to play staring Tom Selleck. I remember from the movies the fans in the stands playing their trumpets, shouting in unison and the various concession workers walking around. What I thought was just a movie was pretty accurate. I had a wonderful time watching the last baseball game of the season between the Tokyo Giants and the Yokohama BayStars.  The game was face-paced but it was the fans that brought the stadium to life. I don’t think there’s a comparable atmosphere at any sports arena in the states. Each player had their own unique chant, the instruments were blaring, and the crowd erupted which each hit. It was truly electrifying. Seeing the Giants win was the highlight. I won’t soon forget this game and I look forward to watching more games in person next time I travel to Japan.

Spent time visiting the Peace Memorial Park and walking through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. No matter where you are in this park, there is a somber feel that washes over you. This was especially true walking through the museum reading stories and watching videos of those impacted as well as the stories of the long term effects the bombing had on the survivors.  Those who I spoke with while transiting to my next stop agreed it was an emotional exhibit to walk through. 

My last stop of the day was another trip to Itsukushima where I took time to leisurely explore the sites missed while hiking there a day earlier. This included visits to Itsukushima Jinja, Daishoin and Kannondo. Beneath Daishoin was a path shrouded in darkness with dimly lit golden pictures of Buddhist Monks. The sensory deprivation felt here was unlike anywhere else I’ve visited on my trip. If you have the opportunity and aren’t put off by these types of environments, I encourage you to visit.