We arrived in Medellin, our home city, on January 21th. We had only decided to come home a couple of days ago so our families had only known for about 48hrs that we were coming, Carlos family was not even in Medellin, they were on the Colombian coast for holidays. But we wanted some family time, some warm weather and a bit of a break, so what better place to do it than Colombia!
We arrived in Colombia just in time for Carlos grandfather’s 103 birthday… as you can imagine it was a big celebration with many family members.
While in Medellín we found a graffiti tour which runs on Comuna 13, once upon a time one of the most dangerous neighbourhood in the country. Nowadays the culture has changed and they found out that bringing tourists to the neighbourhood brings income for many families. We spent around 2 hours walking around Comuna 13 with a local graffiti artist who explained about the dark past of the neighbourhood and showed most of the graffiti in the area. It was nice to see the recovery of this area of the city, if you are in Medellín we highly recommend you sign up for the tour.
Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaComuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaComuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13 – Even the Cemetery has Grafitti all over, Medellín, ColombiaGrafitti Tour in Comuna 13 – Even the Cemetery has Grafitti all over, Medellín, ColombiaComuna 13 from the Cable Car – Metrocable, Medellín, ColombiaComuna 13 from the Cable Car – Metrocable, Medellín, Colombia
We were also invited to Carlos’ cousin wedding, again another opportunity to catch up with aunts, uncles and cousins.
Who would have thought we could dress up and clean up so well after many months of backpacking, Medellín, Colombia
We also got an invitation to go to an orchids competition… as weird as that sound Marcela’s aunt belongs to an orchids association and every few months they run competitions, where orchids growers bring their best plant to be judge.
Time flies by when we are in Colombia, every day we have invitations for lunch, dinner and snacks… we had eaten a lot in Japan and now in Colombia we will be gaining a few pounds for sure.
We are spending the night of January 15 on the streets of Tokyo. We will be attending the tuna auction at Tsukiji Market at 2:00am so there is no point on getting a hostel for a few hours. We found a 24 hours restaurant where we had some food and hang out for most of the night. We walked to the market entrance to line up for the tuna auction. We were allowed inside a warm room after 3:00am and by 4:00am a bidder came to tell us a bit about what we were going to see. He explained how they auction the tuna and how the auctioneer and bidders have signs to get the bids, basically we will never know how much they pay for a tuna fish!
Bidder in the Tuna Auction, Tsukiji Market, Japan
At 5:30am we were escorted to the tuna auction and 15 minutes later we were taken out to allow a second group come in. In this short period of time we saw how the bidders inspect the fish and witnesses several auctions because they do not take too long. Unfortunately this is a practice that will disappear shortly with the construction of the new fish market. Apparently the auction will be electronic… will not be as fun as it is now!
Inspecting the Fish at the Tuna Auction, Tsukiji Market, JapanInspecting the Fish at the Tuna Auction, Tsukiji Market, JapanTuna Auction, Tsukiji Market, Japan
Right after the tuna auction we took the train and headed to Ryogoku Kokugikan for the “2018 January Grand Sumo Tournament”. We were told to arrive very early because there are always last minute tickets that are sold on the day of the competition. We followed the instructions and were there by 6:30am. Around 7:30am we got a piece of paper with a number so we were going to get some tickets. At 8:00am we were directed to the ticket office, got our tickets and were inside the Sumo Stadium. The day started with the intermediate division, fight after fight the stadium got crowded and crowded. After lunch time the senior division fights started and the place got crazy, the atmosphere was great and everyone was cheering for their favourite sumo wrestler. The day ended up for us at 6:00pm and without a proper night of sleep we were ready to go to bed.
It was a day pack with a lot of excitement, the tuna auction and the sumo wrestling; two unique Japanese activities we could not miss.
Sumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanSumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanSumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanSumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanCompetitor Entering the Sumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanIntroduction of Competitors before the Sumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanIntroduction of Competitors before the Sumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanSumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, JapanSumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan
On January 17 we visited the Nissan Crossing in Ginza where Marcela had a coffee with her face printed on it, the resolution of the printer is remarkable. We also visited some shops looking for camera lenses.
Nissan Crossing, Ginza, JapanTokyo Metro, Japan
On January 18 we woke up really early to go to Kawasaki station. We read online that it is one of the busiest stations during rush hour so we could see the pushers in action. We got there right on time, train after train people were pushed inside until the doors close. The best one was this lady that comes to the door and in the best Japanese way apologises by bending before start pushing other commuters… such polite people can only be found in Japan.
The rest of the day we spent it walking on the streets of Tokyo and looking for a camera lens.
Tokyo, JapanCarts in Tokyo, JapanTokyo, Japan
We could not miss to visit the Shibuya Crossing, the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. We spent some time watching people crossing the street in several directions. Here is time-lapse of this experience…
Today was our last day in Japan, it was an amazing experience we could not have made a reality without the hospitality of Manuel that hosted us for many nights in Tokyo. It is a very expensive country to visit but if you can have a person that hosts you especially in Tokyo, you will have money to do other things. So thank you very much Manuel and thank you Japan for an amazing time, we will come back again during a warmer time of the year!
On January 12 we went to Uji, a small town south of Kyoto. We visited Byodo-in Temple, which was converted from a rural retreat to a temple in 1052. Added to the temple in 1053, the Amida-do or Hoo-doo (Phoenix Hall) is the only original remaining structure from the era as the temple complex was destroyed by fire in 1336.
In the afternoon we headed to Gion, a popular geisha neighborhood in Kyoto. At 6:00pm at the Gion Corner we attended a performance of traditional Japanese ceremonies like Chado (Tea Ceremony), Koto (Japanese Harp), Kado (Flower Arrangement), Gagaku (Court Music), Kyogen (Ancient Comic Play), Kyomai (Kyoto Style Dance) and Bunraku (Puppet Play). Although this is a script performance it gives the audience the idea of the Japanese traditional culture.
Gion, Kyoto, JapanGion, Kyoto, JapanPerformance of Traditional Japanese Ceremonies at Gion Corner, Kyoto, JapanPerformance of Traditional Japanese Ceremonies at Gion Corner, Kyoto, JapanPerformance of Traditional Japanese Ceremonies at Gion Corner, Kyoto, JapanPerformance of Traditional Japanese Ceremonies at Gion Corner, Kyoto, JapanPerformance of Traditional Japanese Ceremonies at Gion Corner, Kyoto, Japan
At night we walked along the streets of Gion trying to spot a geisha but did not have any luck!
Gion, Kyoto, Japan
In the early afternoon of January 13 we visited the Sanjusangen-do Temple. This is a massive wooden structure home of 1001 statues of the 1000-armed Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.
Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto, Japan
We then walked to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Unfortunately it is under reconstruction so we could not appreciate the outside of the temple, but we could still visit the inside and see the pilgrims perform their prayers.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, JapanKiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, JapanKiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, JapanFountain to Drink Sacred Water – Otowa-no-Taki at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, JapanKiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, JapanKiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, Japan
We finished the day in Gion looking for geishas and this time we found one that was picking up her client at a nearby hotel. They headed to the geisha house where I was able to take a nice picture of her through the door.
The streets of Gion are full of beautiful traditional Japanese houses, a place worth visiting while in Kyoto.
Geisha with her Client at Gion, Kyoto, JapanGeisha with her Client at Gion, Kyoto, JapanGion, Kyoto, Japan
On January 14 we went back to Sanjusangen-do Temple. During our visit yesterday we found out that there is an archery event that only happens once a year. The female teenagers graduating from high school participate in this archery event. It was quite the organization and the girls had beautiful dresses, make-up done and great hairstyles.
Archery Event at Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto, JapanArchery Event at Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto, JapanArchery Event at Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto, JapanArchery Event at Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto, Japan
After lunch we visited the Chion-in Temple. This is a big complex with lots of small shrines and places for worshipping. There is also a cemetery with elaborate tombs.
We finished the day in Nakagyo, another popular neighborhood to spot geishas. This time we had better luck as we encounter a Maiko walking along the narrow alleys. She did not stop for a picture but did not mind my camera taking a few shots of her.
Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, JapanMaiko in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
In the morning of January 15 we went to walk around Nijo-jo Castle, we did not enter the castle grounds but we had a nice view of parts of it from the outside. Visiting every place in Japan can break your wallet in a heartbeat, if the place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site it will cost more than a regular site, however almost everything in Japan is UNESCO so we could not afford to visit every place.
Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto, JapanNijo-jo Castle, Kyoto, Japan
We spent the afternoon at Fushimi Inari Taisha. This was our third attempt to visit the place so this time we took advantage of it. We had a nice hike up to the top of the mountain and visited several small temples along the way. We really took our time visiting this iconic Japanese place.
In the morning of January 10 we took the train to Matsumoto. We visited the Matsumoto Castle, Japan’s oldest wooden castle and one of the four castles designated as National Treasures. Here we met Fumio, a volunteer guide that took us around the castle and explained a lot about the history of the city, castle and surrounding areas. Fumio is a 82 year old retired engineer but he has the energy of a 50 year old person; he was going up and down the castle stairs like nothing. The volunteers had a sign on the front door that reads “we only accept smiles as payment”. What a lovely people they were!
Fumio also recommended us to go for a stroll around Nawate-dori Street. This is one of the oldest streets in Matsumoto and has beautiful traditional Japanese houses.
Matsumoto Castle, JapanView from Matsumoto Castle, JapanView from Matsumoto Castle, JapanInterior of Matsumoto Castle, JapanInterior of Matsumoto Castle, JapanMarcela and Fumio in Matsumoto Castle, JapanMatsumoto Castle, JapanNawate-dori Street, Matsumoto, Japan
In the afternoon we returned to Kanazawa just to find a very crappy weather, but what the hell this is not going to kill us! In the evening we took the bus to Higashi-chayagai, also known as Higashi Geisha District. We were hoping to encounter a geisha but unfortunately due to the weather nobody was on the streets. We could hear geishas playing music inside one of the geisha houses but could not see anybody walking on the streets.
We finished the day with what could be the worst food experience ever. We order calamari, an appetizer to share and here is where things turn bad. The calamari arrived, it was a dish with 4 small calamari in a sauce placed over a lettuce leaf. They were whole, without cleaning and with the head on. Marcela was brave enough to try it first but her face told me everything about what we had ordered… upon biting it, the eyes explode inside your mouth, the brain breaks into pieces and the guts… well, they mix all together; leaving an unpleasant taste in your mouth. It was hard to swallow to say the least, luckily we had a drink to helps us pass it through. This was the first and last we ordered calamari in Japan that did not say “fried” on the menu.
Calamari – Worst Food Experience, Kanazawa, Japan
In the morning of January 11 we visited the Omicho Market in Kanazawa, with a great variety of seafood and vegetables this is busy place among locals; not even the weather stop people from visiting this place.
Omicho Market, Kanazawa, JapanOmicho Market, Kanazawa, Japan
Around noon we went to walk around the Kanazawa Castle. This place looks gorgeous with the fresh snow on the ground, however it is too cold to be outside for long time but we manage to get a good look and a few pictures.
Kanazawa Castle, JapanKanazawa Castle, JapanKanazawa Castle, JapanKanazawa Castle, Japan
After lunch we went back to Higashi-chayagai, also known as Higashi Geisha District, to visit Shima, a former geisha house from 1820’s. This place displays the layout of a traditional geisha house and the instruments they use to entertain the clients, it also has a beautiful collection of personal items used by geishas.
Late in the afternoon we took the local train towards Kyoto. There are a few places we have not visited that we want to see. We arrived in the evening to the smallest apartment we have seen, however very comfortable and clean.
Higashi-chayagai (Higashi Geisha District), Kanazawa, JapanShima – Old Geisha House in Higashi-chayagai (Higashi Geisha District), Kanazawa, JapanShima – Old Geisha House in Higashi-chayagai (Higashi Geisha District), Kanazawa, JapanShima – Old Geisha House in Higashi-chayagai (Higashi Geisha District), Kanazawa, JapanShima – Old Geisha House in Higashi-chayagai (Higashi Geisha District), Kanazawa, Japan
On January 9 we took the Shinkansen towards Nagano. Upon arrival we bought the bus tickets to go to Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the snow monkeys. After an hour and 15 minutes we arrived to the entrance of the park; from there we walked 1.6Km to the springs.
Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan
At the beginning just a couple of monkeys were in the spring and we thought it was going to be another one of those experiences you only see in the NatGeo channel. However, about half hour later more monkeys arrived and started filling up the pool. The scene gets more interesting by the minute as the monkeys relax and pamper each other in the spring. There were also a couple of fights, which brought a different spice to the scene. After an hour and a half of freezing our butts off we decided to start walking down.
Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, JapanJigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, Japan
We took the bus to the train station and got onto the local train. We got off at Obuse, a small town with traditional Japanese architecture. Unfortunately it was a bit late to enter some of the museums. We walked along the streets for over an hour and took the train to Nagano.
On the Train to Obuse, JapanObuse, JapanObuse, Japan
Upon arrival in Nagano we visited the Zenko-ji Temple, home of what is believed to be the first Buddhist image to arrive in Japan. The temple is another one of those stunning structures.
Zenko-ji Temple, Nagano, JapanZenko-ji Temple, Nagano, Japan
From the Zenko-ji Temple we walked along the main road towards Nagano’s City Centre. The town has a good vibe with great cafes and restaurants.
Nagano, JapanNagano, Japan
In the evening we took the Shinkansen to Kanazawa where we found a great hotel for a very good price!
In the morning of January 6 we went to the UENO Zoo expecting to see the baby panda bear, unfortunately for us the visits were restricted to people that had participated and won tickets on a raffle a few weeks ago. It was very disappointing not only for us but for many more tourists that could not see the baby panda, we don’t think it is a proper way to restrict the visits; tourists cannot participate in a raffle that happened a few weeks before coming to the country… oh, and the raffle was during the Japanese news!
Very disappointed we carried on visiting the zoo. We were able to see the male panda bear and many other animals.
UENO Zoo, Tokyo, JapanUENO Zoo, Tokyo, JapanUENO Zoo, Tokyo, JapanUENO Zoo, Tokyo, JapanUENO Zoo, Tokyo, Japan
In the afternoon we walked around the Ueno area. We started by the Ueno park, then walked along Ameya-yokocho Market, a vibrant street market in Tokyo. Later in the afternoon we visited Akihabara, an area popular for its massive game stores and figurines.
Figurines Store in Akihabara, Tokyo, JapanCotton Candy Store in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
On January 7 we visited the Tokyo National Museum, a very impressive museum with the largest collection of Japanese art.
Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan
In the evening we went to Tokyo Central Station to take some night shots of this beautiful building.
Tokyo Central Station, Tokyo, Japan
Manuel took us on January 8 to Odaiba, a neighborhood developed in the 90’s with tall buildings and wide streets. We had a beautiful view of the Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. We also took pictures of a replica of the Statue of Liberty. We then went to Diver City Mall where we saw a full size (18 meters tall) Gundam statue. Late in the evening, the Fuji TV building presents a very impressive light show!
Statue of Liberty in Odaiba, Tokyo, JapanStatue of Liberty in Odaiba, Tokyo, JapanStatue of Gundam in Odaiba, Tokyo, JapanOdaiba, Tokyo, JapanRainbow Bridge, Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan
On January 5, Manuel took us to Fujiyoshida, a town close to Mount Fuji. We were hoping for a clear view of Mount Fuji but unfortunately the clouds had different plans. We went to Lake Kamaguchi where we had a great view but the clouds did not allow us to see anything.
Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Japan
We then went to Fujisan World Heritage Centre where we learned a lot about Mount Fuji, how it got formed, the religious importance for the local people and much more! It is a great visit while in the area.
Fujisan World Heritage Centre, Fujiyoshida, JapanFujisan World Heritage Centre, Fujiyoshida, Japan
Later in the afternoon we went back to Lake Kamaguchi for one more chance to see Mount Fuji and we got rewarded by mother nature. We had a good view, not completely clear but good enough to take a few good pictures of this magnificent mountain.
Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, JapanMount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Japan
Manuel took us to Edo Wonderland on January 4. Edo Wonderland is a place where people can step back in time as they recreate Japan in the 17th century. There are several shows throughout the day, unfortunately they are all in Japanese so we could not understand much, especially the comedy one!
Although it is staged it will give the attendees a taste of how Japanese people lived in the 17th century during the Edo period, the way they dressed, hair styles, etc.
It was a very enjoyable day!
Carlos, the new star of Japanese Theatre, Edo Wonderland, JapanCarlos, the new star of Japanese Theatre, Edo Wonderland, JapanWith Manuel in Edo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, JapanComedy, Edo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, JapanManuel and Marcela, Edo Wonderland, JapanGeishas Parade, Edo Wonderland, JapanWith Manuel in Edo Wonderland, JapanEdo Wonderland, Japan
We spent the day around Kawasaki. We have been staying in the area for a couple of weeks but have not spent too much time around looking around. We went to the area surrounding the train station, visited some shops and then went to the Amusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse. This place is a very well decorated arcade with lots of entertainment for people over 18. We had never seen the variety of games we saw in this place. It was Wednesday at 4:30pm and there were lots of people playing… what happens on a Saturday evening?
Amusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse, Kawasaki, JapanAmusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse, Kawasaki, JapanAmusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse, Kawasaki, JapanAmusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse, Kawasaki, JapanAmusement Game Park Kawasaki Warehouse, Kawasaki, Japan
We then went to a free drum performance on an open-air venue in Kawasaki. The show was incredible, the beat of the drums and the rhythm were absolutely beautiful to listen to. Just before the end of the show they asked people to go on stage to play with them… and of course we were the only foreigners in attendance so we were the first ones to be asked to go play… another great Japanese experience.
We left early in the morning of January 2 towards Nikko, a small town north of Tokyo. The train ride took over two hours because of the connections we had to do.
We arrived in Nikko and headed for the temples. The first stop was at Tosho-gu Shinto Shrine. This is a complex of different shrines including a five-storey pagoda as well as other temples. The highlight of the visit was the demonstration of the echo that a couple of pieces of wood produce when they are hit under the dragon’s mouth (called the crying of the dragon), however the echo does not produce anywhere else in the room.
We then visited the Rinno-ji Temple and although it was under restoration we had a good understanding of how impressive this temple is. They built a 7 or 8 storey warehouse around the whole temple to perform the restoration, which will take several years to complete. We were able to climb all the way to the top floor to see the restoration of the roof. Also, we could see the big Buddha which is the centre piece of the temple.
