Category: Japan

On a standby flight means being there early, so this morning I was first up and, having packed the night before in a chocolate frog-fuelled rage, left the house before seeing anyone else. My flight was at midday (I hoped) and then the team’s flight was at midnight, so they had another 12 hours to play in Tokyo.

Travel advice isn’t something I’ve taken from social media before, but on the run up to this trip I had collected a number of interesting places.

Checked out of the swanky Asakusa hotel after WAYYYY too much breakfast and dropped our bags at the new AirBnB. The team is meeting up for the final couple of nights before our Japan adventure comes to an end.

But first – Ramen.

We started the day with a return to Meiji Shrine, walking through the peaceful forest of Meiji Jingu like we hadn’t just spent the last few days being battered around by Tokyo’s chaos. It’s one of those places that immediately allows you to slow down, right in the heart of the city, its a calm natural space. It was busier than last we came, but we are now into golden week so this is expected but we found some quiet parts off the main path.

No one made a plan for breakfast, so I did. I found a nice little bakery that did loads of French toast options and croissant options with fruit and chocolate, and they seemed to have good coffee too. Taking a seat at the entrance after putting our names down on the waiting list, we sat surrounded by loads of pot plants in a quiet, tucked-away spot right in the centre of town.

Today we went to see Osaka Castle, but there were so many side quests that the whole day felt full of things!

It was time to leave Sendai for the city of Osaka. I mean, Sendai is a city, but as soon as we got into Osaka, this felt like the most CITY of cities.

Well, it turns out I’m ill. I had a sore throat the day before yesterday, and it was worse yesterday with added snot. And today I’ve got headache, back ache, knee ache, snot, bogies, and sore throat, but luckily no coughing. Hopefully this is the worst day and, luckily, it’s a fairly sedentary day meandering around Matsushima Bay.

Today we had planned to go to a flower producer. The photos looked amazing, with huge fields of different-coloured flowers. But a Google review from four days ago said they are not out yet for this season, so we skipped the long drive to this potentially disappointing attraction and opted for Ginzan Onsen. I’m glad we did.

The day started with what can only be described as a character-building experience: Aimi driving us down the mountain from Zao Onsen towards Shibata. Now, I trust my wife with many things in life, but hurtling down narrow mountain roads with sheer drops and enthusiastic cornering is… an experience. I spent most of the journey alternating between admiring the scenery and mentally preparing my will. This little K-car is not built for mountain roads, or enthusiastic Europeans.