Results tagged “mountains” from little lost tokyo :: travel blog
I got an early night last night, going to bed at 1.30am but boy did I need it. I woke up at around midday and deciding the day was pretty much lost I tidied up my washing and decided to have a lazy afternoon going through my photos and watching series five of ER on the hotel lobby TV. So here is the backlog of images, first up is Kyoto with the Manga Museum, a performing family, the streets of Gion and a temple.
And back in Osaka I did the unthinkable and went to Universal Studios for a lazy, familiar afternoon out.
Off in the mountains at Koya-san, between getting lost I did manage to take some photos; temples, mountain views, a graveyard where huge companies own plots for their employees when they pop their clogs, and me doing the whole ryokan thing. Mind you I've worn a yukata (that's basically a bath robe btw) in other places too, like here in Tokyo.
Briefly back in Tokyo after cutting Ise short before heading off to Fuji-san I stayed at Juyoh again. Here's a shot of the house out back with the roof garden - a month can make a big difference, here's the original image from when I arrived in Tokyo.
I hope that makes up for the wait (you know who you are ^_^)
And back in Osaka I did the unthinkable and went to Universal Studios for a lazy, familiar afternoon out.
Off in the mountains at Koya-san, between getting lost I did manage to take some photos; temples, mountain views, a graveyard where huge companies own plots for their employees when they pop their clogs, and me doing the whole ryokan thing. Mind you I've worn a yukata (that's basically a bath robe btw) in other places too, like here in Tokyo.
Briefly back in Tokyo after cutting Ise short before heading off to Fuji-san I stayed at Juyoh again. Here's a shot of the house out back with the roof garden - a month can make a big difference, here's the original image from when I arrived in Tokyo.
I hope that makes up for the wait (you know who you are ^_^)
While I wasn't able to book anywhere to stay in Kyoto, I did manage to find somewhere in the almost legendary Koya-san. Tucked away in the mountainous region south-east of Osaka, Koya-san (or Mt. Koya) was and is a place of pilgrimage where the Japanese would trek to with religious vigor. The town itself is fairly small and houses over 50 temples that welcome guests in their ryo-kan accommodation where they can enjoy the vegetarian meals prepared for the Buddhist monks and in some cases, as it was with me, an early morning prayer. Thankfully the morning prayer at my ryo-kan was only at 7am and not at 6am as is standard fair. I found it a very profound experience, with the chanting of the monks' prayers and the incense really helping to draw you into the right mindset. Very relaxing indeed.
As well as taking in the sights, one thing that I wanted to do while here was to get a good trek up into the mountains around Koya Town. The one thing I learned to loath was hiking maps that are so bloody simplistic its impossible to navigate with them. Thankfully I was in Japan so after being suitably lost for 2 hours I wasn't too freaked out as somebody would give me a lift into town if push came to shove and it started getting dark - this also highlighted Japan's obsession - or rather lack of - when it comes to street signs. They just do not like naming streets and telling you. In the end, while I was asking a group of old ladies who were also out walking where I was they flagged down a truck and got him to take me back to Koya Town. From here I decided to do the more traditional and safer tourist spots at either end of town. From the first I ended up out of pure curiosity doing pat of the women's pilgrimage over the mountain tops. This trail was what women used to trek back when they weren't allowed to enter Koya-san, it goes passed nine shrines and markers that point out the boundaries of Koya-san and the area into which they could not enter.
It was a worthy experience with the morning prayers and all, but I'm glad I only have two days here as there isn't that much to do during the days to justify the extortionate price. These two days have cost me a weeks worth of usual accommodation.
As well as taking in the sights, one thing that I wanted to do while here was to get a good trek up into the mountains around Koya Town. The one thing I learned to loath was hiking maps that are so bloody simplistic its impossible to navigate with them. Thankfully I was in Japan so after being suitably lost for 2 hours I wasn't too freaked out as somebody would give me a lift into town if push came to shove and it started getting dark - this also highlighted Japan's obsession - or rather lack of - when it comes to street signs. They just do not like naming streets and telling you. In the end, while I was asking a group of old ladies who were also out walking where I was they flagged down a truck and got him to take me back to Koya Town. From here I decided to do the more traditional and safer tourist spots at either end of town. From the first I ended up out of pure curiosity doing pat of the women's pilgrimage over the mountain tops. This trail was what women used to trek back when they weren't allowed to enter Koya-san, it goes passed nine shrines and markers that point out the boundaries of Koya-san and the area into which they could not enter.
It was a worthy experience with the morning prayers and all, but I'm glad I only have two days here as there isn't that much to do during the days to justify the extortionate price. These two days have cost me a weeks worth of usual accommodation.
A short trip on the train, as most of my entries have begun, landed me in the coastal city of Beppu. Known famously for it's hot springs the hillside on which it sits is littered with onsen and makes this one of the hotspots for relaxation and pleasure.
As soon as I arrived I headed for the Khaosan Beppu hostel to drop off my bags. I only had two nights here so I needed to get out and make the most of my time. While the weather was decent I grabbed a bus across town to the hell springs, a group of nine different springs that are far too hot to bath in. Unfortunately, some of them have been highly commercialised with animals housed in tiny cages as though it's necessary to justify the price of the attraction. Some however were quite beautiful with the billowing steam rising into the hills above.
They were really great to wander around and took up most of the afternoon, leave just enough time too visit an onsen. It's one of those things you really have to do while in Beppu. The bath house had lots of different kinds of spa including the waterfall; which pounds down on you from a height and is great for relieving stress and aches across your shoulders and back, and of course the outdoor onsen (it was raining at the time and felt great with all the heat from the pool) surrounded by rocks and plants.
A couple of hours later and I was done and dusted. An early night.
The next day I headed up into the mountains around the city and caught a cable car up to the top where I was afforded some great views of the coast and the mountains.
It's a beautiful, beautiful place. But time waits for no man and I'm off to Hiroshima.
As soon as I arrived I headed for the Khaosan Beppu hostel to drop off my bags. I only had two nights here so I needed to get out and make the most of my time. While the weather was decent I grabbed a bus across town to the hell springs, a group of nine different springs that are far too hot to bath in. Unfortunately, some of them have been highly commercialised with animals housed in tiny cages as though it's necessary to justify the price of the attraction. Some however were quite beautiful with the billowing steam rising into the hills above.
They were really great to wander around and took up most of the afternoon, leave just enough time too visit an onsen. It's one of those things you really have to do while in Beppu. The bath house had lots of different kinds of spa including the waterfall; which pounds down on you from a height and is great for relieving stress and aches across your shoulders and back, and of course the outdoor onsen (it was raining at the time and felt great with all the heat from the pool) surrounded by rocks and plants.
A couple of hours later and I was done and dusted. An early night.
The next day I headed up into the mountains around the city and caught a cable car up to the top where I was afforded some great views of the coast and the mountains.
It's a beautiful, beautiful place. But time waits for no man and I'm off to Hiroshima.
That title sounds like a really bad American soap, sorry for that!
This is a picture of the stairwell at Khaosan in Fukuoka where I was staying. The story goes that someone painted it in exchange for a few nights stay, it's pretty kakoi (cool). It was a nice place to stay and so far on my travels I think I've been rather lucky on that front.
My last day in Fukuoka before moving on was spent journeying around the bay to an island on the other side (there was a bridge to it and it was cheaper than taking the direct ferry) with another Australian (they're everywhere here) called Martin. We got lost twice, the first time we were talking and missed the transfer station while on the train and it was five more stops before we were sure we'd missed it, and the second was on the walk to the island - Japan's lack of street signs strikes again. That said, we did see a load of old, run-down buildings which was great.
This is a picture of the stairwell at Khaosan in Fukuoka where I was staying. The story goes that someone painted it in exchange for a few nights stay, it's pretty kakoi (cool). It was a nice place to stay and so far on my travels I think I've been rather lucky on that front.My last day in Fukuoka before moving on was spent journeying around the bay to an island on the other side (there was a bridge to it and it was cheaper than taking the direct ferry) with another Australian (they're everywhere here) called Martin. We got lost twice, the first time we were talking and missed the transfer station while on the train and it was five more stops before we were sure we'd missed it, and the second was on the walk to the island - Japan's lack of street signs strikes again. That said, we did see a load of old, run-down buildings which was great.
On the night, a load of us went out looking for some live music, but that was a bust. All we managed to find was hip hop and we weren't staying around for that so we popped into a Lawson's (a chain of convenience stores) and bought some beer to take back to the hostel. Two Americans, an Australian, and three British (including myself) talking, drinking, and laughing.
The next day I left the hostel in Fukuoka and travelled the 2 hours by Limited Express to Nagasaki to the south. It's a compact city nestled in a valley by the coastline. The Akari hostel I'm now in is located in a beautiful part of town next to a river (above) and opposite a temple. With the compact nature of the city it's fairly easy to walk most places but the tram system that winds its way around the streets is easy to understand and cheap (at 100 yen (50p) to go anywhere on the system no matter the distance). I'll get onto what I spent the afternoon doing in a moment, but last night, on my way back from Shianbashi (the night spot that wasn't too great but it was a Sunday) I noticed in the streetlight that there were a fair number of bats flying under the bridges to feast on all the insects that are out in the evenings. Also, in the waters below, the fish (they looked like carp but I can't be sure) were slowly making their way up stream and battling against the current. That was another half hour :)
Back to earlier that afternoon, I dropped my bags off at the hostel and headed out. In a series of moments that consisted of 'just a little bit further' and 'well, I've come this far...' I walked up the mountain to the west of Nagasaki, to the observatory perched at the top. The hardest part was actually the start as I had to walk though the steep, winding streets of the housing that grips the hillside for dear life.
That's the mountain from the bottom.
And a graveyard on the way up.
Then from the top of the observatory, Nagasaki. You could also see down into the next valley as well as around the coast. It was spectacular.
The next day I left the hostel in Fukuoka and travelled the 2 hours by Limited Express to Nagasaki to the south. It's a compact city nestled in a valley by the coastline. The Akari hostel I'm now in is located in a beautiful part of town next to a river (above) and opposite a temple. With the compact nature of the city it's fairly easy to walk most places but the tram system that winds its way around the streets is easy to understand and cheap (at 100 yen (50p) to go anywhere on the system no matter the distance). I'll get onto what I spent the afternoon doing in a moment, but last night, on my way back from Shianbashi (the night spot that wasn't too great but it was a Sunday) I noticed in the streetlight that there were a fair number of bats flying under the bridges to feast on all the insects that are out in the evenings. Also, in the waters below, the fish (they looked like carp but I can't be sure) were slowly making their way up stream and battling against the current. That was another half hour :)Back to earlier that afternoon, I dropped my bags off at the hostel and headed out. In a series of moments that consisted of 'just a little bit further' and 'well, I've come this far...' I walked up the mountain to the west of Nagasaki, to the observatory perched at the top. The hardest part was actually the start as I had to walk though the steep, winding streets of the housing that grips the hillside for dear life.That's the mountain from the bottom.And a graveyard on the way up.Then from the top of the observatory, Nagasaki. You could also see down into the next valley as well as around the coast. It was spectacular.
